What does „Злото бяга“ mean?

“Evil runs away” — the whole point of the kukeri: to chase evil off with masks and bells before spring comes. Below it, „От времето на траките“ — since the time of the Thracians — says how old the custom is.

Where and when can you see kukeri?

Between New Year and Sirni Zagovezni, in villages all over the country. The biggest gathering is the Surva festival in Pernik, at the end of January.

Is it a men's or a women's tee?

Both. The cut is unisex and oversized, with dropped shoulders, in sizes XS–2XL. Between two sizes, take the larger one; for a closer fit, stay with your usual size.

100% organic cotton, 240 g/m² — a heavyweight tee. It isn't see-through and it keeps its shape after washing.

Does it work as a gift?

You give the story behind the print along with the tee. If the size is wrong, we swap it — at our cost on a first order.

T-shirt Kukeri „Злото бяга“ — Evil runs away

Name: Kukeri T-shirt „Злото бяга“
Brand: ЛЕЖЕРНО
SKU: kukeri-zloto-byaga
Price: 36.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

Kukeri drive evil away with bells and masks. From the time of the Thracians to today.

36,00 €

Colour: Black.

Size: MSize chart

Between two sizes? Take the larger one — the fit is oversized, with dropped shoulders.

Order by Thursday 23:59 → you're in Friday's print run

Cash on delivery — pay when it arrives, nothing to pay now
Fresh off the press · with you typically within 6 working daysPrinting usually takes 3–4 working days.
Econt / Speedy, to an address or an office
Free size exchange on your first order
14-day right of return, by law

2 tees

64,00 € (32,00 € each)

+ free delivery

Printed in Bulgaria

The legend

Every winter, between New Year and Sirni Zagovezni, the kukeri go from village to village. They wear frightening masks with horns, fur, and heavy bells at the waist. The noise and the masks have one purpose: to drive evil away and bring health and a good year. The custom is so old that it is linked to the rituals of the Thracians.

Each region has its own name for them — kukeri in Thrace, survakari around Pernik, babugeri around Razlog. The costumes are sewn from hides, and the bells at the waist weigh tens of kilograms. The masks are made by hand, from wood, leather, feathers and beads, and every group keeps its own.

The round is not a show. The kukeri walk into the yards and the households give them gifts. The procession often ends with a ritual ploughing and sowing — a wish that the field will yield. The biggest gathering today is the Surva festival in Pernik, at the end of January, and the Surova feast of the Pernik region is on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage.

The full legend →

The design

A geometric kukeri mask with horns, orange eyes and a sun sign on the forehead, framed by fur and three orange bells. Above: “Злото бяга” — evil runs away. Below: “От времето на траките” — since the time of the Thracians.

Top: ЗЛОТО БЯГАEvil runs away
Bottom, under a line with an orange diamond: ОТ ВРЕМЕТО НА ТРАКИТЕSince the time of the Thracians

Front: the ЛЕЖЕРНО logo on the left chest. Back: the legend.

The symbols in the print

The horns: They make the mask more frightening than the evil it chases. They are often real — a goat's or a ram's.
The sun on the forehead: A sign of light and of the new year. The kukeri come out in the darkest weeks, when the days are only beginning to grow.
The bells: The noise is the kukeri's weapon. Evil, the belief goes, can't stand it and runs.
The fur: The hides cover the man completely. Under the mask, the kukeri is no longer himself.

Specification

The exact details of the tee, and what it asks of your washing machine.

Premium heavyweight oversized tee

240 g/⁠m²

A modern oversized tee in 100% organic cotton. At 240 g/⁠m² it's soft, not see-through and keeps its shape — made for everyday wear.

Fabric: 100% organic cotton, 240 g/⁠m²
Fit: Oversized, with dropped shoulders
Style: Dense, comfortable and versatile — goes with any look
Benefits: Soft fabric, comfortable to wear all day

Care instructions

Three rules. Follow them and you'll get bored of the print before it wears out.

Wash inside out, at 40° max, no bleach.
Don't tumble dry.
Don't iron directly on the print — high heat takes away its elasticity and the ink cracks.

Size chart

The fit is unisex and oversized by design, with dropped shoulders. Between two sizes? Take the larger one. Measurements are of the garment itself, laid flat — width is armpit to armpit, not chest circumference.

Widthfrom armpit to armpit: 62 cm
Lengthfrom the highest point of the shoulder: 76 cm

Size chart: garment width and length, in centimetres
Size	Width	Length
XS	58 cm	72 cm
S	60 cm	74 cm
M	62 cm	76 cm
L	64 cm	78 cm
XL	66 cm	80 cm
2XL	68 cm	82 cm

Questions about this tee

What does „Злото бяга“ mean?
“Evil runs away” — the whole point of the kukeri: to chase evil off with masks and bells before spring comes. Below it, „От времето на траките“ — since the time of the Thracians — says how old the custom is.
Where and when can you see kukeri?
Between New Year and Sirni Zagovezni, in villages all over the country. The biggest gathering is the Surva festival in Pernik, at the end of January.
Is it a men's or a women's tee?
Both. The cut is unisex and oversized, with dropped shoulders, in sizes XS–2XL. Between two sizes, take the larger one; for a closer fit, stay with your usual size.
How thick is it?
100% organic cotton, 240 g/⁠m² — a heavyweight tee. It isn't see-through and it keeps its shape after washing.
Does it work as a gift?
You give the story behind the print along with the tee. If the size is wrong, we swap it — at our cost on a first order.