Suzie Blue Photography

Traditional Carnival Masks

noreply@blogger.com (Suzie) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:36:51 PST

On Shrove Saturday, 27^th February 1960, the first organised event called Kurentovanje was held in Ptuj featuring the traditional carnival masks from Markovci lined up in a carnival procession. At the sound of music played by a local band, the ones to lead the procession were the dancing spearmen followed by ploughmen, »rusa«, a bear, the fairies, cockerels and Kurents. The typical performance and customs of each traditional mask were explained to the gathered crowd over loud-speakers. The event knew a tremendous success and aroused general interest which encouraged the organisers to continue. A year later masks from Markovci were joined by ploughmen from Lancova Vas, log-haulers from Cirkovci and the mourners coming from Hajdina. For the first time carnival (non-ethnographic) groups presented themselves in the afternoon. In 1962 the event reached beyond the local boundaries by inviting »laufarji» (runners) from Cerkno and “borovo gostuvanje” (the marriage of pine) from Predanovci in the Prekmurje region. But the international dimension was only acquired in the years to follow when local and Slovene traditional masks were joined by masks from Croatia, Serbia, Macedonia, Hungary, Austria, Italy, and many others. On the other hand, thousands of spectators came to the carnival for the amusing and varied carnival part.

The main event of Kurentovanje is the procession of traditional carnival masks and groups taking place on Shrove Sunday in the afternoon. For a great number of years the constituent part of the event was also the presentation of individual traditional carnival groups taking place either on Saturday or Sunday morning prior to the afternoon procession. In 1994 Kurentovanje knew an upgrade as the event was conceived to last for more than a couple of days featuring various carnival events, performances of traditional carnival masks on the square in front of the Town Hall, the burial of the Carnival, and the organised entertainment programme held in the carnival tent. In 1999 the organisers introduced the Prince of the Carnival who has since been chosen among numerous active perpetuators of the masquerading tradition in the region of Ptuj. The enthronement of the Prince takes place on 11^th November each year – on St. Martin’s Day – which has become an important cultural and entertaining event in itself.

The Prince

''Mala Rusa''

During the past few years, the carnival time has started at midnight on 2^ndFebruary – Candlemas. Budina, one of the mostly rural suburbs of Ptuj, stages the event – a huge bonfire around which start dancing, on the strike of twelve, Kurents, simply equipped with a chain and five bells, holding a wooden club in their hands, thus announcing the beginning of carnival. From this moment on Kurents are “allowed” to do their habitual rounds.

The marry part of the carnival has gladly followed this habit and nowadays lasts for approximately eleven days, starting on Saturday, a week before Shrove Sunday, when only traditional carnival masks form a procession on the streets of Ptuj and when the Prince of the Carnival is bestowed upon the honour to rule the town during the carnival period. Each day features performances of masks and many other entertaining events taking place on the square in front of the Town Hall and in the carnival tent. All these activities culminate in the Saturday’s procession of traditional, and typically carnival masks, children’s carnival parade, the burial of Carnival and the return of power to the Mayor of the town. But sometimes there are just a few days between Candlemas and Shrove Tuesday which means that other activities are of shorter duration, too. Consequently, this strongly influences the entire programme and development of the event.

The idea of an organised carnival event in Ptuj came up in the 50’s of the last century, as the carnival masks spontaneously formed processions on Shrove Tuesday preceded by a band. That was how in 1959 Drago Hasl, strongly backed by those who shared his views, proposed to the Historical Society of Ptuj to take over the organisation and the implementation of the carnival event that should be named after the most well-known mask Kurent – Kurentovanje in Ptuj. Drago Hasl, indefatigable organiser of Kurentovanje since its beginnings until the 70’s of the past century, was strongly convinced that the organised event could prevent the extremely rapid progression toward extinction of carnival habits in the surrounding villages; on the other hand, such performances could meet expectations of numerous spectators. Hasl also made a draft regarding the content and outlined the major guidelines to be followed in order to transform Kurentovanje into an event of ethnographic importance containing the unique carnival figures and habits from the Ptuj region, which could have been joined at a later stage by other traditional Slovene masks, thus making the event grow into a festival of masks. He equally planned to expand the content of the event by introducing contemporary carnival masks. The conjunction of the aforementioned guidelines and efforts employed by the organisers has turned Kurentovanje into the Carnival of European dimensions, confirmed also by admitting the town of Ptuj into the European Federation of Carnival Cities (EFCC-FECC) in 1991.

