25 Larfs

Steemit good evening.

In the last post we explored some of the Slavic pagan spring carnivals in the seaside region of Slovenia.

Today we continue inland into the Carniola region near the capital city of Ljubljana.

In a small town called Cerkno every year Pust starts after the first Sunday after new year when one of the 25 different characters appears in town. Their goal being to bring the personification of Pust before the court and execute him for bringing them winter.

But when traditional carnivals around Slovenia have stayed the same for centuries Laufarija in Cerkno has been evolving through time and with that captured different stages of human thought evolution in a mask.

The oldest masks represent inescapable facts of human life and mythology. First we have the Ripped One waring torn linen fabric and representing spirits of the dead. The second is the Lament a classical figure of a demon or a devil. It is the only mask made of leather and not wood. The only mask allowed to talk is the old man who is escorted by the old woman who together most likely represent time.

The only two other archaic masks are the brothers Ivy one and Pust. One being grumpy and representing winter, while the other is smiling and happy like the spring. Next to the ivy one is Daisy, one of the newer masks, added in the later half of the 20. century. Another new mask that took the place the of the Ivy one is the Spruce one.

The next group of masks that were evolving and were added through time mostly represent professions and status of the people.
First we have the Scabby one representing disease. Next are the Fury one and the Baggy one, personifying a shepherd and a farmer respectively. In the back the Corn husk one can be seen, who is also representing a shepherd.

The Straw one represent the builder, or the person who covers houses with straw roofing. The Racket one carries a bakers racket with "death to pust" inscribed on it. He is the baker, and is followed by the Innkeeper.

Finally we have the Sir and Madame and the Judges who have probably evolved their attire to suit the fashion of the time, today representing fashion of the late 19. century.

The final group of masks, who were all added in the later half of the 20. century mostly represent human nature and behavior. We have the Drunken two and the Basket one both representing a drunken couple. The next one is the Evil one who scares children.
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These are the 25 Larfs or Laufarji (litteraly the runners) since they run around a lot. The masks you see were all made after the world wars in 1956, since the last original show was played in 1912. In the year 1943 Cerkno was bombed and all original masks burnt.

Hope you enjoyed the article. All credits go to http://60let.laufarija-cerkno.si/index.php . Follow for more, as the next time we visit the final region, the Styria region for the most well known Slavic spring festivities in Slovenia: Kurentovanje.