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| Photo by James Jordan |
Many Croatian holidays are of religious character. However, the Croats also celebrate their traditional culture through local and national festivals. For instance, almost every Croatian town holds its own carnival annually. The carnivals feature local songs, crafts and dances featuring traditional folk costumes. Some festivals last for several days and feature parades with floats, and, of course, feasting is inevitable. While some festivals occur during the summer, many of them are held in the winter before the beginning of Lent, the Christian period of fasting before Easter. Easter is a more of a solemn holiday, observed with processions and church services. People also decorate Easter eggs, called pisanice, which are painted with homemade dyes and given as gifts. In the summer and early fall, Catholics celebrate the Feast of the Assumption and the Birth of the Virgin by going to special church services and making pilgrimages. All Saints Day (November 1st) is an important time for families. Namely, on this day the family members usually gather together and visit the graves of their relatives and light candles there. Christmas is the most important holiday of the year. Celebrations begin on St. Nicholas' Day (December 6th), when children leave out stockings and receive small gifts for being good although they are also warned of a visit from the devil krampus, who kidnaps bad children in his bag. December 13th is the feast of St. Lucy. By custom, on this day the mother of the family "plants" wheat grains in a round dish. By Christmas Eve, green shoots have sprouted and are tied with the Croatian tricolor ribbon of red, white and blue. Three candies are placed in the centre of the sprouting wheat and this remains the centerpiece of the Christmas table until the Feast of the Three Kings on January 6th. The Christmas tree is decorated on Christmas Eve, while Christmas Day is a time for feasting and visiting family. This was a brief summary of the most important Croatian holidays and customs which refer to them, but now we are going to describe Croatian tradition in more detailed version. Let us begin with Christmas, which is, as we all know, celebrated on December 25th.
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| A Christmas decoration |
This was a brief summary of the most important Croatian holidays and customs which refer to them, but now we are going to describe Croatian tradition in more detailed version. Let us begin with Christmas, which is, as we all know, celebrated on December 25th. Celebration of Christmas in Croatia dates back to the ninth century. Namely, it was then that the Croats accepted Christianity. However, we must mention that the public observance of the most joyous holiday of all Christians in Croatia was only allowed after the establishment of the free Croatian state. What does this mean? Celebration of Christmas as a religious holiday was prohibited in the former communist Yugoslav Republic, but no one could prevent you to celebrate Christmas in the privacy of your homes. Croatian Christmas begins with Advent - the coming. The lighting of candles o every Sunday for four weeks before Christmas symbolizes the light given to us by the birth of Jesus Christ. The faithful attend early, pre-dawn masses throughout this religious period. These masses are called “zornice” or metins. Preparations start on St. Barbara's Day (December 4th) or more frequently, on St. Lucia's Day.The Feast of St. Lucy, on December 13th is more popular in the north of Croatia, while the feast of St. Nicholas is more favorable amongst the children in Dalmatia. St. Lucy puts presents for children in a sock hung by their beds. Planting Christmas wheat on the Feast of St. Lucy is a widespread custom throughout Croatia. It is usually thought that the harvest of the next year can be foreseen judging by the growth of this wheat up to Christmas Day. By Christmas Eve the sprouted grains are around 8 inches tall and are tied in a red, white and blue ribbon which represents the Croatian national flag. Since it is St. Lucy who brings light, the custom is to put a candle in the wheat and to light it on Christmas Day.
