The Lazare’s ritual is organized on Saturdays, 8 days before Easter Sunday, the day of celebration of Saint Lazarus Day. This ceremony is a religious-held pagan ritual.

The preparation starts several days in advance with young people getting together and sharing roles in groups by names in turn and wearing the corresponding outfits:

Father Shehu: In a kandillaf (a priest’s biretta, yet white) in a priestly cassock-like sheet, pastoral staff, trumpet.

First captain: Dressed in a frock, whip, and dagger.

Groom: Dressed in a frock, nice whip.

Bride: Dressed in a wedding gown.

Bride’s captain: Dressed in a frock, dagger, and handgun.

Doctor: Wearing a white shirt, briefcase, and glasses.

Devil: Dressed in black clothes, horned mask, and trumpet.

Curcula: A girl, wearing a long hat with nice-looking ribbons (called çurcule)

Old woman: Dressed in black clothes, wearing a headscarf, pitchfork-like stick, and basket.

Old man: Dressed in the traditional loose waist and narrow-legged calf pants, wearing a mustache, hat, wearing bells and cowbells on his belt.

Almost everyone is wearing a mask.

Early on Saturday, they head to the farthest village to finally come back to their own village. From door to door, they sing traditional songs.

Mirëmëngjesi – dita e gëzuar (Good morning, it’s a happy day)

Mirëse u gjemë – zotërinë tuaj (Pleased to meet you)

Urdhëroni që t’u thomi… (Let us tell you….)

Tokun, Tomi krone roto

Jani (Vasil, Gole, Foto…) kanakari, (The favorite Jani (Vasil, Gole, Foto…))

Qe nisur e stolisur…. (Indulged, stepped out dressed up)

Once this was over, they would blow the whistle and trumpets, and also ring the bells and cowbells. The hosts would welcome and treat them with eggs, candies, money, nuts, dried figs, and the like.

If hosts offer them nothing, they sing:

Foli dhria dhrisë, (Old women, talk round)

Zonjës së shtëpisë. (To the lady of the house)

Të na japë vezën, (To give us the egg)