“Nekoč so šle trije počaci. Eden je bil slep, Drugi je bil nag, Treti je bil hrom. Slepi je zajca videl, Hromi ga je ujel, Nagi ga je pod srajso del.” — Translation: “There once went three together slowly – One was blind, The second was naked, The third was lame. The Blind one saw… Continue Reading »
“Pojdi se solit!” Translation: “Go salt yourself!” Used as an expression of frustration, this phrase can be taken to mean, “screw you!” The informant has been saying this particular phrase to me since I was young, whenever I was sufficiently irritating. For years, I was puzzled by why she would repeat this seemingly nonsensical saying… Continue Reading »
Potica is a traditional Slovenian nut roll made from walnuts, coffee, rum, lemon, and caramel served around Christmas and Easter, as a celebration of Christ. After it is baked, it must be chilled, then flipped rising-side down, sliced, and dusted with sugar on the flat side of the loaf. My grandmother always said that if… Continue Reading »
“Marco skače, Marco skače po zeleni trati, Aj aj ajajaj Po zeleni trati.” Translation: “Marco is jumping over the green meadows aj aj ajajaj over the green meadows” This is a traditional Slovenian nursery rhyme, one that I was raised listening to as my mother sang it to me as a child. She said that… Continue Reading »
“Prišel je tsiganček sajast kako vranček; Igral je na piščalko Milo in pelo Kakor malo kdo.” — Translation: “There came a little gypsy boy Black with soot/dirtlike a crow; [Dark as a crow] He played on the piccolo gently and beautifully like very few could.” — This is a traditional Slovenian nursery rhyme, one that… Continue Reading »