In 2010 we've celebrated the 50^th anniversary of the first organised procession of traditional carnival masks in Ptuj.

(Please note: This text has been taken from http://www.kurentovanje.net/en/homepage/1-o-kurentovanju/5-osrednji-dogodki.)

A few ''traditional'' masks from this year's carnival ...

Spearmen (kopjaši)

And the famous ''KURENT'' deserves it's own post, so see ya soon. ;-D

Lego

noreply@blogger.com (Suzie) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:29:08 PST

What's the slogan for Lego? Find your inspiration? Well, this carnival group certainly found it!

The LEGO city from Mala vas was one of my favourite ones this year and won the first place at the 52nd carnival parade. Congratulations!

First Carnival Impressions

noreply@blogger.com (Suzie) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:59:03 PST

First photos of the 52nd International Ethnographic and Carnival Parade in Ptuj. These lovely Mozart dolls finished at place 6.

Music Box Puppets / Lutke iz glasbene skrinjice, Stojnci (Kurentovanje 2012 © Suzie Blue Photography )

Music Box Puppets, Stojnci (Kurentovanje 2012 © Suzie Blue Photography )

I Follow Rivers

noreply@blogger.com (Suzie) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 05:43:13 PST

Run deep, run wild.

I, I follow, I follow you.
Deep sea baby, I follow you.
I, I follow, I follow you.
Dark doom honey, I follow you.

Icy Flow

noreply@blogger.com (Suzie) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 13:34:01 PST

A river flows in you ...

And the following ones remind me of feet. :)

Winter Sunset

noreply@blogger.com (Suzie) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 04:52:06 PST

Gotta enjoy winter ... it's so much fun to take photos of a snowy landscape and it's dreamy details.

Last Whispers of Perfection

noreply@blogger.com (Suzie) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:43:24 PST

Finally some snow! Ok, not as much as we are used to in this time of year, but at least we have been blessed with a couple of snowflakes this weekend. And I was really happy about it. I like to watch those tiny perfect snowflakes.

But little by little the perfection vanishes into the floor...

Veinage

noreply@blogger.com (Suzie) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:44:53 PST

2U8JVATU7GHR .                                                                                                .

Skies on Fire

noreply@blogger.com (Suzie) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:48:39 PST

January. My daily walk across the fields. Always the same route, yet each time under different skies. Sometimes vague and boring, other times hot red and on fire.

Skies on Fire

Red Hot

Lines And Shadows

noreply@blogger.com (Suzie) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:29:26 PST

                                         ...........

After The Rain

noreply@blogger.com (Suzie) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:24:55 PST

Marbles on trees ... after the rain.

                                                              .........

It's a Kind of Magic

noreply@blogger.com (Suzie) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:30:02 PST

One dream, one soul, one prize,
one goal, one golden glance of what should be.
It’s a kind of magic.
One flash of light that shows the way ...

(A Kind of Magic, Queen)

Ptujski most (2012)

                                                          ............

Decadence

noreply@blogger.com (Suzie) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:33:56 PST

Decadence (2012 © Suzie Blue Photography)

                                                            ...............

Color Riche

noreply@blogger.com (Suzie) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 07:20:36 PST

I've taken a few shots of a tree in front of our house. It was a gift of a good friend and was planted many years ago. Nobody in my family knows how it's called and I don't recall seeing it anywhere else. I remember that a neighbour said it's probably from India and that if you fall asleep under it you will sleep forever. Well, I did not dare to try. It's definitely my favourite – now, in winter time, it reminds me of a Christmas tree.

