26 Feb 2014
LONDON’S FIRST SLOVENIAN CARNIVAL TAKES PLACE IN MARCH!
Carnival Season in Slovenia Starting on 4th March…
World renowned for its increasingly popular and idyllic landscape, Slovenia has a whole lot more to offer in the way of carnivals during spring. Pust, perhaps better known as Shrove Tuesday is a once pagan celebration that was practised to better farmers luck with nature. It now plays host to a carnival that is known by its natives to ‘turn the world upside down’. Masks and costumes play a vital role when celebrating Pust as well a number of other carnivals across the country that welcome spring, this becomes the time for the Kurents to come out to play…
Funny Carnival Characters…
It is the Kurentovanje festival of Ptuj that puts Slovenia above other European countries for its imaginative and enchanting rituals and traditions. With over 100,000 attendants per year, carnival-goers travel far and wide to see the most spectacular aspect of this carnival that lies within its eye catching costumes and in particular, the aforementioned Kurents. Each costume (to be worn by single men) weighs between 30-50kg and consists of shaggy white or black sheep skin, horns, several cow bells and is decorated with handkerchiefs which are to be snatched by the pretty maidens. Among the processions of Kurents and visitors, a more sinister costume is worn by the devil as he makes his way through the crowds.
8th March - A Slovenian Carnival Comes to London!
But if Slovenia is a little far away for you this spring, why not meet the Kurents a little closer to home at the Camden Centre for London’s first ever Shrovtide (Pust) Festival hosted by Kingfisher Events Management. In true authentic Slovenian style you can enjoy the performances from famous Slovenian singer Zoran Predin a DJ set playing the latest beats from all over Europe. Come dressed in your very own take of the Kurent costumes and/or masks, enjoy Slovenian food and drink to be in with a chance of winning a prize for best dressed!
More information….
https://www.facebook.com/events/229850860531397
http://www.kingfisherevents.co.uk/
http://www.slovenia.info/en/Events-festivals.htm?prireditve=0&lng=2
http://predin.com/
Notes to editors.
For further Information:
Mr Tine Murn,
Head of UK Office, Slovenian Tourist Board
t: +44 870 225 5305
m: tine.murn@spiritslovenia.si
PR material: www.slovenia.info/press
FB: facebook.com/slovenia.info
twitter: @SloveniaInfo
