Cleveland Carnival

 

Kurentovanje na Slovenski Narodni Dom v Clevelandu 2023

Perhaps, the oldest settled town in Slovenija is Ptuj. In 1960, a modern organised Shrovetide festival/carnival began, Kurentovanje. Cultural anthropologists suggest these characters are vestiges of pagan gods, turned into laughable and scary buffoonish demons [I wrote these words in 2013, after the first Kurentovanje in Cleveland]. I have been to several outdoor festivals, around greater Cleveland, and brought along a camera. I have posted a bunch of Kurentovanje posts. In 2020 the coronavirus hit America, and the world. That year the only festival i went to was Kurentovanje. I was preparing for the St. Patrick Parade, it was cancelled after the Arnold event in Columbus. There was fear in the air, and disease, and this fed the tinfoil idiots, and they have not stopped.

Northeast Ohio in December and January, especially close to Lake Erie is very, very grey. Three partially sunny days, in either month, is rare enough. The amount of snow, and degree of cold varies greatly. The Christian calendar is centered on the date of Paschal Sunday (Easter Day). Many other days move forward back, on the calendar. Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras, Pust is the day before Ash Wednesday (the first day of western Lent, the Orthodox have Clean Monday). These Tuesday celebrations end Carnival season. Some countries have Tuesday, and perhaps Monday and/or Thursday prior to Wednesday as public holidays. This is capitalist, Protestant, America; so these are working days. So, in Cleveland the Carnival season (Pustni čas) is on the Saturday before Lent; which was the 18th of February, this year.

a sheepskinned devil

pre-Lenten partying in Cleveland with a South German/Austrian Krampus mask

Polka is a fun, happy music. It is meant for dancing, but many songs can be played in polka time. Accordions are famous, and any number of instruments can be part of the ensemble. The tubist, Brian Brazier, was very spirited. Chardon Polka Band responded to a request, and began playing, "Grab your balls, we're going bowling". When "Grab your balls" was sung, up went the maracas.

A multi-instrumentalist, Mitch Lawrence, very few flautists are seen in polka bands.

one of the tribe of Kurenti

Apparently, they start out as babies. Who knew?