Koranti Lancova vas
Srečo v hiši in bogato letino želimo
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In the north-eastern part of Slovenia, one of the most mysterious and most beautiful rituals has been preserved known under the name of Kurentovanje. It represents the greatest Slovenian and central European carnival festival. The ethnographic part of the carnival is specifically marked by the figure of Kurent or Korant, as it is called by the villagers around Ptuj, and is limited to the Lower Podravje region comprising 19 communities. The micro-region where door-to-door rounds of Kurenti is performed, is limited to the town of Ptuj, the community of Ormož and some smaller communities on the Ptuj and Drava fields (Videm, Markovci, Dornava, Gorišnica, Hajdina, Kidričevo), Haloze (Podlehnik, Žetale, Majšperk), and Slovenske Gorice (Juršinci, Destrnik, Sveti Andraž). The bearers of the tradition (families, groups, associations) are the most numerous in Lancova vas, Markovci, Zabovci, Spuhlja, Bukovci, Borovci, Stojnci, Pobrežje, Draženci, Janežovci, Vareja, Prvenci, Grajena, Mestni Vrh.
(From the Federation of Kurenti Association brochure)
Like other korants we are dressed in sheepskin. He is girded about with a chain with five cowbells. The bells are arranged according to size and sound. The chain is also meant for binding up handkerchiefs that the »korant« gets from girls. The »korant« wears quality-made black leather shoes and green knitted socks. In his hand he brandishes a wooden club, which is covered with hedgehog skin on the bottom end, called »ježevka«. It is used for defending oneself.
The most special decoration is the head-mask, which is decorated with genuine cow’s horns and ears made of leather and fur. The head-mask is made of cow’s leather and covered with long-hair sheepskin. On the coloured facial part a long leather nose is placed with holes for eyes, a nose and a mouth. A red tongue is made of calf skin. Teeth are made of beans and placed under the nose and a moustache made of maize is sewn on.
The »korants« from Lancova vas are mighty demonic creatures, which arouse respect and fear at the same time. They bounce joyfully so that the cowbells can be heard. If a »korant« comes across an acquaintance, they shake hands as a token of friendship and benevolence.
The »korants« from Lancova vas appear as »ploughers« together with the ploughmen and they form a group when going through the villages.
Many times, strangers are bewildered by the two terms that appear for this carnival character. In fact, the only difference is that the word korant is the primary one that originated or was used in the surrounding villages of Ptuj. With the advent of the Carnival in Ptuj, where the Corant is also the central and now world-famous character, the term kurent begins to appear.