Within Bulgarian Folklore
Why Do Kukeri Wear Masks and Bells?
Bulgaria's masked winter rites use bells, skins and grotesque faces to bless homes and drive harmful forces away.
On this page
- Old calendar winter rites and village blessing
- Masks, bells, skins and protective noise
- Surva, festivals and modern performance
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Introduction
Why do Kukeri wear masks and bells? In Bulgarian tradition, the answer is simple and powerful: the masks make harmful forces afraid to approach, while the thunderous bells drive them away. During the darkest part of winter and around the old New Year, groups of costumed performers known as kukeri or, in some regions, survakari, move through villages making noise, dancing, blessing homes, and symbolically clearing away misfortune before a new agricultural year begins. The custom is one of Bulgaria’s most recognisable living folk traditions and remains active in villages, towns, and major festivals today. Although scholars debate exactly how old the practice is, its role as a ritual defence against evil, disease, bad luck, and winter’s dangers is well documented in folklore, ethnographic research, and contemporary cultural heritage programmes.[unesco.org]ich.unesco.orgUNESCO Intangible Cultural HeritageSurova folk feast in Pernik regionThe Surova folk feast in Pernik region takes place each year on 13 a…
Old-Calendar Winter Rites and Village Blessing
Kukeri performances are tied to a seasonal moment when communities traditionally felt vulnerable. Winter was a period of uncertainty: food stores were lower, illness spread more easily, and the coming harvest remained unknown. The ritual response was not passive prayer alone but a dramatic public performance designed to restore order and prosperity. Kukeri processions typically take place around the New Year according to the old calendar or during the period before spring, depending on the region.[unesco.org]ich.unesco.orgUNESCO Intangible Cultural HeritageSurova folk feast in Pernik regionThe Surova folk feast in Pernik region takes place each year on 13 a…
The best-known documented example is the Surova tradition in the Pernik region. UNESCO describes how masked groups gather on 13 and 14 January, celebrating the New Year according to the old calendar. Participants move through villages, gather around fires, perform ritual actions, and interact with households and spectators. The event is not presented as entertainment alone; it functions as a communal blessing intended to secure health, fertility, and good fortune for the year ahead.[UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage]ich.unesco.orgUNESCO Intangible Cultural HeritageSurova folk feast in Pernik regionThe Surova folk feast in Pernik region takes place each year on 13 a…
A striking feature of the custom is its house-to-house character. Traditionally, performers visit homes and village streets rather than remaining in a single ceremonial location. In folklore terms, evil is not treated as an abstract idea but as something that can linger in particular places, affect families, damage crops, or disturb community harmony. The procession therefore symbolically cleanses the village one household at a time.[wikipedia.org]WikipediaOpen source on wikipedia.org.
Why the Masks Look So Frightening
To an outsider, the masks can appear monstrous. They often feature oversized noses, horns, animal features, enormous teeth, feathers, fur, and exaggerated facial expressions. Yet the frightening appearance is the point.
In traditional belief, a performer attempting to drive away harmful forces should not look ordinary. The mask transforms the wearer into something powerful enough to confront dangers that normal people cannot easily control. Some masks resemble animals, others mythical beings, and many combine several forms into a deliberately unsettling figure. Regional styles vary widely across Bulgaria, and there is no single national mask design.[nationalgeographic.com]nationalgeographic.comPhotograph by Aron Klein.Read moreNational GeographicPhotos Show the Masked Kukeri of Bulgaria's Traditional…14 Feb 2018 — These kukeri wear oversized bells, embroidere…
The masks also conceal individual identity. During the ritual, the performer temporarily becomes part of a larger symbolic role rather than acting as a private person. This transformation helps explain why masks are often handmade, carefully maintained, and sometimes passed between generations within families. In some villages, creating masks remains an important craft tradition in its own right.[africanews.com]africanews.comBulgaria's Kukeri dancers revive ancient winter rituals14 Jan 2026 — Men wear heavy fur, feather and bead costumes, large bells…
Claims that every mask design comes directly from a specific ancient pagan religion should be treated cautiously. Folklore researchers generally agree that the custom has deep roots, but exact origins are difficult to prove. What can be documented with greater confidence is the continuity of the protective function: frightening masks are repeatedly described as tools for warding off evil and attracting good fortune.[nationalgeographic.com]nationalgeographic.comPhotograph by Aron Klein.Read moreNational GeographicPhotos Show the Masked Kukeri of Bulgaria's Traditional…14 Feb 2018 — These kukeri wear oversized bells, embroidere…
Bells, Animal Skins, and the Power of Noise
If the masks provide the visual shock, the bells provide the acoustic force.
