𝗟𝗮𝗿𝗳𝗲
Photo Exhibition: Tine Venko
Guest mask from the Slovenian Ethnographic Museum: Ta star, 1938
January 23 – February 17, 2026
Cerkljanski Museum

Exhibition Opening and Discussion Evening on the 70th Anniversary of the Revival of the Cerkljanska Laufarija:
Friday, January 23, 6:00 PM
Participants: Mag. Adela Pukl (Slovenian Ethnographic Museum), Milojka Magajne (City Museum Idrija), Tomaž Lahajnar (Laufarija Cerkno Association), and Vid Prezelj (artisan, larfa maker)

𝗖𝗲𝗿𝗸𝗹𝗷𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗸𝗮 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗷𝗮 (1956–1926)

In 2026, we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the revival of the Cerkljanska Laufarija, one of the oldest and most distinctive carnival traditions in Slovenia. On the initiative of Peter Brelih and in collaboration with Dr. Nik Kuret from the Institute of Slovenian Ethnology, a Laufar committee was established in Cerkno, which revived the nearly forgotten carnival custom in 1956.

Today, the Cerkljanska Laufarija is considered one of the most recognizable expressions of local identity – the true heart of Cerkljanska. In 2014, it was declared intangible cultural heritage of national importance. Intangible cultural heritage does not reside in material traces but in people, their knowledge, memory, and collective practices. It encompasses customs and rituals passed down through generations, creating a sense of belonging and continuity. By recognizing it as heritage of national importance, its extraordinary value is acknowledged, along with the responsibility to preserve it in its originality and ensure it remains a living part of the cultural space.

𝗧𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗘𝘁𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗰 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗺, 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝗸𝗻𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻 70 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀

The larfa Ta star is among the oldest preserved masks of the Cerkljanska Laufarija in the collection of the Slovenian Ethnographic Museum. It was created at the request of the Cerkno native Peter Brelih (1882–1962), one of the main initiators of the Laufarija revival in 1956.

𝗧𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗩𝗲𝗻𝗸𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝗸𝗹𝗷𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗸𝗮 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗷𝗮

Tine Venko has been an active member of the dedicated Laufarija Cerkno Association for over a decade. In the past two years, he has been photographing all Laufarija rituals every Sunday – from preparations, caroling, and the widely attended carnival trials, to the ceremonial “bot” retrieval and the tragicomic execution of the Carnival Figure.

The current exhibition, Larfe, featuring more than 30 photographs, is a valuable contribution to the 70th anniversary of the revived and publicly recognized Cerkljanska Laufarija, whose greatest achievement is undoubtedly the enthusiasm and commitment of younger generations in preserving and modernizing its promotion.

The event is organized in cooperation with the Cerkljanski Museum and the Laufarija Cerkno Association.
More details about the event: www.muzej-idrija-cerkno.si/dogodek/larfe