Meltdown, The Alps Under Pressure, National Geographic Magazine: Slovenian Carnival Character Kurent

Carnival is celebrated in the Slovenian countryside displaying a variety of costumes and individual characters among which the most popular is the Kurent (plural: Kurenti), a monstrous and demon-like, but fluffy figure.

Costumes of long, white fur and large cowbells are very old traditions and the highlight of the Ptuj Carnival parade. A father and son remove their heavy, hot masks to take a break during the merry making.

The lore of Pust or Carnival in old Europe traces back to Pagan beliefs that the dark and cold winter was caused by evil.  When people found the first signs of spring, they celebrated when light won over the darkness of winter.

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