At any time of the year tourists do not visit Slovenia , there is always a high probability that the tour will coincide with a state, national holiday or festival. In no case should you miss the opportunity to participate in a large-scale celebration, because in Slovenia they love and know how to have fun, and tourists will surely get a lot of new impressions, make successful photos.
Features of Slovenian holidays
Many holidays in Slovenia are associated with folk customs and ancient traditions. But there are those that are set by the government. Slovenia is a unique country in which the spirit of old Europe and modernity are combined. Most of the inhabitants are Catholics, which determined the main religious holidays. But the pagan customs and traditions, which were formed over the centuries, still have a great influence on the format of celebrations and give a special flavor.
Holiday calendar of Slovenia
If you carefully study the calendar of non-working holidays, it is not much different from calendars in other countries, but there are also unique holidays. The following national holidays in Slovenia can be noted:
- April 17 - Easter Monday ;
- May 8 - the end of World War II ;
- July 5 - the day of Saints Cyril and Methodius ;
- August 29 is the national day of the Rebellion ;
- September 15 is the day of the Mother of God ;
- November 17 - Day of struggle for freedom and democracy ;
- December 25 - Christmas ;
- December 26 is St. Stephen's Day .
Almost all shops are closed these days, which should be remembered if one of the holidays coincided with the period of travel around the country. In addition to the above-mentioned holidays, there are various regional festivals and memorable dates related to historical events. For example, February 8 marks the day of Slovenian culture , and on May 1 - May 2 - Labor Day . June 25 is the day of statehood . In the autumn the Slovenes celebrate the day of the Reformation on October 31 , and November 1 - the Day of Remembrance of the Dead .
There are holidays that are celebrated in Slovenia, although they are not non-working days:
- August 17 - Day of Reunification of Slovenes of Priamurye with the Motherland;
- November 23 - Rudolph Meister, the Slovenian poet and political activist.
Festivals in Slovenia are held all year round, one is almost replaced by another, but traditionally tourists come during the celebration of Easter, Carnival and Christmas . Many traditions and customs are associated with these events. So, every year during the celebration of Maslenitsa a carnival is organized, where the main figure is Kurent. It's not just a scarecrow, it's a fantastic creature that symbolizes fertility.
New Year's holidays in Slovenia
New Year's holidays in Slovenia will give a lot of unforgettable impressions, both to adults and children. In many respects, the celebration does not differ from how the New Year is celebrated in other countries. At this time, the streets are changing, all the buildings are decorated with New Year's toys and garlands, and from the shops and cafes stretches the scent of fresh baked goods, spicy spices and hot drinks.
Traditionally, the New Year in Slovenia is a family holiday, when the whole family gathers at a festive table, exchanges gifts and wishes happiness and prosperity next year. In the New Year, you must go out into the street or square, where all the residents dance and sing, laugh and cheerfully congratulate each other. Exactly at midnight fireworks are launched and the crackers explode, the sky lights up with colored lights.
There is also a unique tradition in Slovenia, inherent only in this country. On New Year's Eve, you must add 12 different items, including: a doll, a ring, a tree branch, a coin, a ribbon.
Guests are offered, without looking at the bag, pull out any object 3 times. If a coin falls, it becomes a harbinger of wealth, the doll predicts the birth of a child, and the ring - a wedding. The branch of the tree is a sign of good luck, and the ribbon is a distant journey. If the same object falls all three times, then the prediction will just come true.
On New Year's holidays, you should visit the Christmas markets, where Santa Claus comes with the famous Slovenian Lipizzaners (harness horses).
Festivals of Slovenia
Summer is a time of festivals in Slovenia, which are held in different cities and represent a real extravaganza of colors and emotions. The festival program is changing every year, so the guests are waiting for interesting events and amazing discoveries.
Some of the festivals remain mandatory, such as the Wine Fair in Ljubljana . It is held in early June and is accompanied by cultural events. The main event of the summer is a music festival at the Krizhanka Theater , held in July-August.
On odd years, in the second half of June and until August, guests can visit the festivals of graphic art , and at the end of June - an international jazz festival. In late December and early January, concerts and festivals dedicated to the Christmas theme are organized. Slovenia also hosts sports championships in biathlon, hockey, golf, international rowing regatta and other sports.