Ptuj (pronounced Puh-toohey, sort of like you're spitting out something foul) is a rather small town in Slovenia but is the sight of the largest Karneval celebration in the country. It has a whole weekend of parties, parades and festivities. I took weekend trip with some friends - Friday in Brno and Saturday/Sunday in Ptuj - back in Prague before midnight Sunday night.
Saturday night was a large party with a few thousand people (I was number 2659 and there were hundreds behind me in life) all in incredible costumes, live bands and a lot of happiness. Sunday was a giant parade - not only the participants but most of the observers were in costume.
Traditionally there is a character, known as a kurent, which also looks a lot like a Native American kachina, that is the most popular costume of choice. Those who wear it train all year to participate - the clothing and hopping and dancing, the shaking and rattling - the sheer number of people in the "tribe" - it's all quite overwhelming.
Here is the tiniest little bit of the experience. It's a bit loud so adjust accordingly.
And I doubt you'll ever call for 'More cowbell' again!!
1 comment:
that is awesome! what an experience! "more cow bell" haha! that's probably the one and only SNL reference you could make that i would actually get...leaving you no doubt as to who is writing this post. :) if you have any doubt, we share a name and lived together for ahh, well, a long time. love you! XOXO
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