On the Feast of St. Thomas, December 21, preparations for the holiday table begin. Much of the Christmas festivities refer to table and food. As in most Catholic countries, Croats do not eat meat on Christmas Eve. They eat fish instead. Traditionally on the Dalmatian coast, this meal is usually dried salted cod. For Christmas dinner, the main course may be roast pig, turkey or any other meat, depending on the region of Croatia. However, the essential meal that is a part of the long Christmas tradition on these territories is fresh Christmas Eve Bread, or Badnji Kruh, made with honey, nuts and dried fruit. The Christmas Braid is also a kind of Christmas bread. The dough, made with nutmeg, raisins and almonds, is braided into a wreath and glazed. It is left on the table until the Epiphany (January 6th), when it is cut and eaten. We have to say here that the richness of the Christmas table has always had a kind of magical meaning. Namely, it was believed, and still is, that abundance of food in the old year would ensure plenty during the entire following year. The belief in the magical power of food is concealed in the foods served on the table during the holidays. The Christmas tree is brought to the home, usually a pine or a fir tree but also the branches of other kinds of evergreen trees. It is decorated on Christmas Eve. Many families decorate Christmas trees with the Licitar hearts. This unique Croatian decoration is made of edible materials, although it primarily serves as decoration. The dough, mostly shaped in hearts, is colored red. Colorful designs are added to it, including sayings and little mirrors. The custom of decorating the house with greenery reflects the belief that it symbolizes vitality and progress. The Christmas tree, though, symbolizes Christ, who represents the tree of life and the light of the world. This is precisely the reason why Christmas Eve is traditionally spent in vigil, symbolically accompanied by making light in various ways, with candles or by maintaining a fire in the fireplace where the Yule-log is burned. The name for the day before Christmas Day is derived from the archaic Croatian word bodar or bader which means to be awake; this word clearly indicates that it is a night when a vigil will be kept in the expectation of the birth of Christ. The joyous moment of the Nativity is awaited throughout Croatia at midnight masses called polnoćka. On the 6th of January a feast is held for the Three Kings.
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| Pisanice or Easter eggs |
Now we are going to say something about one more rather important holiday, not only in Croatia, but also in the rest of the world, especially in European countries. In a way it is considered more religious and more serious than Christmas. Of couse, we are taking about Easter. The Easter observances begin on Palm Sunday and continue throughout Holy Week. Here are some of Croatian customs which refer to Easter…One of the oldest Easter traditions is definitely coloring, that is decorating Easter eggs, which are in Croatia called 'pisanice'. People decorate eggs in several different ways. Coloring and decorating Easter eggs, called "pisanice", is among the oldest traditions. Some people use hot liquid wax and they draw different shapes on eggs with the help of pencil - like instrument. After coloring, the wax is removed, revealing the splendid decorations. In the past, when there was no artificial color, eggs were colored by being boiled in water with onions, walnuts, roots and herbs. In order to get their shine, they were polished with oil before being placed in the basket. Another method of decorating, popular in continental Croatia, was to use a knife, as well as threads of silk and wool, while the third method was to use formic acid. Eggs in the southern part of Croatia are traditionally colored in red and have white star or rosette shaped decorations, while decorations such as pine branches, flowers, circles and spirals are more common in other parts of the country. Finally, there is one more custom related to Easter eggs - the egg fight. One person chooses an egg from the basket and hits it against his or her adversary's egg. The winner is the person whose egg remains intact throughout the "fight". Sweet bread (sirnica) is another Easter tradition in Croatia. This bread contains eggs and sugar; rosewater or orange peel is also added for a sweet smell. Often people dip this sweet bread into a sweet wine called “prosec” to make it taste better.
Speaking of wine, drinking of this potion of Gods also belongs to the part of Easter tradition in Croatia. This custom originated in ancient times and it is still followed nowadays. People believe that wine transforms itself into blood in the body and makes people stronger and healthier. It is therefore recommendable to drink it as much as possible for Easter. There is plenty of wine served on Easter and people usually drink it without water. Documents, from the island of Brač, show that housewives used to prepare food that makes people thirsty so that they could drink as much wine as possible. Another custom is making "klepetaljke" and "cegrtaljke" (very similar to rattles and clappers), particularly popular in central Dalmatia and the Konavle region. They vary from region to region, while those on the island of Krk are especially interesting: metal plates that hang at the end of a 30 cm board that has the width of a bookshelf produce strong sounds when the device is shaken. In other regions, "klepetaljke" were made differently: small wheels were attached to wooden boards and connected to metal sprockets; the whole device made a rattling noise when pulled. One of the oldest Easter traditions is veawing branches. Since palms can rarely be found on the Adriatic, people mostly use olive or rosemary branches and flowers. On the island of Korcula and in the surroundings of Sibenik, olive branches were woven into plaits, while in Istria branches were woven into wreaths with crosses. On Palm Sunday, the Croats traditionally go to church and take a small olive twig to be blessed. On Friday, different kinds of fish are eaten. Saturday is the customary day to dye eggs. Easter Sunday involves going to the early morning mass with small baskets filled with food to be blessed; eating a breakfast of ham, eggs, grated horse radish, spring onion and home-made bread; and a dinner of turkey. Little children might also get candy from the Easter Bunny. Easter Monday is reserved for visiting relatives.
