SLOVENIA: Easter in Slovenia
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Polona Zalokar
| 2007-04-10
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Image:Nives Nuncic
A girl with a 'butarica'
Easter is one of the biggest Christian celebrations in Slovenia. It is characterized by 'butarice', ham, Slovene 'potica' and 'pirhi'.
Long before the arrival of Christianity, Slovenes celebrated the victory of the kind, spring spirits, over evil demons.
Though Christian religion has somewhat changed these celebrations many traditions have still managed to survive.
Colourful 'butarice' are brought to church on Palm Sunday. They are made of coloured wooden carvings. Once people believed they would prevent them from storm and hail. On Easter Saturday churchbells from every hill and valley start to chime and people go to churches and take their 'žegen' there. It is brought to church in woven baskets full of coloured eggs- 'pirhi', cooked ham, bread, Slovene potica and horse radish.
The fasting period, which started on Ash Wednesday, is over. 'Pirhi' can be adorned in various ways. Decorations can be made on them with a small knife. The most famous are coloured eggs from the Slovene region Bela Krajina.
In some places onion skins and other natural pigments are still used although industrial colours and artificial decorations have prevailed.
The most famous and delicious Slovene dessert 'potica'
Image:Polona Zalokar
Dessert 'POTICA'
Slovene coloured eggs - 'pirhi'
Ham and 'pirhi'
Image:Author: Mojca Poharc
pulsatilla flower (velikonočnica)
Slovene pulsatilla- 'velikonočnica'
Pulsatilla is a very rare flower which blooms only at Easter in Slovenia.
Slovene 'pirhi'
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