Štefanovo and the Yearly Blessing of Horses in Slovenia
According to legend, St Stephen tamed a wild horse
with the sign of the cross, thus, as ethnologist Niko Kuret wrote in his work
The Festive Year of the Slovenes, taking over the alliance of the horses in the
eyes of the people. The blessing of horses on his feast day is first mentioned
in a 10th-century manuscript from Trier in Germany, while in Slovenia it was
first reported by the polyhistor Janez Vajkard Valvasor in Nevlje near Kamnik
and in Kranjska region.
Therefore, on 26 December, the feast of St Stephen
is celebrated throughout Slovenia as a rite of blessing of horses. The largest
traditional Štefanovo 2023 choir was held in Dolenja Stara vas near Šentjernej. This year it was the traditional 165th consecutive Blessing of the Horses, which usually gathers more than 150 horsemen and is organised by the Dolenja Stara vas Volunteer Fire Brigade and the municipality. Horses are usually blessed on this day in many other places around the country.
This was the
traditional 165th consecutive Blessing of the Horses, which usually gathers
more than 150 horsemen and is organised by the Dolenja Stara vas Volunteer Fire
Brigade and the municipality. Horses are usually blessed on this day in many
other places around the country as
well.
Alenka, OLS
Community Manager – Slovene
Source: konji.com