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| A scene from Motovun during the Motovun Film Festival |
All Souls’ Day is also commonly known as Day of the Dead. On this day then, Croatian families visit the graves of loved ones and place candles there for them to be able to find their way through the darkness. In Zagreb this tradition makes for a fantastic spectacle at the already majestic Mirogoj cemetery Should you be anywhere near the city on this day then don’t miss the effect that the several thousand lights dispersed throughout the trees and lines of burial plots has after dark. This was the sad part, so let’s now move on to more cheerful holidays and feasts in Croatia. Let us say something more about the carnivals. They take place in February. Croatia's carnival cities on the coast are well-known for colorful parades and other cheerful events. Let’s start with the so - called “Zvončari” from Kastav. They usually wear sailor’s outfits and the most important part of their image is definitely a lamb pelt that they wear over the shoulder and metal bells attached to their belts. Fully equipped Zvončari wear grotesque masks made of wood and cardboard and they always have horns. The Carnival in Kastav begins on the 17th of January and ends on Ash-Wednesday. Let us proceed to the town of Rijeka. The International Rijeka Carnival takes place from the 17th of February to the 4th of March. It is definitely the most popular carnival in the country; within this period the town of Rijeka is called “Croatian Rio de Janeiro". Carnival tradition in this area dates back from antiquity. About a century ago Rijeka lived its carnival life more intensively than any other town in this part of Europe. Due to the number of participants and visitors, the International Rijeka Carnival has been established as one of the biggest in Europe. The Dubrovnik Carnival goes back to the 14th century, when the city authorities allowed its citizens to wear masks, and dress up as whoever they pleased. Carnival parades in Dubrovnik consisted of men and women wearing nice traditional costumes from the surrounding areas who liked to have a good time to the tunes of trumpets and other instruments. Occasionally knight competitions were also organized where young men on horseback holding lances aimed for a silver ring fastened to a rope above the horse trail. In the Renaissance, carnival parades in Dubrovnik were made up of participants dressed as soldiers, dancers, gymnasts, poets, singers, nannies, fortune-tellers, priests and devils. In the 18th century, theater groups held well-choreographed performances and dances on the city squares. At the beginning of the 20th century, the carnival events moved to aristocratic palaces where luxurious masked balls were organized.The Dubrovnik Carnival takes place, of course annually, from February 22nd to March 4th. The carnival traditions in Split differ from those previously mentioned because masked balls that were accompanied by fireworks and in accordance with the progressive ideas of the Renaissance were organized in city palaces, reading rooms and the city theater. Furthermore, there was a set of rules on how to appropriately behave during the time of the carnival. Besides entertaining activities, carnival parades on the streets, harlequins, and historic plays, Split was also known for luxurious celebrations and impressive lighting. These were all the towns on the coast and now we are going to mention one town in continental part of Croatia - Samobor. One of the most popular manifestations in this town is he most popular is the so called „Samoborski Fašnik" when Samobor's inhabitants, as well as streets, buildings, restaurants and bars change their appearance in a traditional celebration of winter passing into spring. The whole town turns into a stage from February 9th to February 20th. It is a time of song, drink and humorous pranks with witty criticism of current socio-political events.
OK, let's proceed with other traditions in Croatia. As we all have heard, the Panonine Olane is very fertile area. People who inhabit this area have always worked on land. They work very hard during the whole year and in summer they pick up the harvest. When the harvest is brought to an end, the population from this part of Croatia holds annual traditonal manifestation and in this way they want to thank God for the good and successful harvest. This manifestation is called Dani kruha, or translated “The days of Bread”. This is something like the Thanksgiving Day in some other countries, but unlike the Thanksgiving Day this manifestation refers only to bread. St. Martin's Day, the 11th of November, is very important for the wine producers. It is connected with the traditional custom known for a long time. It is called 'the baptism of wine'. Why is St. Martin the saint of wine, no one really knows. Perhaps it is just because the 11th of November, the day of St. Martin's death, is the time when some process in production of wine is over and it becomes ready for drinking, perhaps because the production of wine is connected with the Benedictine monks, and wherever they appeared, they started growing grapes and producing wine.This is what the festivity of St. Martin looks like. People who took part in grape gather once more together on this day. This event is followed by music, singing and dancing, having good time during and after dinner, people taste wine tell toasts, and celebration lasts till morning. The foods traditionally eaten on the day are goose and almost always home-made mlinci.St. Martin's Day marks the day when the must traditionally turns to wine, by baptism. The baptism is performed by someone who dresses up as a bishop and blesses the wine; this is usually done by the host. Another person is chosen as the godfather of the wine. Every village in Slavonia celebrates the day of patron Saint of that place. It is the Saint who the church in the village is dedicated to. It is a holiday for all the villagers. The celebration includes the holly mass that is attended by the all members of the family. The priest preaches about the work and life of the saint.The locals prepare for that day a week in advance, women bake cakes, cook typical Slavonian dishes. The whole day the guests come and go.
