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Korant or Kurent is a traditional mask that originates from Ptuj field, Drava field, and Haloze. The Rogoznica Korants are maintaining the ancient tradition of masking and etnographic customs of our ancestors on our grounds. They are the oldest organised group in Ptuj. They are part of Cultural association Rogoznica. The group is the holder of element Door-to-door rounds of kurenti in the Register of Intangible Cultural Heritage, maintained by the Slovenian Ministry of Culture. Door-to-door rounds of Kurenti have been declared to be an intangible cultural heritage of national significance and it has been inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

History

For many years, there has been a habbit of keeping and reviving older traditions in our suburb quarter of Rogoznica. At first, it was done by smaller groups or individuals, but it grew on popularity as the years went by. In 1982, an association of Korants has already been founded under the name korants from KS Rogoznica. Today, however, they are a section in Cultural association Rogoznica. This means they present one of the oldest associations in Ptuj. The association has been founded to maintain and take care of the people's tradition of our regional home, to maintain the legacy of our ancestors , and to pass it on to the youth.

The association counted 21 members at the very beginning in 1982 under the leadership of Branko Cajnko (head of section between 1982 and 1986). The korants have been fighting winter since the beginning around our villages in the suburb quarter of Rogoznica. They have also attended many carnivals and other events. In the times of their foundation, they guestings in Slovenska Bistrica, Celje, Rogaška Slatina, Zreče, and Kamnik were traditional. The number of their members has increased in the first few years, therefore the number of members has increased to 35 in 1986. In that year, Marjan Cajnko became the head of section (until 1989, and then again from 1992 to 1999). The association soon received invitations to guest outside of borders of the former contry Jugoslavija. So, the korants of Rogoznica went to Italy in 1989, to the venician – slovenian carnival in Podbonesco close to Čedad. At the time, the association has been led by Franc Zorko (head of section from 1989 to 1992). As a sign of gratitude, they received a Golden bell from the city of Ptuj, as a praise for their contribution to the community. In the next few years, the association received several invitations to go beyond our borders, and decided to go to the folkloristic carnival in Pernik close to Sofia in Bulgaria in 1993. They also attended the festival in Gyor, Hungary in 1995. They also attended two other carnivals in 1996, one in Graz, Austria, and the other in Capriva del Friuli, Italy.

The most important visit occured in 1998, in Paris, France. They also visited quite a few carnivals all over Slovenia, so in the 1990s, they visited Ljubljana, Portorož, Kranj, Cerknica, Velenje, Cmurek (Austria), and other cities. The number of members has been increasing in the meantime, and it counted 48 from 1999 on, 10 of whom were the younger members. In 1999, the leadership of the association has changed and the new head of section was Roman Petrovič (between 1999 and 2006). All of the members received identical, red-green ježevka's in year 2000, wich have become their symbol. They also recieved identical jackets. The Korants attended the carnival in Mohacs, Hungary several times (2003, 2004, 2005), and the carnival in Feldkirch, Austria (2001). The traditional visit was a tour to Gorenjska, where they still attend the carnivals in Kranj, Radovljica and Bled. The Rače carnival have also become the new destination in close proximity. The year of 2005 was very important for the association: they had the prince of the carnival in Ptuj – Marjan Cajnko in the image of The Honorable Holenški Cajnko VI, for which they are very proud. His »princing« got us extra destinations in Macedonia, Bulgaria, and Austria. In 2006, Bogomir Širovnik was the new head of section (between 2006 and 2010). In this phase, the members acquired new jackets, capes and kerchiefs. The year of 2007 was also important, because they started having Ploughmen (orači), who were actually the older members of the association. This way, we are keeping our older members in the association and take care of the tradition at the same time. The leadership was in the hands of Aleš Cajnko between 2010 and 2014. They added new traditional destinations on our list - Sveti Martin na Muri in Croatia. They celebrated 30th anniversary in year 2012. The association count about 90 members. Since 2014 they have new head of section. This is Uroš Cajnko.

Masks presentation

Korant

Korant, or kurent, as some call it, is a traditional carnival mask in Ptuj field, Drava field, and Haloze hills. According to traditional superstition the korant is believed to be a demon that brings happiness and allures Nature into spring awakening. He wore a cap with hairy back and the leather face with the sewed-on nose and eye and mouth holes. The cap had leather or felt horns with the goose quill on the top. He also wore a sheepskin coat turned inside out. He had a cowbell tied on his back, and a wooden club “ježevka” in his hand. He looked like he came straight from hell.

Of all the masks in the area it comes from korant is the one that brings out special feelings because there is still something mysterious and powerful about him.

Korants coming to the house means good luck in the year to come. They have to be accepted in the doorway by the house master. Korants shake hands with him one after another, and wish him peace, and joy. After that, they hold their hands, and dance the “korant dance”. They have to get the best food and drinks since they use up a lot of energy and strength during the carnival time.