Frozen drops

noreply@blogger.com (Suzie) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 07:21:10 PST

Illuminated (2012)

Frozen (2012)

Melting (2012)

Luck, Luck & Luck in 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Suzie) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 07:21:31 PST

Wish you all the best in 2012! Love, luck and lots of sunshine in and outside of your hearts. I know I'm a bit late, but as usually my year has started with a nasty cold ...

Since in Feng Shui the elephant is a symbol of strength, power, virility, longevity, fidelity, dignity, intelligence and wisdom, I hope it'll bring us all good fortune and closer to our wishes and the people we love.

Good Fortune (2012)

Have You Ever Been to Maribor?

noreply@blogger.com (Suzie) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 06:26:51 PST

Have you ever been to Maribor? Don’t worry, you will soon want to. In 2012, Maribor will be the European Capital of Culture.

Stari most, 2011 © Suzie Blue Photography

In 2012, the Slovenian city of Maribor – which is home to the oldest vine in the world – is proud to play host to a year of outstanding and exciting cultural performances to which all of Europe is invited. This is a challenge for Maribor, but one that faces many other regional towns and cities throughout Slovenia and, indeed throughout Europe at this difficult time for us all. Maribor will share the ECOC 2012 title with its Slovenian partner towns Murska Sobota, Novo Mesto, Ptuj, Slovenj Gradec and Velenje. Altogether, the ECOC will extend to cover more than half of the total area of Slovenia. In 2012, this unique region between Austria, Italy and Hungary which has had a history to rival any part of Europe since Roman times will once again become an international crossroad.

Maribor is thoroughly preparing for the ECOC. More than 400 architecture organisations from all over the world participated in the International Architectural Competition “River Drava 2012”, which combined three central projects for the revitalising regeneration of the river embankment in the city. This area around the river will be one of the principal settings of the European Capital of Culture and a key element to the town’s development in the next 20 years. As a result of the competition, the new art gallery will be designed by a Hungarian firm, the river bank between the Water Tower and the Judgement Tower by one from Italy and the new footbridge across the river Drava by Spanish architects. Europe truly is coming to the heart of Maribor!

With the generous support of the European Regional Development Fund, Maribor has already renovated a historic 13th century building in the city centre which will play host to the headquarters of the European Capital of Culture. Also new is the Maribor Puppet Theatre – located in a former Minorite monastery the theatre is arguably the most beautiful of its type in Europe. Shortly the former monastery’s church will be transformed into a music venue and by 2012, all the city centre’s main squares will have been redeveloped to accommodate and welcome our visitors. The smallest of these, Rotovž Square, will become the new central library. Through realising the vision of world-renowned theatre director Tomaž Pandur, whose artistic endeavours span from Madrid and Berlin to his hometown of Maribor, the city will gain a new Centre of Performing Arts Maribor (CPAM) on the right bank of the Drava River. Offering excellent views across Maribor, CPAM will undoubtedly provide many cultural highlights and become a key visitor attraction during our European Capital of Culture year.

All of this makes the ECOC the biggest cultural project in the history of Slovenia – a country which, coincidentally but perhaps appropriately, will celebrate its 21st birthday as an independent nation in 2012 does so with the opportunity to come of age on the global stage.

The question is not therefore “Have you ever been to Maribor?” but rather “When do you arrive?”.

See you all in 2012….

(http://www.global-travels.net/slovenia/maribor-culture-2012)

On the photo:

Today’s Old Bridge or Stari most was built between the years 1906 and 1912. It was one of the most beautiful bridges in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Prior to the steel construction, there used to be a wooden bridge, that connected the central part with the other side, called Tabor. The bridge was partly destroyed during WWII, rebuilt after the war and renovated in 1990 and 1998. It's 166m long.

(http://mykafkaesquelife.blogspot.com/2010/11/maribor-my-hometown.html)

Natural Silk

noreply@blogger.com (Suzie) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 07:22:07 PST

A treasure of silver and gold in the middle of nowhere. Stunning.

