FOLKLORE AND TRADITIONS

TRADITIONAL CLOTHES

There are a lot of types of traditional clothes in different parts of Slovenia. But in the 19th century the Alpine type was chosen to represent the traditional clothes.

ST. GREGORY'S DAY

We say that on March 12th the birds are getting married. Children usually make small houses and take them to a river. There they put them in the water and the river takes them with it. They say that with the houses all the troubles go down the river.

A SEED OF BUCKWHEAT

The legend says that the goddess Ajda gave a seed to the first Slovene king, King Matjaž. She said: 'This grain will grow only at a special place. Find this place, make it your home and your people will be wise and kind.' The king travelled all over Europe. The seed didn't grow anywhere. Finally, he came here and planted the seed. A beautiful buckwheat flower grew from it.

MARTIN KRPAN

Martin Krpan is the legendary Slovene hero. He was the strongest man ever to live. Every year there is a traditional competition where the men in his honour.

RAMPLANJE

We traditionally celebrate name days in Slovenia. The evening before your name day, your friends come to your home and bring all kinds of saucepans and pots with them. In front of you home they make as much noise as possible. When you let them in, you offer them food and drink and together you celebrate your name day.

TEPEŽKANJE

On December 28th the children go from house to house with a rod. On that day it is their right to hit older people who had done something bad to them.

JURJEVANJE

Jurjevanje is tradition in south-east of Slovenia. It takes place at the end of april and it is celebrates the coming of spring. There are different costumes on this day: singing traditional songs, dancing, jumping over the fire. But the most important is dressing young boy in tradnitional clothes and giving them branches of birch. Like this they go from house to house (they also visit the House of Parliament) and bring good fortune with them.