if you walk alone through Ptuj you can find some quiet stone street and think you're the only person in town But then you'll hear it: the not-so-distant clanging of bells around the corner but from the belt of a masked man dressed head-to-toe in sheepskin This sound echoes down alleyways and across bridges during Pust a ten-day celebration of springtime and fertility ending the day before Ash Wednesday Slovenian Pust is not unlike carnivals across Europe -- an indulgent experience marked by elaborate parades it is the distinctive masks and local rituals that most excite the senses figures of early Slavic culture after which Slovenian Pust gets it's name: Kurentovanje The Kurent (or Korent) is a mythical god from Slovenian folklore known for his debauchery the Kurent represents fertility in several realms: agricultural and is therefore the perfect figure to ring in springtime traditional village carnival customs were quickly disappearing from the Slovenian landscape Only unmarried men were allowed to dress up as Kurenti shaking the bells on their waist to chase away evil spirits (and and children join these bachelors in putting on the Kurent mask and shaking off the winter as they please children are allowed to dress as devils and Kurenti A young boy grows tired at the end of his parade route One of the special things about Kurentovanje is that each village and town has its own traditions Kurenti from Markovci are recognized by their feathers while those from Haloze are known for their horns and typically have masks with long red tongues A group of Kurenti moves with a devil (usually in red) and also does a great job of scaring nearby children and gypsies with colorful floats leading the way There are brass bands and whip crackers making plenty of noise to But none of these characters are quite as remarkable or steeped in mythology as the Kurent Brass bands perform one the streets of Markovci Horses bump into each other as they run in circles You can see the diversity in costumes if you attend the celebration in Ptuj on the Sunday before Ash Wednesday and elsewhere to participate in the parade You will see locals and tourists mingling in the massive crowds along the route and witness the fabled Kurent from a short distance Kurentovanje costume-maker offers parade-goers a swig of homemade slivovitz (plum brandy) Though the carnival in Ptuj is the most famous and boasts the largest attendance Smaller parades in nearby villages maintain the intimacy and spontaneity of years past a small municipality just southeast of Ptuj there are no fences to separate onlookers from the festivities so parade participants and attendees mix together throughout the town neighbors still stand in front of their homes to hand out spritzers and krofi (Slovenian donuts) to all the rowdy revelers And these revelers do get surprisingly rowdy In a nation that is notably more reserved than its former-Yugoslav counterparts (due in no small part to the cultural influence of previous Austro-Hungarian rule) it is refreshing to witness the wildness of this homegrown Kurentovanje As light shines down on the joyous bacchanal it is easy to feel at once inspired by the cultural richness of the immediate surroundings and transported to an entirely different time and place This is the sublime power and beauty of Kurentovanje and the experience that thousands seek each February on otherwise tranquil Slovenian streets Slovenian friends make their own spritzers as they walk to the parade About The National Geographic SocietyThe National Geographic Society is a global nonprofit organization that uses the power of science education and storytelling to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world National Geographic has pushed the boundaries of exploration investing in bold people and transformative ideas providing more than 15,000 grants for work across all seven continents reaching 3 million students each year through education offerings and engaging audiences around the globe through signature experiences To learn more, visit www.nationalgeographic.org or follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook. National Geographic Headquarters 1145 17th Street NW Washington, DC 20036 Spartanburg police have arrested a man for the robbery of the Carolina Foothills Federal Credit Union on John B Art Littlejohn said in an email just before 8:30 p.m The Asheville Police Department and FBI assisted Spartanburg police with the arrest and Markovci was brought to the Spartanburg County Detention Center Littlejohn added that Markovci is the same man who on Nov 27 robbed the First Piedmont Federal Bank on John B a man carrying a small black bag walked up to the counter inside Carolina Foothills Federal Credit Union and presented a note The man did not display a gun and the employees complied and gave him an undisclosed amount of cash The man then walked out of the business and got into a white Chevrolet four-door pickup truck A credit union official who arrived at the scene minutes after the robbery said employees were cooperating with the police investigation “Our first concern is for the safety of our employees and members,” said Terri Hendrix vice president of development and community engagement for Carolina Foothills One customer who wanted to make a deposit said she wondered why the police cars were parked outside “I’m shocked,” Tina Williams said upon learning the bank had just been robbed Vstopnice: https://www.entrio.si/event/fasenk-v-markovcih-plavi-orkestar-et-firbci… Notices are posted by 10 am Monday through Saturday Adjust Text Size: A+ A- Joe was the beloved husband of Juliska Casar He also leaves behind his sons Stan and Marjan Casar as well as daughter-in-law Stephanie as evident in the way he lived his own life Joe was an altar boy during his younger years and in his teens started his career as a soldier he decided it was time to leave Slovenia and build a better life 1957 both he and Juliska made the decision to cross the border and after two days of hiding in the forest made it safely into Austria where they were married on June 22 This was followed by a long journey to Canada During their first night in a different country with a new language they were fortunate to encounter a good Samaritan who took them into his home and helped them find jobs in the construction and sewing industry Looking for a better life for his young family This landed him into his true calling in life Customers became good friends and were used to hearing Joe's shout of shoot em again in the cocktail lounge of the Hungarian Village restaurant With Juliska and Steve and Agnes Perkic as partners Joe and Juliska took an extended vacation to Hawaii New Zealand and Australia visiting relatives and meeting new friends Joe's sense of humour and zest for life will always be remembered by everyone who had the pleasure of meeting him The family would like to express their extreme gratitude to Dr for many years of visiting and taking care of our Ati We would also like to thank the staff of Maples Personal Care Home and understanding while assisting Joe during his last years We also extend our deepest thanks and appreciation to the kind and sincere staff of Charleswood Care Centre but also his family in his final stages of life Prayers will be said at Cropo Funeral Chapel Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Society of Manitoba at http://www.alzheimer.mb.ca/ or by calling (204) 943-6622 As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 18 Share your memories and/or express your condolences below Unfortunately with the need to moderate tributes for inappropriate content your comments may take up to 48 hours to appear