Cultural heritage

Traditions that live on.

Our cultural heritage is more than memory. It is kept alive through people, events, knowledge and shared places.

Hujanske šjme

Carnival collection round

Hujanske šjme, also known locally as šjmarji, are the traditional carnival group of the village of Huje. According to the description of the tradition, preparations begin after Christmas. The central event is the collection round on Carnival Saturday, when the group visits homes throughout the village and collects gifts.

Characteristic figures include the flag bearer, grdini, kleščar, poberina, musicians, bride and groom, bridesmaids, »ta str« and »ta stara«, a pair of oxen with their driver, farmers, a mower, stržinar and green figures. The custom connects different generations and enables practical transfer of knowledge.

Traditional event

Shod Huje

Shod Huje is a traditional village event. In different parts of Slovenia, this type of gathering is also known by names such as proščenje, žegnanje, patrocinij, lepa nedelja, cerkvanje, semenj, šagra, opasilo and žegen. Huje belongs to the Pregarje area and parish, whose patron saint is St Lawrence.

Shod Huje is normally held on the first weekend of August, shortly before the feast of St Lawrence. In 2025 and 2026 the two-day event was open to the public and, according to the association's estimate, attracted around 400 visitors.

Accordion players at the meeting in Huje

Music

Accordion meetings

The accordion meeting is part of the Shod Huje programme but has its own time slot, performers and programme. The first meeting was held on 4 August 2024 with 18 participants; in 2025, 23 accordion players performed, and in 2026 there were 16.

The accordion meetings are organised in cooperation with Marko Vatovec, a world champion in diatonic accordion playing. A special feature is the involvement of children and teenagers alongside adult and older performers. The event connects places, generations and amateur music culture.

Village landscape

Village spring and pond

Village spring in Huje — The village spring in Huje.

Village pond in Huje with cattle nearby — The village pond in Huje. It still retains part of its traditional function as a watering place for livestock.

Through volunteer work actions, members care for the village spring and pond. Both places have historical, ethnological and cultural significance for the village and were connected with everyday life and the watering of livestock.

Care for the spring and pond complements the preservation of carnival traditions, Shod Huje and music activities, while keeping alive the memory of the traditional village landscape.