During this year's Carnival days, the representatives of the Slovene Ethnographic Museum/Coordinator for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Culture Heritage in the field documented several carnival customs that took place in different places across Slovenia. You can see some highlights on the pictures below.
On Thursday (February 8, 2024), Adela Pukl documented the Carnival happenings in Mozirje. Pust Mozirski is a collective name for the Carnival group in Mozirje and the Carnival custom, which takes place in Mozirje every year from Maundy Thursday to Ash Wednesday. The characteristic of the representatives of the Pust Mozirski is their Carnival clothing, which consists of a black top hat, tailcoat and white trousers. On Fat Thursday in Mozirje, a ceremonial event took place on which a special list is awarded to the most deserving immigrant resident of Mozirje in the last year. The award ceremony takes place at the celebrant's home in the presence of the Carnival mayor, Carnival president and vice president, secretary, Carnival leader, orchestra and its leader. This year, teacher Rozika Kanjir received the list.
On Carnival Saturday (February 10, 2024), the representatives of Pust Mozirski set out across the borders of Mozirje. This year they were accompanied by Carnival ladies, and the BOJ SE GA ensemble provided "good music". By bus, they visited those who are responsible for the development of the local environment and support the activities of the association. Adela Pukl documented the event.
On Carnival Saturday, the 14th Istrian Carnival procession took place in Koper, which was not stopped even by a little rain. In addition to masks on this year's theme of the circus, the procession was also joined by Carnival groups from across Slovenia, for example kurenti and a carnival group from Vrbovo. The Istrian carnival procession was documented by Anja Jerin.
Although the weather forecast for western Slovenia was very bad, the traditional festivities in the villages did not stop on Carnival Saturday. We documented the Carnival events in Grgarske Ravne, which is home to Carnival characters called Pustarji. We also went to Vrsno, where children were hunted by Carnival characters called Maškarji. They went from house to house collecting gifts. Miha Špiček was in Grgarske Ravne and Vrsno.
Blaž Verbič documented the event Fašenk in Markovci on Carnival Saturday in Markovci. This is an event in which different groups of Carnival characters from around Ptuj participate. This year, exceptionally, they had two processions.
In Ilirska Bistrica, the 27th Pust je pršu event took place on Carnival Sunday. 19 Carnival groups from different places took part in the carnival procession, including the Kurenti and Škoromati. The Carnival procession in Ilirska Bistrica was documented by Anja Jerin.
On Monday afternoon (February 12, 2024), the representatives of Pust Mozirski went around the town with the "Boj se ga" orchestra and wished the locals a happy Carnival. Carnival Tuesday is the most important day in Mozirje. The morning began with a vigil and the assumption of power in the Municipality of Mozirje, when the mayor handed over power to the Carnival mayor. Afterwards they visited companies, kindergartens, municipalities, etc. At 4:00 p.m., the international Carnival procession began, the conclusion of which was a Carnival party in the evening.
Since no girl got married in Podhom near Bled from Christmas to Carnival Tuesday, after a break of several years, the boys again »pulled the plank« this year on Carnival Tuesday. The plank or »ploh« is a spruce, which was cut down in the nearby forest above the village, with colourful ribbons on the top. Then the Carnival procession led by the bride and groom went to the Podhom fire station, where they were stopped by the elderly men. After three successful tests, they made a deal and the party for the whole village began. In between, the men searched the audience for unmarried girls who had to kiss the top of the spruce.
Almost at the same time, the same event was also taking place in the nearby village Gorje, so in the meantime we caught the final preparations of a really impressive, as much as 37-meter-long spruce, which was being pulled by a horse-drawn carriage. Miha Špiček documented in Podhom and Gorje.
The Carnival events in Mozirje on Ash Wednesday are dedicated to the mourning and burial of the Shrovetide. On this day, Shrovetide had been lying on a stool in the middle of the square in Mozirje since the early hours of the morning. The guard of honor was changing next to him. The funeral followed in the afternoon, attended by the audience. Shrovetide was escorted to a nearby place called Pekove Lave, where he was burned at the stake. On the square, there was a vigil for actively participating pilgrims, who were served with pretzels, mustard, beer and wine. Also, the last will of Shrovetide was read - he died in a car accident when he was hit by a car as a cyclist. The varied Carnival events in Mozirje were documented by Adela Pukl and Blaž Verbič.
