Pustna Veselica 2005

The CSCS was very proud to resurrect a traditional Slovenian feast, the ‘Pustna Veselica’, or Masquerade Dance. This event is always held on the Saturday prior to Ash Wednesday, and this year, with Easter being very early, we held our ‘Pust’ on Saturday February 5.

For this event, we were very pleased to be hosting guest musicians from the Toronto area, Planinski Kvintet. This fine group of musicians visited our community once before in 2001, to help celebrate our 50th Anniversary celebrations, and we were ecstatic that we were able to host them again.

Prior to the dance, the members of Planinski Kvintet arrived on the Friday, and were hosted by various families in our community. On Saturday, we host Planinski Kvintet at DeLuca’s restaurant, and the fine ladies at DeLuca’s prepared a fabulous pasta lunch, with salad and fantastic homemade bread. With white and red wines accompanying our lunch, we all left DeLuca’s very full!!

Saturday evening eventually did come, and once again, our community produced a sold out hall for a Slovenian band! Right at 7:00, Planinski Kvintet came onto the staged and played a 30 minute concert for all in attendance. After a light supper was served, the band took centre stage again, and the dance floor was filled in no time. From polkas to waltzes to tangos to rock n roll, all music was quickly covered, and the dance floor was always full!

A special congratulations to Slavica and Jaka Perus who celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary, and to Lydia Mohoric and Richard Iwuc who also shared a special dance on the occasion of their 8th wedding anniversary!

Once again, Hilda Terry, a long time member of our community, and an equally long time member of our choir, joined the band on stage to sing to the classic Avsenik waltz, ‘Tam Kjer Murke Cveto’. Once again, this brought back memories of Hilda singing with Planinski Kvintet in 2001!!

As this was a masquerade dance, many people came dressed in costume’s, and our congratulations to Bernie Lozar for winning first prize, Hilda and Marty Terry for winning second prize, and Maureen Gimpelj and Marie Poredos for taking third prize. Our thanks to all who came in costumes, and especially the band for putting on costumes. (who could ever forget Teta Milena!)

Saturday had to eventually end, and we all had to bid farewell again to Planinski Kvintet. They departed for Toronto on Sunday, and hopefully in the next couple of years, we will have the opportunity to host you again in Winnipeg!

The CSCS would like to thank the following families for hosting band members, Andrej and Genia Zmavc, Josie and Greg Naterer, Ann and Albert Casar and Kristina and Stan Majowski.

We would also like to thank the kitchen staff for preparing a light supper, Ann Casar, Darka Casar, Cilika Casar and Kathy Casar.

Stan Majowski

Canadian Slovenian Cultural Society Inc.