Jurjevo 2025 – The Green George Ritual in the Old Town Center of Črnomelj

Jurjevo – The Festival of Spring

Today, in the square in front of the Church of the Holy Spirit in Črnomelj, one of the oldest spring traditions—the ritual of Zeleni Jurij (Green George)—came to life once again. The folklore group Zeleni Jurij Črnomelj revived the spirit of old times with their performance, presenting the rich heritage of Črnomelj.

After last year's cancellation due to rain, the group members were even more determined to ensure the ritual would go ahead this year—and their decision to proceed despite unfavorable weather proved to be the right one.

The event began inside the Church of the Holy Spirit with a minute of silence in memory of the recently deceased Pope. This was followed by a speech from the Mayor of the Municipality of Črnomelj, Andrej Kavšek, who emphasized the importance of preserving tradition, especially through the work of children’s folklore groups. The program continued with dance and song performances by two children’s folklore groups from Loka Primary School and Miran Jarc Primary School, with Tadej Fink serving as the host.

The highlight of the event was the performance of the traditional Zeleni Jurij ritual in the square in front of the church. At the center stood Green George—a young man dressed in birch branches, symbolizing the arrival of spring. Accompanied by folk songs such as “Aj zelena” and “Must”, the folklore group brought to life the rich heritage of Črnomelj.

The ritual concluded with a symbolic act: Green George was escorted to the bridge below the church and cast into the Dobličica River, representing his return to the underworld until the following year.

Visitors were invited to take part in creative workshops where they made horns and flutes. After the official part of the program, attendees stayed to enjoy refreshments, friendly conversation, and a warm atmosphere.

The entire event was covered and recorded by a team from RTV Slovenia, further confirming that the Zeleni Jurij ritual of Črnomelj is a significant part of Slovenia’s cultural heritage. The greatest thanks go to the Zeleni Jurij Črnomelj folklore group, whose dedication keeps this tradition alive and passes it on to future generations.

The event was co-organized in cooperation with JSKD OI Črnomelj, ZIK Črnomelj, and the Zeleni Jurij Folklore Group.

Photo: Jani Pavlin