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THE LAUFARS OF CERKNO ARE A GROUP OF CHARACTERS THAT MAKE UP THE SHROVETIDE TUESDAY (MARDI GRAS) CELEBRATION IN THE SLOVENIAN TOWN OF CERKNO. EACH WOODEN MASK IS SPECIFIC TO ONE OF 25 CHARACTERS MAKING UP THE PROCESSION. THE PROCESSION INVOLVES THE MARCHING OF CHARACTERS THROUGH THE TOWN, CULMINATING IN SENTENCING ‘PUST’, THE EMBODIMENT OF EVIL AND WINTER TO DEATH, THUS COMMENCING THE BEGINNING OF SPRING. EACH TOWN ACROSS THE COUNTRY CELEBRATES THIS FESTIVAL, WITH LOCAL CHILDREN DRESSING UP.


























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