Come on, Spring, Where Are You?

One of the most recognizable carnivals is the Shrovetide carnival in north-eastern Slovenia, in the region of Ptuj. Traditionally called “kurentovanje”, the festival has been organized every year on Shrovetide Sunday since 1960.

Nowadays, “kurent” is the most recognizable character of Slovenia’s Shrovetide celebrations.

The full-body costume is made of sheepskin, a belt with cow bells attached, heavy boots and red or green leg warmers, a large head with ribbons and horns, a long, red leather tongue, and a wooden club made of hedgehog skin that the wearer carries in their hand.

Although it is mainly the job of “kurent” to chase away the winter, he does have some help of other Shrovetide masks, like log-haulers, ploughmen, fairies, gypsies and cockerels.

It’s celebrated on 24 April with the name “Jurjevanje”, which is Slovenia’s oldest folklore festival, and has roots in pagan folklore. For shepherds, this holiday was important, as it was the first day when they could drive cattle to pasture.

The tradition on “Jurjevo” dictates “Zeleni Jurij”, a character that brings spring back to the world each year, wearing a costume made of birch sticks and leaves, to go from house to house, knocking on people’s doors, assuring them that the harvest will be plentiful that year.

Onward to the Littoral! The area of Brkini is full of “škoromati” (scoromati) each year at Shrovetide. It’s some 700-years-old folklore tradition that originated in Italy. 

Nowadays, “poberini” go door to door to receive gifts, while other “škoromati” go from bar to bar for food and drinks, paid for by their good cousins “poberini”.