TITLE: Kurent Mask
TYPE: face mask
GENERAL REGION: Europe
COUNTRY: Slovenia
SUBREGION: N/A
ETHNICITY: Slovene
DESCRIPTION: Kurent (Korant) Mask
CATALOG ID: N/A
MAKER: N/A (Ptuj)
CEREMONY: Pust (Shrovetide); Kurentovanje
FUNCTION: Agriculture; Celebration; Entertainment; Protection/Purification
AGE: N/A
MAIN MATERIAL: leather and wool
OTHER MATERIALS: N/A

In Slovena, Pust or Shrovetide is celebrated by ancient rituals to chase away the evil spirits of winter and welcome an early spring. The rituals include the kurent, or korant, which is a masked figure in a massive sheepskin garment (kurentija), cowbells on a leather belt, a furry hat with horns or feathers, ande a sheepskin mask with a large red tongue. The masqueraders jump, whirl, clang their bells, and shout to drive away the evils spirits of winter.

Another ritual is Laufarji, a group of about 25 characters who wear linden wood masks (larfe) and surround a character known as Pust, who is covered in moss and horns, and blamed for the misfortunes of the past year.

Still another is Liški Pustje in the Soča Valley, in which masqueraders are divided into “uglies” and “beautifuls.” All wear tin, copper, or aluminum masks. The beautifuls dance to entertain the village, while the uglies (figures like the Devil or the Doctor) maintain public order or play pranks on people.

Perhaps the oldest tradition is Škoromati in Brkini, which is thought to originate in the 14th century. The masked Škopit characters carry large wooden tongs to chase away the evil, while “beautiful” masked characters visit houses to collect gifts for the new year.

The Museum’s collection currently includes no representative example of any Slovenian mask.