63rd Kurentovanje (2023)

Kurentovanje 2023

Newǃ "Kurent's House" next to Town Theater
(the light greenish building on the far right)
Information
Date: | 11–21 February 2023
Location: | Ptuj, Slovenia
Organized by: | Ptuj Tourism Public Institute
Edition: | 63rd
Main character: | Kurent (Korant)
18th carnival prince: | knight Hinko Sodinski
International Carnival Parade
Record: (2011) | 65.000 visitors[1]
Current: (2023) |

Kurentovanje 2023 is the upcoming 63rd Ptuj carnival, organized by Ptuj Tourism Public Institute.

After two years of the pandemic and virtual events and self-initiated and spontaneously organized processions and parades around the old city center, the carnival is back in full range, without restrictions and officially organized. This year's novelty is the opening of Kurent's house in the old town.[2][3]

## Schedule[edit]

Every night between 12 and 20 February, Kurents (Korants) will perform at 6 pm local.

### Introduction[edit]

Since  | Events  | Always on the same day  | Visit

|
|
|

2001  | 23rd Kurent (Korant) Jump  | Midnight ritual by the fire at
Zoki's homestead in Budina
(Candlemas – 2 to 3 February)  | 500
Kurents

### Main traditional events[edit]

Since  | Events  | Always on the same day  | Visit

|
|
|

↓ Ethnic and carnival parades ↓
1998  | 26th Opening Ethnic Procession  | Saturday (11.2.)  | 15,000
2017  | 7th Day of Kurent (Korant) Groups  | Wednesday (15.2.)  | 800
Kurents
2015  | 9th Night Spectacle  | Shrove Friday (17.2.)  |
1873 | 11th City Carnival Promenade  | Shrove Saturday (18.2.)  |
2013
1960  | 63rd International Carnival Parade | Shrove Sunday (19.2.)  |
63rd Slovenian Kindergartens Parade  | Shrove Monday (20.2.)  |
63rd Burial Shrove  | Shrove Tuesday (21.2.)  |

### Accompanying events[edit]

Since  | Charity cooking event  | Always on the same day  | Visit

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|
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2006  | 18th Obarjada | pre-Shrove Saturday (11.2.)  | 8,000
Since  | Art events  | Always on the same day

|
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2009  | 15th Ex-Tempore  | Art colony  | pre-Shrove Saturday (11.2.)
Exhibition Opening  | Shrove Saturday (18.2.)
Kurent (Korant), the main figure

### Evening display of indigenous characters[edit]

Date  | Indigenous character(s)  | Day

|
|

↓ In old town from 5:00 – 8:00 pm ↓
12th  | The Whip Crackers, Rusas  | pre-Shrove Sunday
13th  | Ploughmen, Old Woman Carrying Her Man  | pre-Shrove Monday
14th  | Gypsies, Jürek and Rabolj, Log-Haulers  | pre-Shrove Tuesday
16th  | the Spearman, Kurike and Piceki,
Fairies, The Mischievous Bear  | Shrove Thursday
20th  | Kurent (Korant)  | Shrove Monday

### Music entertainment[edit]

From 3–19 February 2023, various music acts will perform at Kampus Hall, a commercial part completely separated from the carnival.

## Indigenous characters[edit]

Indigenous characters (masks) from Ptuj wider area including Ptuj field, Drava field and from Haloze:

* "Kurent" or "Korant" (the main character)
* "The Whip Crackers" (for happines and well-being)
* "Carnival dancers" (from Pobrežje, Videm)
* "the Spearman" (marital character)
* "Ploughmen" (draw a magic circle)
* "Log-Haulers" (to enchant fertility)
* "The Devil" (fear, fear, is coming)
* "The Trough" (the straw bride)

* "Old Woman Carrying Her Man" (spirits of heaven)
* "The Mischievous Bear" (from Ptuj field)
* "Kurike and Piceki" (for a good harvest)
* "Jürek and Rabolj" (from Haloze)
* "Fairies" (Zabovci)
* "Rusas" (from Ptuj field)
* "Gypsis" (from Dornava)

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|

## Prince of the carnival[edit]

Knight Hinko Sodinski, noble Gall, will take over the keys of the city hall from the mayor at the carnival opening (11.2.) to "rule" the town for 11 days.

## Newǃ Kurent's House[edit]

On 3 February 2023, Kurent's House was opened by "Association of Kurent clubs" at Murko Street in the old town center, right across the prominent Ptuj Town Theater. This house represent the importance of Kurent (Korant) at his well deserved and recognized spot in the history. It is the result of the efforts of 25 different Kurent associations (with total 1,100 members) to keep the tradition and cermenonies of Kurent (Korant) to live on.[4][5][6]

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Pustna nedelja presežkov (page 1)" (in Slovenian). Štajerski tednik. 8 March 2011.
2. ^ "Kurentovanje 2023" (in Slovenian). ptuj.si. 19 January 2023.
3. ^ "Kurentovanje 2023" (in Slovenian). visitptuj.eu. 1 February 2023.
4. ^ "Kurentova hiša". spodnjepodravje.si. 29 January 2023.
5. ^ "Odprtje Kurentove hiše". visitptuj.eu. 29 January 2023.
6. ^ "Dediščina Kurentov dobila svoj dom..." Ptuj info. 3 February 2023.

## External links[edit]

* Kurentovanje Official

*[ Hinko Sodinski]: knight Hinko Sodinski, noble Gall
*[1873]: Already in 1873 first City Carnival Promenade was held at Ptuj. It returned permanently in 2013.