Open Day at the Slovene Ethnographic Museum

Visit the Slovenian Ethnographic Museum (SEM) and discover more about Slovenian culture through the rich tradition of masking. The event is suitable for all generations, with a special invitation to families with children.

At 11:00, children can take part in the creative workshop Little Master: Masks, where they will explore the meaning of masks in Slovenian cultural heritage through play and hands-on creation.

At 16:00, a guided tour of the exhibition Masks: From Ritual to Carnival will be led by the exhibition’s curator, mag. Adela Pukl, joined by the Cerkljani Laufarji, one of Slovenia’s best-known masquerade groups. They are distinguished by their limewood masks and distinctive costumes made from natural materials.

Masking is a deeply rooted part of everyday life and festive traditions, weaving an invisible thread through the annual and life cycles. It connects past and future and has a long history. The exhibition highlights carnival traditions in Slovenia as one of the most vibrant expressions of this heritage and presents them through the museum’s extensive collection of traditional and contemporary masks, costumes, photographs, and film footage.

The event offers a unique opportunity to explore the diversity, symbolism, and cultural significance of masks in Slovenian heritage.