At the border between Slovenia and Croatia peculiar ritual with figure covered in greenery is known. Such figure is followed by several singers and together they form a procession that goes from door to door preforming songs and receiving various gifts. Nowadays, ritual is performed at st Georg’s day (Jurjevo) but it’s pre-Christian roots can be easily observed.
Text: Zelen Juraj došal je, pisan Vuzam prošal je, Iz zelene gore u to ravno polje.
Donesal je, donesal, pedalj dugu travicu, Pedalj dugu travicu, lakat dugu mladicu.
Juraj nije svaki dan već u ljetu jedan dan! Darujte ga, darujte Jurja zelenoga!
Translation: Green Gorge has come, colorful Easter has passed, From the green hills into the plain fields.
He has brought, span* long grass Span long grass, ell* long sapling.
Georg isn’t every day, it is a specific day of the year! Bestow him, bestow the green Gorge!
*both are archaic measurements and those should be English equivalents.
