The village of Noevtsi is situated in the Graovo area, 20 km from the town of Pernik. In the near past, its inhabitants were 1200. Today they are less than half that.
The masks of Noevtsi are very interesting because no two masks are alike. Each participants makes their own mask, and no one sees it until it is revealed on the holiday of Surva. The following year, each mask is either supplemented, changed, or made completely anew. The faces of the masks are all carved from the walnut tree and adorned with leather, horns, and whatnot. Their outfits are also made from furs, and are decorated with Noevtsi’s signature colorful pom-poms.
“The more fearful they are with their masks, leather costumes and big bells, the more evil creatures they will expel.”
Supplementary textual source: survakari.com
