Kurentovanje

The masked rite of spring known as Kurentovanje has been held since 1960, every February for 10 days leading up to Shrove Tuesday. It is the most popular Mardi Gras celebration in Slovenia, with most of the festivities centred in Ptuj, Slovenia's oldest town, which has hosted Kurentovanje since the beginning. Today, the programme also includes several international groups.

This popular Carnival celebration was admitted into the European Federation of Carnival Cities in 1991. In 2017, the Door-to-Door Rounds of the Kurent were inscribed on the UNESCO representative list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

Groups from Germany, Austria, Croatia, Italy, Macedonia, Romania and Bulgaria usually participate in the event, assisting local people in building up the Land of the Kurent. The rite itself is accompanied by a full agenda of concerts, activities and other attractions, ensuring that more than 100,000 visitors attend every year.

The Origins

The name Kurentovanje derives from the festival's central figure, the Kurent, who, in earlier times, was believed to possess the power to chase away winter and usher in spring. The origins of both the Kurent and the Kurentovanje festivities are obscure, potentially stemming from earlier Slavic, Celtic or Illyrian customs. Similar traditions are found throughout the region, extending to parts of Croatia, Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria and elsewhere.

The Kurent costume is simple, consisting of a sheepskin hat and outfit, cowbells hanging from a chain belt, red or green wool socks, and black boots. However, the creation of the Kurent mask is a significant folk art in Slovenia, with only two masters of Kurent masks remaining – Master Klinc from Spuhlja and Master Zelenik from Markovci. The mask, crafted from leather, features two holes for the eyes and one for the mouth, surrounded by red paint. A trunk-like nose, whiskers made of twigs, and teeth made of white beans are attached, with the final touch being a long, red tongue.

Studies of the Kurent tradition have been conducted at Ptuj – Ormož Regional Museum and BISTRA Scientific Research Centre, Ptuj.

European Capital of Culture 2012

The Kurentovanje Festival was included in the Maribor, European Capital of Culture 2012 programme, Ptuj being one of its partner cities. The aim is to turn the festival into the largest ethnic Carnival in Europe. The ethnological guidelines were developed by Janez Bogataj and Aleš Gačnik, two scientists who acknowledge the constant metamorphoses and transformations of this tangible heritage.