Carnival in Slovenia

Carnival in Slovenia is a time for celebration, dancing, masked frolics and processions. The old traditions in Slovenia were formerly a part of village life, but today the large Mardi Gras processions take place in the towns.

Carnival used to be a time of weddings or for meeting future partners during the festivities. Today it is mostly children and juveniles who dress up for the Mardi Gras processions or for school.

Driving out the winter

In Slovenia there are many events and Mardi Gras processions. The medieval town of Ptuj in the east of the country organises the largest Carnival in Slovenia, called “kurentovanje” in which the “kurenti” play an important role. They represent magic creatures from the next world, disguised in sheepskins and equipped with chains, cowbells and frightening masks made of feathers and hides, ribbons and horns. They drive out the evil spirits of winter and summon the spring. In the old days only adult single men were allowed to disguise themselves but today anyone can do so. During Carnival they travel through Slovenia and visit mayors, members of the parliament and the cabinet and even the head of state. The roads and squares in Ptuj, Slovenia’s oldest town, are filled every year with more than 100,000 people. The festivities allowed on this day are designed to preserve the cultural heritage.

Heralding the spring

The “lauferji” in the town of Cerkno are also among the most well-known masked figures in Slovenia. They typically wear masks made of lime wood and are meant to ensure a good year and rich harvest. The main figure is the moss-bedecked “Pust”, who carries a spruce in his hand and incorporates everything evil, all the sins and errors of the previous year. On Mardi Gras he is sentenced to death to make way for the spring.

Burning of Ursula the witch

The town of Cerknica is also famous for its one-week Carnival celebrations culminating in a procession on the Sunday before Ash Wednesday. The emblem of Cerknica is the giant figure of the witch mother Ursula, who fled with other witches from Mount Slivnica to Cerknica. Other fabled creatures from the town’s history are also present, including frogs, monsters, dragons and giant pikes. On Ash Wednesday the witch Ursula is symbolically burnt.

Carnival is also celebrated in the country’s capital – particularly on the Saturday before Ash Wednesday. Apart from the procession through the streets of the city, an extensive entertainment programme is also offered at Zvezda Park, so much so that Slovenia has established itself increasingly alongside neighbouring Venice and Villach as a popular Carnival destination.