Off to Slovenia

Today we get up to a much quieter day with nothing happening. The house both inside and outside is all back to normal. No signs of any party a few days ago. What a shame we have to leave today, as this would have been a good time to relax and catch up with everyone. We have a nice egg and bacon breakfast as our send off. Then pack the car and on our way to Slovenia we go.
We leave at around 1.30pm and have a good 3 hour ride in front of us to Slovenia. The ride is relaxing and the weather is warm. Lots of sun shinning outside.
We finally arrive to Slovenia and are warmly greeted by both Stric Pavel and Strina Sonja, with lots and lots of hugs and kisses. In we go and yes another feast awaits. So once again we sit down to eat and drink. Once again lots of conversation is had about, family back home, our flight and our time in Cakovec. We spend the next couple of hours just talking and talking.
Later this evening Damjana, Tomasz, Teja and Nusa arrive, with lots and lots of hugs and kisses. Again more conversation and lots of laughter is had by all. Emil and the girls have already hit it off and are best of friends. The go off and play. They take him to a play ground and follow it up with an ice-cream. Emil is delighted.
Another late night. We eventually get to bed at around mid-night.

Valentino's birthday

Today we wake to a much cooler day. Once again people are everywhere. Taking down the tent, pulling up the floor, cleaning out the garage. Also Petra's family has returned again today to consume all the left overs from the weekend so that they don't need to throw anything out.

Also today we have a few drinks and a relaxing afternoon for Valentino's birthday.

In the evening we go to visit Petra and Smiljan to drop off their wedding gift. We stay and have a quick drink with them and then we go off to Venera for a pizza with them.
Again another late night. Home by midnight.

Also, Happy Birthday to Teta Vesna back home.  We hope you had a good day.

Day after party

Today we wake to another warm day. Some of us are up between 12 midday and 1pm, while the remainder wake around 3pm. Everyone still looks exhausted, but ready for another party today. The kitchen hands have arrived and have already started preparing the food and drinks. Guests are due to arrive around 5pm. It's 3.30pm and the musicians - same band as last night, have already rocked up and starting to set up. By 5pm the music is blaring and the mood has been set.
Guests have started arriving and the festivities have started again. The one relief is that the weather has changed. It has cooled down, and now is very pleasant. Temperature around 22 degrees.

It's now 7pm and most of the guests have arrived. People are seated inside the garage and out under the tent and the everyone is eating and drinking.

The dancing has started and it's another party all over again. We all get up and start dancing. Emil is our little superstar. He is dancing and enjoying himself. The kolo comes on and he decides that he will lead and does a great job at that. The girls - all the big girls love him and help him along. They all keep calling him every time to dance. Emil is loving it.

They have so many different customs. They have mascaraeds that dress up, that come, bring them gifts and well wishes. This is usually people that were not invited to the wedding. They however do have respect for the bride and groom and want to give their regards. They had 2 lots of mascaraeds - Clowns and silly ladies. They don't talk or reveal who they are - this is all secretive. They stay for a while, mix with the crowd and then leave.

Another custom that they have is that they get a delivery of items to help them get started in their new life together, 'Herbija', I'm not sure if this is something only done in Medjimurje but it was funny. The stuff is all old, that has been collected and then each piece is explained as to what it is for. This is so funny, that we could not stop laughing, our cheeks were so sore afterwards.

The party continues with more eating, drinking and dancing. The musicians finish at 3am. All the guest leave and then it is just the family and us. We stay up partying until 5am in the morning. Another really early morning. However a great and enjoyable day.

The Wedding Day

WOW - what a day it was.

We woke to a very, very hot day. Some of us are up by 7am while the remainder wake around 9am. I go off to the hair-dressers with Liljana to get my hair done. Marjan and Emil have a quick breakfast and some relax-o time.
I get back from the hair-dressers and now it's time to start getting ready/dressed for the wedding. People are due to start arriving at 12.00 midday today. It is currently 30 degrees outside and very, very hot. We go inside to get dressed and as there is no form of air-conditioning, all our clothes are just sticking to our bodies, as we are getting dressed. Not a great start, to what is to be a long day. But get dressed we do.
It's just after 12.00pm and down to the house we go. The brides guests have already started arriving.