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| A knob on a store in Dubrovnik in the form of a necktie which is a Croatian invention, called kravata |
And now let’s talk about the wedding, but we shall concentrate on the past, due to the fact that some of the traditional customs (like this one) faded almost in complete oblivion. When two young people decided to legalise their love, the boy's mother had to ask girls parents if her son could marry their daughter. If they gave permission, the boy could propose his fiance. This was the occasion when, apart from the newlyweds, best man, brother-in-law, and their friends were introduced to the girl's parents. The young man asked the girl officially if she wanted to be his wife, the girl accepted and gave him a flower, the sign that they would get married very soon. The next day the boy's parents came to the girl's house and brought some presents for her. After that the young couple went to the priest to announce the wedding and to prepare for it. Three Sundays successively the priest announced their wedding in the church with remark if anyone knew anything that should prevent this marriage let him speak then or keep silent forever. The day before wedding was the day when both and the girl had a sort of farewell Wedding parties. He celebrated with his friends in his home his last bachelor's evening, and the girl was in her home with her friends, preparing small branches of rosemary which would be put in the buttonhole of each guest next day. In the morning the young couple started getting dressed and preparing for going to church. The guests and the musicians would gather at the bridegroom's house, go to the best man's house, with him they return to the groom's home to get his parents' blessing and then go to the bride's home. In the meantime the bride impatiently was expecting her future husband. Bride's brothers 'sold' the bride to the groom. Sometimes they made jokes and they brought the folse bride to him, but when he 'paid' for his bride, she came out of her room. Of course it was only a part of entertaining ritual The work in the vineyard traditionally begins on the 22nd of January, the St. Vincent's Day. The vine producers go to their vineyards regardless of the weather conditions. It is said that it is not nice to be alone on the St. Vincent' Day. That day the vine producers usually wish each other happy and successful wine season. The word Križarice comes from the word križ, meaning "cross" which was carried in front of the procession and it has the feminine form of the noun "crusader", because this noun refers to women who used to participate within this processions. This custom dates back to the earliest times. It takes place once a year on Holy Thursday - 40 days after Easter- and is typical for a place in Slavonia called Strizivojna. The point of the custom is to pray God to bless wheat and give good harvest. Križarice usually were girls from 8 to 13 years old. "Beggars" who go at the end of the procession follow the girls. They are the boys of the same ages carrying baskets and bags for the presents they are going to get symbolizing generosity to the poor. This custom, like many other customs, has almost been forgotten during the period after World War II but it has been renewed recently. Did you know that Croatia is the mother country of the necktie? As a fashion accessory, the Croats spread it throughout Europe in the 17th century. At the beginning, the Croatian soldiers wore a scarf round the neck. The scarf was named after them - the cravat (the tie). Therefore, in the year of 1667 a separate regiment was formed. It was named the 'Royal Cravates', after the Croats. This is in fact a story about love. Croatian folk tradition can be our source to find out the reason why they put scarves. Fiancées gave their fiancés scarves as token of mutual fidelity, especially in crucial moments of their lives. Here is one interesting thing about the tie. You all have heard about the Arena in Pula, but have you heard the knot of the largest cravat in the world was tied around the Pula Arena. Fascinating! Citizens of the Republic of Croatia that celebrate different religious holidays have the right not to work on those dates. This includes Christians that celebrate Christmas on January 7th per Julian calendar, Muslims on the days of Ramadan Bayram and Kurban Bayram, and Jews on the days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
