February: Fashenk, Prešeren Day and Valentine's Day
February takes us through a diverse range of celebrations each year. From the traditional Carnival, or "Fashenk" as we call it in Ptuj, where my childhood years brought back vivid memories of carnival antics, to the deep-rooted Prešeren's Day and the increasingly popular Valentine's Day, each holiday has its own special features.
Prešeren Day: calligraphy as a reflection of culture and peace.
8 February - Prešeren Day - cultural holiday
On Prešeren Day, which celebrates our great poet, František Prešeren, I decided to do a special project this year. A calligraphic record of the seventh stanza of Prešeren's "Salutations" is not only a work of art, but also a quest for authenticity and peace. This anthem, unique in its call for peace rather than struggle, symbolises values that are all too often overlooked in today's world. By writing the "Hail Mary" I want to convey that peace, authenticity and culture are what really enrich us.
I am looking forward to combining different arts. I take the words of a famous Slovenian poet, which have become a national symbol, into the world of calligraphy, where emotions are poured onto paper through ink and end their calligraphic journey on an everyday object such as a cup of coffee. And here we are with Ivan Cankar.
National anthem of the Republic of Slovenia - calligraphic inscription on a cup
Carnival: From masquerade to the search for authenticity.
In my childhood, spent in the heart of the carnival town of Ptuj, I looked forward to the carnival with great excitement and fear at the same time. Masquerading and taking on different characters was an immense source of joy for me, but at the same time, as a child, they also brought me a little fear, as the big Benefits accompanied by the Red Devil, scaring the children. Carnival time was like a magical land where I could become someone else for a few moments. But as the years accumulate, one starts to look for different values.
Life presents us with many challenges where we often have to wear different masks - at work, at home, in society. Over time, I realised that I was looking for something more authentic, something that reflected the real me, not just the roles I play in everyday life. Carnival gave me the opportunity to become someone else for a while, but now I just want to be me - authentic, without the masks that society too often imposes on us. I didn't even think when I moved from Ptuj to Cerknica that I would be back in the centre of the carnival action.
Carnival trivia: It comes from the word "carnival" - to leave the meat. It is the word for "carnival", which means "to eat meat". For many, this day is important because it begins their 40-day Lenten vows.
Valentine's Day: the key to the roots or the key to the heart?
Valentine's Day, also known as St Valentine's Day, is celebrated 14 February. This day, which has its origins in the Christian veneration of St Valentine the Martyr, has become world-renowned as a feast of love and romance, combining cultural, religious and commercial aspects. "Valentine holds the key to the roots" is an old Slovenian proverb that symbolically marks the beginning of spring and the awakening of nature.
Valentine's greeting
I invite you to celebrate the holiday closest to your heart, or all three, and spend them with the people you hold dear. May you be warmed by the gentle sun and the grace of awakening nature.
