The thesis examines women wearing the korant mask. When investigating the current developments related to the masking of women as korant figures, it primarily focuses on the changes associated with the 'right' to wear the mask, traditionally reserved for unmarried young men. In the introduction, it presents previous research on the topic under consideration, the methodology of the current study, and introduces the interviewees. Subsequently, for the purpose of a broader comprehension of the subject matter, it delves into various names of the studied mask, its appearance, and its purpose. It examines different factors who, in a more or less organized manner, safeguard the korant as intangible cultural heritage, focusing on the position of female bearers within individual associations. The thesis compares potential differences in the execution of the korant ritual before and after its inclusion in the Obhodi kurentov (Door-to-door rounds of Kurenti) unit of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Register and UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. The interviwees’ comments shed light on the advantages and disadvantages brought about by this inclusion, not only for women but for all bearers of the korant mask. The thesis introduces women – korantice, their experiences, and the public’s response. It also compares various forms of korant participation in public settings, during processions in villages, parades, and the Kurentovanje festival in Ptuj. This is done in relation to the desire to preserve the tradition of performing korant processions, taking into account the different interpretations of this tradition among its bearers.
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