A devil character accompanies the Kurents throughout the festival to make sure everything runs smoothly. Kurentovanje is Slovenia’s most popular and ethnologically significant carnaval. The 11 day rite to ring in spring and fertility takes place each year in Ptuj, with the main event on Shrove Sunday. The main character, the kurent, wears traditional sheepskin garments while holding a wooden club with hedgehog skins attached called ježevke. The noise of the club is said to “chase away winter.” The presence of the Kurents signifies the end winter and the beginning of spring.
