It's that time of year again – PUST! 🎭🎉
(FYI: I have no idea how to translate this word into English. The only thing remotely similar is Halloween, but that's way scarier! Our masks are more about fun, tradition, and chasing away winter, not ghosts and goblins. 😆)
Like every year, PUST is celebrated on Sunday and Tuesday, and it's all about fun, food, and costumes!
This year, I had to work (boo! 😩), but when the parade marched through town, I still managed to snap some photos and, of course, eat some delicious krofi ( donuts)! In Austria is this tradicion almost the same, but I will be focus on Slovenian tradicion because I know more about this)
Oh wow, this time of year is so amazing – we’re all getting ready for spring to finally arrive! 🌸☀️
PUST in Slovenia – A Celebration Like No Other! 🇸🇮
I usually celebrate PUST in Slovenia, where it's a huge tradition. As kids, it was the best time ever! We’d pick our costumes, form little groups, and go from door to door chanting a funny old saying that I’ll never forget:
“Debela repa, dugi len, gnjes je fajnšček cejli den!”
(Okay, this is in my hometown dialect – Prekmurje – which is basically a hilarious mix of Slovenian, Hungarian, and German. Most Slovenians don’t even understand us! 🤣)
Roughly translated, it means: "We, the carnival folks, wish you a big fat turnip (which was once pig food) and long flax (to make the best linen for clothes). And today, the fun lasts all day long!"
We’d also ask: "A imate kaj za pusta hrusta?"
(Translation? Impossible! But it’s like asking, "Do you have something crunchy for PUST?" Meaning… gimme some treats! 🍬)
The History of PUST – It’s Ancient! 🏛️
PUST is one of the oldest traditions, dating back to pre-Christian times. People believed that dressing up in masks and making lots of noise would scare away winter and evil spirits, helping spring arrive faster.
Even the Romans had similar traditions! February was their month of purification, and people believed that after winter, the sun needed a little help to wake up nature. That’s why PUST is a movable holiday, happening 7 weeks before Easter, usually in February.
PUST in the Old Days vs. Today 🕰️➡️🎭
Back in the day, PUST was much simpler. People made their own costumes using whatever they had at home. Kids would smear their faces with soot, wear old clothes, and go door to door. Their reward? Homemade donuts, dried fruit, and sometimes even money!
Food was also different. People ate boiled pig’s head, rice cake, and pork soup, saying it would help winter end faster. (Today, that menu might not sound so delicious, but hey, it worked! 😂)
How We Celebrate PUST Today 🎭🎶🍩
Nowadays, most costumes come from stores (not as fun, but definitely easier!). Kids dress up as cartoon characters, superheroes, princesses, and knights, while adults usually say they’re "too old" to dress up. (Excuses, excuses! 😜)
People still go from door to door, but now the main motivation is getting candy, money, and donuts instead of just spreading joy. Also, traditional fatty foods are slowly disappearing – except for our beloved krofi and flancati (fried pastries), which are still a must! 😋
The Biggest PUST Celebration – Kurentovanje in Ptuj! 🏰🐉
The most famous part of PUST is Kurentovanje in Ptuj. The stars of the show? Kurenti – these weird, hairy creatures with huge bells, feathers, and horns. They dance, jump, and make noise to chase away winter and bring good luck.
Kurentovanje is so important that it’s even on UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage! If you ever visit Slovenia, you HAVE to see it! 🤩
I wasn’t there, so I don’t have any original photos. But I’m sharing a link where you can see what they looked like. I didn’t have time to go, and there were about 10,000 people, including my in-laws. Unfortunately, no one took any pictures for me. My mother-in-law said there were so many people that taking photos was impossible. Maybe I’ll have better luck next year!
https://visitptuj.eu/de/erlebnisse/aktuelle-veranstaltungen/kurentovanje-2025/
My aunt saved me, and send me some photos. Today in Turnišče
What’s on the Menu? 🍽️
Krofi – Slovenian donuts, usually filled with jam.
Flancati – Crispy, fried dough covered in powdered sugar.
Pečenica with sauerkraut – Traditional sausage with cabbage.
Burning of PUST – Bye-Bye Winter! 🔥❄️
In some towns, PUST ends with a big bonfire, where a scarecrow-like figure (called "Pust") is burned. This symbolizes saying goodbye to winter and all the bad things from the past year.
Why I Love PUST So Much ❤️
I’m a little sad that I couldn’t go to Ptuj this year to see the Kurenti in action. But luckily, we had a small parade here in Austria, so I still got to enjoy a little bit of the tradition.
PUST is one of my favorite childhood memories – running around in costumes, going door to door, collecting treats, and ending the day with a big party filled with music, dancing, and way too many donuts! (This year, I even made my own! Not as good as grandma’s, but hey, I tried! 😆)
So, if you ever visit Slovenia, make sure to experience PUST! It’s one of the best, most unique traditions we have. And trust me – once you taste krofi, you’ll never want to leave! 😋🎭
"Spring is nature's way of saying, 'Let's party!'" - Robin Williams