The bride and her parents welcome everyone as they arrive. (The bride is not dressed in her wedding dress at this stage).

The guests walk down the side of the house, under an archway that has been decorated with a welcome sign, towards the bride to wish her well for today.

 

















Around 1.00pm the groom's family are due to arrive. It is currently 36 degrees. Very, very hot.
As clock work the groom's side arrive on time. It's a procession line. Starting with the groom's best friend Nikola, followed by the band. Followed by the Groom, his parents, Best man, Made of honour, and the remainder of the grooms family and guests.

The ceremonies are just about to start again. The groom must explain why he has come, and what he is after.(He has come to collect his bride). Once again not a simple process.  The custom is that he is actually looking for a beautiful flower which he saw in the fields of this house. 

The people dressed in workers clothes (chopping/cutting timber and peeling corn) are Petra's uncles and family and have responded by saying please go away, we are busy working and don't have time for what they are after.  After a fair bit of banter they are eventually welcomed in but still no bride at this stage.

Again they explain they are after a beautiful flower and the groom's best friend and Kum is sent to find the flower (bride). He first returns with the page boys and flower girls.  (Emil in his shirt/tie, he looks so cute.)

  

The groom is not happy and advises that he is not after these small flowers and wants the big beautiful flower he has seen in these fields. 

So back into the house Nikola must return to find the bride. Moments latter he returns with the flower they came for, Petra the bride.

The groom is very happy at this stage. Again more ceremonies with more questioning before the groom is allowed his bride. They have a quick toast and then they move into the undercover area of the garage and tent. Not that much cooler, however out of the direct sun.

The bridal couple go off for their Wedding photo's, while all the guest are greeted to a feast and the kids play.

At 4.30pm we head off for the church. Again another ceremony awaits. We park our cars about 200 meters away from the church, and then walk up to the church, in rows behind the bridal party. It is really a sight to see with the band in tow and playing non-stop during 36 degrees.  They are incredible.

 

In the church we get and the ceremony runs smoothly and only lasts 45 minutes.

 

 

 

We have a few photo's inside and then proceed outside. With more photo's taken outside

 

Then off to the reception we go. The only form of relief that we have had all day, has been the air-conditioning in the car, and this we needed. It's a good 25 minute drive to the reception and a good opportunity to cool down.
Once again more ceremonies outside the reception before the couple can enter. A toast and then we all go in.

The reception is beautiful and has been beautifully decorated. Very tastefully done, the only thing we notice is that there is no air-conditioning. It's going to be a very hot night.

 

The night begins, food is served and then the dancing starts. Opening dance is for the parents of the bride and groom.

They have more dancing and lots more food.

Later the bridal couple have there opening dance, surrounded by all the little kids blowing bubbles at them while they dance. Yes, Emil right in the middle of it.

The couple cut their cake and must eat the piece they cut.

It's 12.30am and Emil has fallen asleep on 3 chairs up at the back of the reception. We are both so proud of Emil today. All day he did whatever he was told, no whinging, no whining. He battled the heat and just took the day on. He was a legend but finally his day came to an end.

Lots more dancing and drinking all night. It is now 1.30am in the morning, we are still here, and from the looks of more food coming out, I can't believe it - Pohano (crumbed meat), rostilj (bbq meat), chips and salad, I don't think that there are any signs of slowing down. I don't know how they do this....

More dancing and lots more drinking.

It is now 3.45am in the morning and yes once again they are setting the tables with plates and cutlery. This is unbelievable, out of control !!  They are serving us gulas (meat stew) and people are actually eating it, including my husband. What is he thinking???

4.20am - Music is still blaring and people are still dancing. My feet are about to fall off.

5.15am - Out comes the harmonica (piano accordian) for Stef to play and everyone joins in singing.  Daylight is near and we are still here. I want to go home and sleep.
5.25am - I'm so tied, I'm falling asleep at the table. We started today at 12.00pm and have not stopped.
5.45am - We are leaving the reception, however the party is still going.

6.30am - We finally get home and straight to bed. Lights out to a fun a memorable wedding day.  We are so glad we decided to attend Petra's wedding.  It is a day we won't forget for a long long time.