Korants collect tissues that have to be big men tissues made of cotton. Those are a gift from girls and get tied to the chain around the waist. In a lot of cases the tissues are forced to be given to them. The more tissues the korant has the better he is among the others.

Korant outfit

Korant, as known today, is wearing a sheep skin coat made out of five to seven sheep skins, depending on the figure of the man wearing it. The coats are mostly light in color, rarely in black.

Korant is wearing a mask upon his head which is the hardest part to make of all the equipment. The mask is made out of sheep skin, before the Second World War it was also made out of the rabbit skin. Feathers are used instead of ears, the nose has to look like a pork trunk, and it is sewed on. Under the nose there is mustache made of johnsongrass, and white beans on a string are the teeth. The long red tongue made of cloth or leather has to be scary. This is the “feathery” korant, the “horned” one has cow horns instead of feathers, and he has hairy felt ears. Feathery korant ears are made of bigger birds, turkey, and goose quills. On the top of the head there are two wooden bars intertwined with colorful streamers. The girls also made them wear colorful flowers on the cap, so they knew which one was their boyfriend. The making of the cap is pretty hard as it has to fit to the head perfectly so it does not bother while jumping around.

Korants hang the chain with five cowbells around their waist. They have to be harmonious while jumping around. They wear green or red gaiters, made in the special knobby way, and heavy boots for it would be inconvenient for the korant to fall on the ice or in snow with all the equipment. At last, korant also needs a wooden club “ježevka” which, in the past, served as a weapon. He holds it in the left hand, for the right one is to bring peace and joy to people. Ježevka is a thin wooden club with the real hedgehock spines at the top. The hedgehock skin comes off, and is nailed down to the club when dried.

The whole outfit can weigh more than 40 kg, which is why the boys have to be in a good shape so they can go jumping around pursuing winter in carnival time.

Devil

Korants are usually accompanied by the devil. He wears red, lighter suit, fur mask on his head, and little fork in his hand. His basic assignment is to keep korants in group so that no one gets lost, and becomes a prey to the others. The devil cap has horns, pointed nose, and long red tongue. The devil is wrapped in fishnet he needs to hunt the souls, and collecting the treats – sausages etc., in his hand he has fork or trident.

According to tradition, korants can go around in the time from Candlemas on February 2nd up to Ash Wednesday, until the midnight on Tuesday when the fast begins, and the doughnuts are no longer allowed to be eaten. The greatest number of korants can be seen in organized carnival ceremonies (carnivals, “fašenk”) from the carnival Saturday to Tuesday. Usually they go around in groups, accompanied by the devil or “tajfelj”. In bars, or shops, wherever they go, they are welcomed as they became the symbol of the city.

Orači - ploughmen

One of the many traditional masks in Ptuj and Drava field, and Haloze hills are ploughmen who in the carnival time go around from house to house, make the first furrow, and wish the good harvest. The group of ploughmen consists of two to six “horses” with festive hat on their heads. They wear the white button-down shirt, black trousers, and an apron. They are pulling a plough, decorated with greenery, flowers, and ribbons, followed by the korant. The whipman, too, is dressed festively. There is also a sower in the group which usually is a man dressed as a woman, holding a basket with glume, and rack.

VI. Prince of the Carnival - Noble Holeneški VI.

In year 2005, Marjan Cajnko, active and longstanding member of Koranti Rogoznica become the prince of Ptuj Carnival.

Historical background

The sixth prince of the Carnival in the year 2005 – Plemeniti Hollenški VI. – found his historical background in the Reimprecht Hollenški, the master of Rogoznica count, applying to the village Rogoznica, its count, and the mill. The village Rogoznica with its stream of the same name was fist mentioned in writing back in 1290 on the 20th of April under the name “Reusentze” (Rojsence). The prince is dressed as a nobleman in the second half of the 15th century. He got his portray from his opponent, noble Herberstein, who later inherited Rogoznica, and is portrayed up in the Ptuj castle.

The quarter of Rogoznica, today is an important part of the city, was an interesting piece of land in the Middle Ages, not far from the city, with the minor noble count of Purgstal. In the year of 1466 Friderik von Rat got the field of Rogoznica count and two farms from the Salzburg archbishop, and that brought him the profit. The land had a good location for it was along the ancient roman road that led past Gorišnica to Ormož. The land had the mill owned by the miller Matej. After Friderik von Rat, Reimprecht Hollenški inherited the count in 1478. Masters Hollenški are one of the old Styria noble families. Their seat was in the Holenek castle in Austrian Styria. In Slovenian Styria they owned many lands, Hrastovec, as one of them, was given to Andrej Hollenški in the 15th century. Father Andrej enlarged the lands, he also got the Rogoznica count, and strengthen it. Young Reimprecht Hollenški enjoyed the Rogoznica count for a short period of time, and died in 1479. After Reimprecht there was a big conflict between Hartman Hollenški and Herbersteins concerning the in-debt heritage of Hollenški. Rogoznica count was also in the heritage. In the year of 1481 Hrastovec was court granted to Herbersteins.