We are in the middle of the carnival season, which marks the transition between winter and spring. The daylight hours increase every day, nature wakes up and, with the sun and higher temperatures, joy and colors return. Among the carnivals in Europe we recommend you experience the carnivals in Slovenia. You will have an unforgettable time. Here, carnivals have a long tradition. In the past, people believed that the costumes used to frighten away the winter to make way for spring.
Today, above all, they have a social character, as they are an opportunity to see neighbors, eat meat and sweets (the more fat they have, the better!), stretch out, and leave the winter armor behind.
So where are the most important and well-known carnivals in Slovenia?
Read on below and contact us to take you to say goodbye to winter.
The Carnival in Ptuj
Carnival in the oldest city in Slovenia and certainly the most famous in our country. Called here kurentovanje – the name comes from this typical costume. The Kurent is the name of the most traditional Slovenian costume. In 2017, UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) added the door-to-door rounds of Kurents/Korants to its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. But who is the Kurent?
In general, the Kurent is a savage who brings good luck, health, and abundant harvests. It represents an ancient attempt to influence the laws of nature through magic. Some believe that they are linked to the Illyrian-Celtic tradition, while others claim that they were mythological companions of the goddess Cybele, who was worshipped in the Roman Poetovian territory, or that they appeared with the settlement of the Uskok in the 16th century. His costume weighs 40 kg and is made of sheepskin.
On the upper part covering the head, he has colorful ribbons, and a long tongue made of cloth or leather comes out of his mouth. But a Kurent does not speak, he dances. It is a difficult and very noisy dance because he wears at least five cowbells around his waist.
It is Important to Scare Away Winter!
Traditionally, each Kurent carried a stick in his hand, the upper part of which was covered with hedgehog skin (ježevka). The Kurent grasps the stick with his left hand and, with his right hand, wishes happiness and good harvest to the people. It symbolizes the philosophy that happiness never comes alone.
It is a pride to be “Kurent”. It is not just a costume, but a tradition with quite strict rules. In the past, the role of women was to welcome the Kurent, offer them sausage and a drink, and also dance with them. Nowadays, they can also dress up in costumes.
If you visit Ptuj outside the carnival, you can see all the traditional costumes in the museum next to the Ptuj castle and try wearing one to see firsthand how heavy they are. In addition, Ptuj is also one of the Slovenian cities famous for its hot springs. A true historical city, with a thermal spa and one of the most famous carnivals in Europe.
Carnival in Cerkno – Laufarji in Cerkno
In the town of Cerkno, the carnival tradition of “laufaria” includes 26 characters, 25 of which are known as “laufarji” and wear handmade masks made of linden wood. Each of these characters has a specific name.
The most important character in the “laufaria” is Carnival, who is symbolically sentenced to death with a hammer, as he is considered responsible for all the evils that occurred during the previous year. His death symbolizes the end of winter. The costume of this character is made of moss and can weigh up to 100 kilos.
In Cerkno you will also find ski slopes, perfect if you visit the region in winter, or if you decide to visit the historic Franja Partisan Hospital. In summer, the area offers numerous hiking trails, as well as the option of visiting the nearby village of Idrija, famous for its tradition of bobbin lace making and its mercury mines, which were the second largest in the world, after those of the Spanish town of Almaden.
Cerknica Carnival
From Fat Thursday until Ash Wednesday, Cerknica is transformed into Butale. In the book Butalci by Fran Milčinski, published in 1949, the “Butalci” are people who think they are very clever, but it always turns out that nothing can be further from the truth.
However, the Butalci are not the only mask recognized at the Cerknica Carnival. Witches were already mentioned by Janez Vajkard Valvasor in his work The Glory of the Duchy of Carniola (1689), where he spoke of a hole at the top of Slivnica Mountain, which was considered to be the meeting place of witches who cooked up storms. The chief of them all is called Ursula!
Cerknica is also known for its lake, which seems to have been the work of witches. It is an intermittent lake, surrounded by nature that has a mysterious air, almost as if it were the work of sorcery.
Unlike carnivals in Europe, all carnivals and traditions in Slovenia have two things in common: the salute to spring and the ingenious masks and costumes that are centuries old.
Oh, and we can’t forget the Krofi! This Carnival sweet is probably even more popular than the masks themselves. If you are going back from Ptuj to Ljubljana, a mandatory stop is Trojane, which has a long tradition of preparing Krofi or Berliners, filled with jam, vanilla cream, or chocolate.
Contact us if you want to see the carnivals or just visit the charming Slovenian cities.
