Traditional Ethnographic Characters

The Trough

Very similar to the “hauling of the log” is the habit of the “trough” which is still alive in the village of Markovci na Ptujskem polju. This ritual normally consists of young men disguised as women. To the general amusement they drag behind them a trough with a straw bride sitting in it. They used to stop at each house where an eligible young man lived offering him the “bride”, who, of course, was strikingly rich having cows, pigs, money and much more. Instead of flowers the “bride” wore wreaths of onions.