Many kukeri wear heavy belts fitted with large metal bells. When groups dance, jump, stamp, and whirl together, the combined sound becomes overwhelming. Traditional explanations consistently describe the noise as a way of driving away evil influences and awakening beneficial powers connected with fertility, health, and abundance.[africanews.com]africanews.comBulgaria's Kukeri dancers revive ancient winter rituals14 Jan 2026 — Men wear heavy fur, feather and bead costumes, large bells…
The use of animal skins is equally significant. Costumes often incorporate sheep, goat, or other animal furs, creating figures that seem neither fully human nor fully animal. Across many European winter masquerade traditions, this crossing of boundaries carries symbolic power. In the Bulgarian case, the skins reinforce the image of a being capable of confronting forces beyond ordinary human control.[new-east-archive.org]new-east-archive.orgkukeri pagan ritual bulgariaNew East Digital Archivethe ancient pagan ritual that still thrives in rural Bulgaria21 Mar 2017 — Kukeri are men who take part in an anc…
Several recurring elements work together:
- Masks create a fearsome presence.
- Bells generate protective noise.
- Animal skins link the performers to fertility, livestock, and the natural world.
- Ritual dances activate the symbolic power of the costume.
- Village visits and blessings direct that power toward specific households and community wellbeing.[wikipedia.org]WikipediaOpen source on wikipedia.org.
The result is not a theatrical performance in the modern sense but a ritual system in which costume, movement, sound, and community participation all serve the same protective purpose.
Surva, Festivals, and Modern Performance
Many readers first encounter kukeri through photographs of enormous masks at the international Surva festival in Pernik. The festival, organised since the 1960s, has become one of Europe’s largest gatherings of masquerade traditions and has helped bring Bulgarian winter customs to an international audience.[Visit Bulgaria]visitbulgaria.comVisit Bulgaria International Festival of Masquerade Games “Surva”, townVisit BulgariaInternational Festival of Masquerade Games “Surva”, town…April 8, 2020 — The International Festival of Masquerade Games…
At the same time, it is important not to confuse the festival with the entire tradition. The festival showcases customs that originated in village ritual life. UNESCO’s recognition of the Surova folk feast emphasises the continuing role of local communities, families, and regional groups in maintaining the practice, not merely its value as a spectacle for visitors.[UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage]ich.unesco.orgUNESCO Intangible Cultural HeritageSurova folk feast in Pernik regionThe Surova folk feast in Pernik region takes place each year on 13 a…
Modern performances have inevitably changed some aspects of the tradition. Costumes can be more elaborate than in the past, audiences are larger, and tourism plays a role. Participation has also broadened in many places, with women and children increasingly visible in groups that were once more narrowly defined. Yet the central message remains remarkably consistent: winter’s dangers are confronted collectively, noise defeats harmful forces, and the community enters the new year protected and renewed.[reddit.com]reddit.comBulgarian Kukeri Tradition - Thracian masked rituals…January 29, 2024 — Thracian masked rituals intended to scare away the evil…
Why the Tradition Still Matters
Kukeri masks endure because they express ideas that remain meaningful even when belief systems change. Modern participants may interpret the ritual as cultural heritage, community identity, folklore, performance art, or a link to family history. Others still speak of cleansing, protection, and blessing in more traditional terms.[bnrnews.bg]bnrnews.bgthe surva tradition is more vibrant than ever in bulgarias pernik regionBNR NewsThe Surva tradition is more vibrant than ever in Bulgaria's…13 Jan 2026 — The so-called “survakari” wearing frightening masks…
What has survived across centuries is the dramatic image at the heart of the custom: masked figures emerging in winter darkness, bells crashing through the cold air, and a village acting together to push misfortune away. Whether understood as folklore, ritual, or cultural memory, the kukeri remain one of Bulgaria’s clearest examples of a tradition in which noise, disguise, and collective action are used to symbolically fight evil and welcome a better year.[unesco.org]ich.unesco.orgUNESCO Intangible Cultural HeritageSurova folk feast in Pernik regionThe Surova folk feast in Pernik region takes place each year on 13 a…
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Endnotes
1.