Just a Shadow

noreply@blogger.com (Suzie) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 07:22:46 PST

Treat me like a prisoner,

treat me like a fool.

Treat me like a looser,

use me as a tool,

waste me till I'm hungry,

lose me in the cold.

Treat me like a criminal ...

just a shadow on the wall.

(Mike Oldfield)

Ptuj at Night

noreply@blogger.com (Suzie) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 07:23:42 PST

Ptuj is the oldest city in Slovenia. There is evidence that the area was settled in the Stone Age. In the Late Iron Age it was settled by Celts. By the 1st century BC, the settlement was controlled by Ancient Rome. In 69 AD, Vespasian was elected Roman Emperor by the Danubian legions in Ptuj, and the first written mention of the city of Ptuj is from the same year. The city of Poetovio was the base-camp of Legio XIII Gemina in Pannonia. The name originated in the times of Emperor Trajan, who granted the settlement city status and named it Colonia Ulpia Traiana Poetovio in 103.

Read and see more ............

The city had 40,000 inhabitants until it was plundered by the Huns in 450. In 570 the city was occupied by Eurasian Avars and Slavic tribes. Ptuj became part of the Frankish Empire after the fall of Avar state at the end of 8th century. Between 840 and 874 it belonged to the Slavic Balaton Principality of Pribina and Kocelj. Between 874 and 890 Ptuj gradually came under the influence of the Archbishopric of Salzburg; city rights passed in 1376 began an economic upswing for the settlement. As Pettau, it was incorporated into the Duchy of Styria in 1555.

Pettau was a battleground during the Ottoman wars in Europe and suffered from fires in 1684, 1705, 1710, and 1744. Its population and importance began to decline in the 19th century, however, after the completion of the Vienna-Trieste route of the Austrian Southern Railway, as the line went through Marburg (Maribor) instead.

According to the 1910 Austro-Hungarian census, 86% of the population of Pettau's Old Town was German-speaking, while the population of the surrounding villages predominantly spoke Slovene. After the collapse of Austria-Hungary at the end of World War I, Pettau was included in the short-lived Republic of German Austria, but after the military intervention of the Slovenian general Rudolf Maister, the entire territory of Lower Styria was included into the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs (Yugoslavia). During the interwar period, the number and the percentage of those identifying as Germans in the city, which was renamed Ptuj, decreased rapidly, although a relatively strong ethnic German minority remained. After the invasion of Yugoslavia in April 1941, Ptuj was occupied by Nazi Germany. From 1941 to 1944 the town's Slovenian population was dispossessed and deported. Their homes were taken over by German speakers from South Tyrol and the Gottschee County, who had themselves been evicted according to an agreement between Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini. These German immigrants, along with the native German Pettauer, were expelled to Austria in 1945; many later settled in North America.

Since 1945 Ptuj has been populated almost completely by Slovenians.

(Source: Wikipedia)

Snailish

noreply@blogger.com (Suzie) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 07:24:05 PST

Looking for a Way Out

noreply@blogger.com (Suzie) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 07:24:30 PST

We all feel a bit lonely and lost sometimes. And while I was looking for a way out of my vicious circle, I was lucky enough to have a friend who stood by my side and cheered me up. What a creative day! After taking a few shots of my friend Katja, I just couldn't resist to get on the stonewall myself ... so we switched the roles. She did an excellent job in capturing my mood. :)

Teardrop

noreply@blogger.com (Suzie) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 07:24:45 PST

Water is my eye. Most faithful mirror… Teardrop on the fire.

A Harlequin Ladybird

noreply@blogger.com (Suzie) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 02:33:47 PST

A Harlequin Ladybird (2011)

..... .....

Fisherman's Catch

noreply@blogger.com (Suzie) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 07:25:48 PST

Another photo from my village. A proof that there are still some big fish to catch in this stream ... but of course with lots of patience.