Carnival has come to Ilirska Bistrica
Kdaj
Kje
Ilirska Bistrica
In the Ilirska Bistrica valley, the customs associated with Carnival have always been an important annual event. Some ethnological masks have been preserved to this day thanks to the dedicated local residents and are known throughout Slovenia and beyond.
There are many customs connected to Carnival, but what is common to all villages in our municipality is the “poberija”, which carnival groups carry out on different days during the Carnival period. In the past, it was customary for the group of “šjme” to go through the village and visit every house, except when there had been a death in the household. With their arrival, the masks brought health, good fortune, joy, a good harvest, and all the best for the year ahead. It was also customary for each household to contribute something to the basket of treats. In the past, these were foods such as eggs and sausages, which were later cooked and eaten together.
In recent years, “poberija” has also become an interesting event for visitors, who attend as spectators, interested in the carnival traditions and customs of our ancestors.