According to the unwritten calendar of the bachelors in Drežnica, the Carnival year begins on the last Saturday of the year.

Carnival mask

This is the time when boys are accepted to men. The brotherhood is a village organization with its president and secretary, and is a strict matter of unmarried men and boys. It accepts village youngsters, who (before accepted to the brotherhood) could be poured with water if caught ouside after the bells stroke Hail Mary in the evening.

For the actual acceptance to the brotherhood, a candidate must be suitably prepared. A strict committee, consisting of the seniors, examines and considers thoroughly, if he's ready for his new role in the village community. Only after passing the ''exam'' before the committee, a boy can get the rights and the obligations of a man.

The first duty which he will have to perform from now on is ''washing'' - pouring the village kids with water. All the children must go home after the sound of evening bells (the pouring actually has an educational purpose). This is one of the reasons why under-aged youngsters aren't seen to idle around the village or even drink in front of the taverns in the evenings.

When accepted, a young man is told not to flirt with other men's girls, always help the others to come home safely when an evening gets too straining, not to cause damage to the villagers intentionally and rather help them, if possible. He can demand a barrel of wine from men who try to seduce local girls - if they don't bring wine, he can tease and annoy them. It is also the time to find his own sweetheart and of course, to be a part of the Carnival and to make his mask - the Carnival face.

On the New Year's Day he must go to mass, take the Communion and give money to charity, wearing a rose on his chest, so that everyone can see that he is a part of the brotherhood. He must also carry the baldachin above the priest during the procession at the parish church festival.

At midnight, on the night of the admittance, a young man has the possibility and the duty to join the procession through the village. He is shown the usual route of the procession which will become from now on a part of his activities, along with the meetings of the brotherhood. During the procession, the brotherhood in the pre-Carnival time (from New Year to Shrove Saturday) announces the coming Carnival - ''pust'', by tinkling with bells and beating on sheets of metal.

This is the time for him to carve out a new mask. The first year of the Carnival, he's always dressed up as the ''Ugly one''.

In this time, everyone prepares for the Carnival which takes place on Shrove Saturday. Every year the men carve out a few new masks and the tradition of Carnival is preserved.

The masks are made of nut or lime wood, cut out from one piece and each is a unique specimen of the men. It is forbidden to trade them. If someone was caught selling his mask, he would surely be expelled from the brotherhood. The girls can help with the sewing the Carnival costumes, but the Carnival is a strict matter of the men. Everything must be prepared by Shrove Saturday.

Pust - The Carnival

On Carnival morning, all the participants gather in the village tavern on the edge of the village, where they dress up and walk in procession through the village. Everyone is ordered not to get drunk, otherwise the mask is taken from him and he's kicked out of the Carnival company. It is also not allowed to cause any damage, although many foolishnesses are pardoned.

Everyone is told which houses can't be visited or disturbed. These are the houses where a person died during the past year. In these houses only the ''Old Two'' or the procession of the ''Pretty Ones'' may enter, if the family wishes so; nevertheless, the accordionist cannot play here.

The Carnival procession begins with the ''Leader'', followed by the accordionist, two or three pairs of the ''Pretty Ones'' and the ''Old Two''. Then comes a coloured company: Gypsies, ''Rezjan'', the ''Carnival Doctor'', the Devil, the Lottery, the Rooster Man, the Fat One…..and at the end the Ugly Ones with the Kitchen - a handcart stuffed with hay and set to fire.

The Ugly Ones carry the nylons or even silk stocking, stuffed with ashes. They are used to beat up the youngsters. The procession is concluded by the Carnival Cop, who has on this speacial day greater authority than the real police.

After the procession makes a few circles around the village, the mask divide mainly in two parts. The Pretty Ones visit all the houses in the village; the Ugly Ones chase the children and perform various foolery. The houses are also invaded by ''Rezjan'', the ''Carnival Doctor'', the Lottery, the Rooster man and many others. Every house tries to welcome them in a warm and festive way. The main village square is the place where many interesting shows get performed in the afternoon, which cheer up the villagers. One of the traditional shows is the Fatman's Operation. When the Pretty Ones manage to visit all the houses in the evening, everyone is gathered once again in the final procession and the Carnival of Drežnica concludes with the evening festive party.

On the following day (Sunday) the village is cleaned up and rubbish is collected.

On Shrove Tuesday, ''Pust'' - Carnival masquerader is sent for trial, accused of all the accidents, calamities and other pests which happened the past year. So far, the sentence was always death; only the way of execution changes.

After the execution, it is taken to the village tavern, where it lies in state; we have to keep a watchful eye on him, because someone might steal it.

On the last procession at midnight, accompanied just by the bells, ''Pust'' is escorted to the end of the village, where it is set on fire. This concludes the carnival; there is no more foolery on the next day, the Ash Wednesday - it's the beginning of Lent.