An Aspinwall teen royally ruled the day during a celebration honoring his Slovenian heritage in Cleveland.
Blaz Alexander Vavpetic, of Aspinwall, was selected as the Prince of the 11th Annual Cleveland Kurentovanje, a week-long Slovenian cultural celebration that is similar to Mardi Gras and celebrates the coming of Spring.
Pronounced koo-rehn-toh-VAHN-yeh, the festival honors an ancient Slovenian tradition of the changing seasons and features Kurenti. A Kurent is a large, furry Slovenian mythical creature believed to chase away winter and help to usher in springtime.
The 2023 event was held Feb. 5-18, and the festival originates from Ptuj, Slovenia.
Vavpetic, a senior at Fox Chapel Area High School, dressed for the honor in authentic Slovenian clothing, loaned to him by his Slovenian grandfather.
His princely attire included a traditional Slovenian vest complete with red velvet and embroidered edelweiss flowers, white shirt, black pants,shoes and gloves. The Kurentovanje staff provided Blaz with a crown and cape to complete his royal look.
Vavpetic, 17, is Slovenian on his father’s side and holds dual American/Slovenian citizenship.
“I’m proud of the rich culture that Slovenia has to offer—with our traditional dress, architecture, polka music and even beekeeping, as Slovenia is known for its honey,” Vavpetic said.
This year, Vavpetic represented the festival sans princess, because the princess had covid and couldn’t attend.
“I wanted to be prince because I wanted to get more involved with my Slovenian heritage and Slovenian community,” said Vavpetic, who was nominated for prince by his grandparents. “My cousin was the princess before me and my grandpa was a Kurent for a number of years, so I had to follow the family tradition.”
Blaz is the son of Joe and Kate Vavpetic.
“We’re really excited that Blaz was excited to represent his Slovenian heritage. He’s a good ambassador, and we’re proud that he’s representing Fox Chapel Area High School in such a big event, even though it’s not a school-related opportunity,” Kate Vavpetic said.
The Cleveland version of Kurentovanje was founded in 2013 and offers a day-long parade, ethnic food and drink and cultural performances that included plenty of polka dancing.
“One of my favorite parts of being prince was polka dancing with my friends and family,” Vavpetic said. “Some of my highlights were making necklaces with the kids and riding on a flatbed truck with the band during the parade.”
Participants were encouraged to dress up in costumes of any kind to celebrate in the Mardi Gras tradition.
Michael DeCecco, a senior at Fox Chapel Area High School, attended the festival with Blaz.
It was DeCecco’s first time attending a Slovenian festival.
“Coming from an Italian heritage, I loved polka dancing and the Kurents. They were incredible to see and extremely different than what I was used to seeing at different festivals in Bloomfield,” DeCecco said.
Vavpetic has traveled to Slovenia three times, visiting family and sightseeing.
He scaled Slovenia’s tallest mountain, Mount Triglav, during an excursion with his family.
“It took us two days, but I can call myself a true Slovenian,” Blaz Vavpetic said.
Vavpetic’s high school activities include membership in the National Honor Society, captain of the Rowing Team, director of speech on the Debate Team and Chair of the Student Council Senior Class Caucus.
