Mesopust,
Pust, Fašnik, Adam, Jure... and lots of other names are given to
a guy made of straw, the epitome of all misfortunes and problems
of the previous year in Primorje and Gorski Kotar. It is made in
secret. The effigies are hanged in villages, town squares, and
crossroads, nearby trees at the entrance of villages, city walls.
The carnival guy is carried around, called names with satirical
messages. He is watched so that he won’t be stolen, carried
around on stretches, driven in a car and involved in important
carnival programmes. Nowadays a shorter guy made by junior
groups has joined him. Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday are “his
special days”.
He
is guilty for everything. These are the days when he is put on
trial and judged all over the Primorje and Gorski Kotar region.
“Mesopust” is accused and defended, blamed and mourned.
The
list of his misdeeds is read aloud: he is guilty for all the
village, town and world problems. He is dragged, beaten,
beheaded, undressed and his clothes are is put aside for the
following year. He is taken away to sea, launched by rocket, the
funeral pyre is set on fire with a great funeral procession,
with village and town mourners bemoaning and wailing.
