--- In
cybalist@yahoogroups.com, João Simões Lopes Filho
<jodan99@...> wrote:
> A book of myths mentions the tales of Servian Kurent (a kind of
devilish trickster god) and giant Kranyatz. What's the origin of
these characters?
>
> Joao SL
The origin of this Carnival figure is unknown. Possibly It could be
of Slavic or Celtic-Illyrian origin.
The Kurent (or Korant) is an ancient carnival character originating
in pagan times in the Ptuj Plain, Slovenia.
Kurent makes deafening noise by jumping and thus chases away winter
and invites the spring to come into the country.
The Kurent wears a sheepskin coat, either black or white, and a
leather belt or a chain with numerous cowbells. He also wears a
fearsome hat adorned with the horns of cattle
The Kurent is not an isolated occurrence. A number of similar
figures can be found as part of the traditional customs of
Medjimurje, Croatia (here they are called Lampe), Baranja, Croatia
(Bushe) and all over Serbia and Bulgaria (Kukerei).
It is assumed that the Kurent is a personification of an ancient
totemic demon, and Bulgarian Kukerei, Croatian Lampe and Bushe are
believed to have developed from the same belief.
Giant Kranyatz: Kranjec, in meaning, person from Kranjska, Slovenia
(Carniola), probably some similar character.