CARNIVAL IN VIR, Domzale, Slovenia, Europe

CARNIVAL IN VIR (DOMŽALE, SLOVENIA, EUROPE)

HISTORY

In 1936 the death certificate was written for Pust and years later it was found by a local man in Vir. He dressed up and went around the village calling to youngsters. People gathered and followed him, they prepared a bonfire where they burnt the Pust puppet and had good time with music and drinks.
This local man was called Striček and now the carnival bears his name.

What started as a smaller event for the local inhabitants who just wanted to have fun has grown into one of the biggest carnivals in Slovenia. At the beginning only the locals got dressed and had fun in the streets, not many group masks were there but now this became serious work that involves many people who voluntarily work for two months every year to organise the carnival of this size. Organising committee has meetings once a week or more often if necessary where all the people are invited to participate in preparing this event.
This year there are more than 40 group masks, some ethnological, some funny, some are parodies on what they think is appropriate, some from children's stories, but they all try to do the best they can. No wonder as there are prizes for the best ones.
In Vir it all starts with putting up the mascot Striček (little uncle) who proudly represents the carnival. Special laws are written, new government with all necessary ministers starts to rule, special militia takes care of the order and good times start.

CARNIVAL LAWS

Who is not present in Vir for carnival is to move till August.
Wives, girlfriends and other feminine relatives of male carnival organizers are to let their male companions free so they can fulfil all the carnival and other possible but unavoidable obligations. Otherwise they will be burnt as witches.
All pubs must be open 24 hours daily.
Waitresses are not to be fully dressed and glasses must be filled to the
top (or more).
Non-alcoholic beverages are forbidden. All inhabitants are to be slightly
drunk all the time.
Price for one litre of wine must be 3,5 € at least one day of the carnival. This will be supervised by carnival inspectors.
Work is strictly forbidden. It can be allowed under certain circumstances not known to this parliament.
This law rules from January 19 till February 6, 2008.

Many people come to watch this carnival and there are concerts for them. It usually starts with program for children and then it continues with all night long party with live music and lots of drinks for everybody.

PROGRAME 2009

Saturday, February 7th, 2009
Masqote Striček is taken through Vir to its throne where it stays till the end. It is accompanied by masks, kurents, observers, musicians... Mayor gives the key of province to new government which makes Vir Carnival land for two weeks. New laws are passed.

Saturday, February 21st, 2009
8 P.M. Party time with live band Mambo Kings

Sunday, February 22nd, 2009
10:00 A.M. show for children with Wizard Grega and
2:00:19 P.M. start of the carnival with group masks
3:30 P.M. party time with ensemble Javor.

Tuesday, February 24th, 2009
Meeting of members to organise cremation of Pust somewhere in Domžale

ORGANIZING AND FINANCING

As the carnival grew bigger many adjustments had to be made. What started as fun for locals grew so big that it called for special arrangements. Local inhabitants must give approval for their land to be used, security precautions must be arranged, all damage that is made during the carnival on any object is to be repaired, fireman must be present, roads must be closed, tents must be put up for visitors, stage is larger, loudspeakers are put up all through Vir... All these things cost money. When carnival was smaller there was no need for all these things but now bills must be paid. That is why the organising committee looks for sponsors to cover the expenses, they close Vir and at gates collect entrance fee for all adults who are regularly dressed and not dressed up for the occasion, they get some money from fees collected by militia, but still all the work of the committee is done voluntarily.
To attract so many masks there are prizes given to best ones and this also costs money. If children are happy with smaller prizes or coupons for cinema or aqua park, adults are given real money prizes.
Even this might not be enough so group masks work on exchange basis. If one group mask comes to Vir on Sunday, the mask from Vir is to go to another carnival on another day to return the favour.
And some masks are so attractive and so special and so authentic that organizers are prepared to pay them to participate in carnival. This is mostly the case with kurents or škoromats who are so popular that in order to get them you must pay them. If you do not they will be selling themselves to another carnival.
Some masks in Slovenia made being a mask a profession.

But still we must stress that there is no money in this for organising committee or people from Vir. What makes them going is love for laugh and fun, pride of preparing one of the biggest carnivals in Slovenia and most of all love for good party, and maybe the last but not the least they can let the child out of themselves at least once a year and actually live in carnival fairy tale.

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Carnival Ministry for Internet (13-feb-2009).

CARNIVAL

Masqote Striček is taken through Vir to its throne where it stays till the end. (2007)

2007