Source: ich.unesco.org
Link:https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/surova-folk-feast-in-pernik-region-00968
Source snippet
UNESCO Intangible Cultural HeritageSurova folk feast in Pernik regionThe Surova folk feast in Pernik region takes place each year on 13 a...
2.
Source: Wikipedia
Link:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kukeri
3.
Source: africanews.com
Link:https://www.africanews.com/2026/01/14/bulgarias-kukeri-dancers-revive-ancient-winter-rituals/
Source snippet
Bulgaria's Kukeri dancers revive ancient winter rituals14 Jan 2026 — Men wear heavy fur, feather and bead costumes, large bells...
4.
Source: facebook.com
Title: Homo Faber’s post
Link:https://www.facebook.com/homofaber/posts/celebrating-the-kukeri-traditionlyudmil-yordanov-yordanovi_art-keeps-the-ancient/616896544318614/
Source snippet
Worn in lively winter parades, these masks are believed to chase away evil spirits and bring health and prosperity for the year a...
5.
Source: reddit.com
Link:https://www.reddit.com/r/europe/comments/1advpni/bulgarian_kukeri_tradition_thracian_masked/
Source snippet
Bulgarian Kukeri Tradition - Thracian masked rituals...January 29, 2024 — Thracian masked rituals intended to scare away the evil...
Published: January 29, 2024
6.
Source: Wikipedia
Title: Surva Festival
Link:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surva_Festival
Source snippet
Surva Festivalthree-day folk festival ・ wearing elaborate masks and costumes -air performances Begins Last Friday of January Ends Last...
7.
Source: facebook.com
Link:https://www.facebook.com/groups/eazienglish1/posts/2114132456049858/
Source snippet
Kukeri festival traditions around worldAncestors coming back in frightening masks and costumes with large bells to chase away evil spirit...
8.
Source: facebook.com
Link:https://www.facebook.com/NatGeoUK/posts/the-surva-festival-in-bulgaria-is-rooted-in-ancient-traditions-people-dress-up-a/1020756379615813/
Source snippet
The Surva Festival in Bulgaria is rooted in ancient...Kukeri is an ancient ritual practised in Bulgaria, Hungary and the Balkans where M...
9.
Source: nationalgeographic.com
Title: Photograph by Aron Klein.Read more
Link:https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/kukeri-survakari-unesco-intangible-cultural-heritage-photos
Source snippet
National GeographicPhotos Show the Masked Kukeri of Bulgaria's Traditional...14 Feb 2018 — These kukeri wear oversized bells, embroidere...
10.
Source: bnrnews.bg
Title: the surva tradition is more vibrant than ever in bulgarias pernik region
Link:https://bnrnews.bg/en/post/413003/the-surva-tradition-is-more-vibrant-than-ever-in-bulgarias-pernik-region
Source snippet
BNR NewsThe Surva tradition is more vibrant than ever in Bulgaria's...13 Jan 2026 — The so-called “survakari” wearing frightening masks...
11.
Source: visitmybulgaria.com
Link:https://visitmybulgaria.com/kukeri/
Source snippet
Visit My BulgariaKukeri: Unmasking the Mysteries of Bulgaria's Folk TraditionThe purpose of wearing these masks is to chase away evil spi...
12.
Source: new-east-archive.org
Title: kukeri pagan ritual bulgaria
Link:https://www.new-east-archive.org/tiles/show/7956/kukeri-pagan-ritual-bulgaria
Source snippet
New East Digital Archivethe ancient pagan ritual that still thrives in rural Bulgaria21 Mar 2017 — Kukeri are men who take part in an anc...
