Berikaoba (Masked Carnival)
A pre-Christian village carnival with masked players, mock weddings, comic plays and plenty of wine.
Berikaoba is a folk theatre that goes back to old fertility rites. Young men in animal skins and masks, the berikebi, go from house to house playing out short comic scenes: a mock wedding, a 'death' and revival, a quarrel with a pretend tax collector. Householders pay them in eggs, cheese, wine and coins, and the day ends with a shared feast.
Only a handful of villages still keep it, among them Didi Chailuri near Sagarejo, Sabue near Kvareli, Matani near Akhmeta and Ude in Samtskhe-Javakheti. Dates move with the church calendar and with local habit, so ask a regional tourism office or a local guide before you travel.
- Confirm the village and day locally; there is no central programme.
- Expect rough humour and good-natured chaos rather than a polished performance.
Last checked Oct 2026 by the Maspindzeli team. Mountain conditions change: ask us before you go.
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