13.
Source: sipofculture.com
Link:https://sipofculture.com/2020/09/13/bulgarian-kukeri-chasing-away-evil-spirits/
Source snippet
Sip of CultureBulgarian Kukeri: Chasing away evil spirits - Sip of Culture13 Sept 2020 — Ultimately, the bells, masks, and costumes are i...
14.
Source: visitbulgaria.com
Title: Visit Bulgaria International Festival of Masquerade Games “Surva”, town
Link:https://visitbulgaria.com/international-festival-of-masquerade-games-surva-town-of-pernik/
Source snippet
Visit BulgariaInternational Festival of Masquerade Games “Surva”, town...April 8, 2020 — The International Festival of Masquerade Games...
Published: April 8, 2020
Additional References
15.
Source: carnivalcities.net
Link:https://carnivalcities.net/countries/bulgaria/pernik/
Source snippet
Federation of European Carnival CitiesInternational Festival of Masquerade games “SURVA”The International Festival of Masquerade Games “S...
16.
Source: svidensky.com
Link:https://www.svidensky.com/projects/kukeri
Source snippet
The Monsterss of RazlogBanding together to drive away evil spirits from their homes... What caught my attention in Bulgaria was an ancie...
17.
Source: euronews.com
Link:https://www.euronews.com/video/2026/01/14/bulgarias-kukeri-dancers-revive-ancient-winter-rituals
Source snippet
Video. Bulgaria's Kukeri dancers revive ancient winter ritualsBulgaria comes alive each January as Kukeri dancers take to village...
18.
Source: dailymotion.com
Link:https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9xr9uq
Source snippet
WATCH: Bulgaria's Centuries-Old Kukeri Festival Uses Masks...Masked dancers wearing elaborate costumes and heavy bells have taken to the...
19.
Source: theyouth.info
Link:https://theyouth.info/blog/culture/once-they-put-the-masks-on-once-you-hear-the-sound-of-the-bells-they-seem-to-live-a-new-life-welcome-to-surva/
Source snippet
Once they put the MASKS on, Once you hear the sound of the...30 Jan 2026 — A Huge Celebration I visited Pernik last week for the Surva I...
20.
Source: euronews.com
Link:https://www.euronews.com/travel/2021/04/08/what-is-kukeri-exploring-this-amazing-bulgarian-tradition-that-scares-away-bad-spirits
Source snippet
Green list travel: Explore the amazing Bulgarian tradition...7 Apr 2021 — Eva Zu Beck gets a total transformation thanks to a Kukeri cos...
21.
Source: newyorker.com
Title: The documentary highlights the significance of legacy and community
Link:https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-new-yorker-documentary/dancing-to-ward-off-evil-in-kukeri
Source snippet
Traditions like Kukeri are passed down through generations, reinforcing a sense of continuity and mutual support. Despite numerous attemp...
22.
Source: balkazaar.com
Title: kukeri a mysterious ancient tradition that still endures
Link:https://balkazaar.com/2025/01/26/kukeri-a-mysterious-ancient-tradition-that-still-endures/
Source snippet
Kukeri: A mysterious ancient tradition that still enduresJan 26, 2025 — The Kukeri are part of a traditional Bulgarian ritual that dates...
23.
Source: undiscoveredbulgaria.com
Title: international festival of the masquerade games
Link:https://undiscoveredbulgaria.com/international-festival-of-the-masquerade-games/
Source snippet
The International Surva and Kukeri Festival of Bulgaria30 May 2018 — Single men and women called Kukeri and Survakari, don traditional Bu...
Published: May 2018
24.
Source: kazanlaktours.wordpress.com
Link:https://kazanlaktours.wordpress.com/2025/07/04/winter-traditions-kukeri-bulgarias-masked-dancers/
Source snippet
Traditions Kukeri – Bulgaria's Masked Dancers04 Jul 2025 — Kukeri wear large, often frightening wooden masks and sheepskin or wool costumes...
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