| CARNIVALS IN CROATIA Carnivals take place in February. Carnival traditions go back several centuries and are based both on western Christian culture as well as on customs of pre-Christian peoples. Croatia's carnival cities on the coast are well-known for colorful parades and other entertaining events. Read more on Croatia's carnival traditions and find out where and when you can enjoy lively carnival atmosphere. "Zvoncari" from Kastav
Zvoncari and their traditional carnival parades are among Croatia's best known carnival traditions. Zvoncari wear sailor's outfits, i.e. striped shirts, socks over white pants and wide bright red belts around the waist. The most important parts of their "outfits" are lamb pelts that they wear over the shoulder and metal bells attached to their belts. In the majority of cases bells are made of copper and have a volume of 10 to 12 liters. The bells that are fastened to their belts are usually 1 to 1.5 liters. Fully equipped zvoncari wear grotesque masks made of wood and cardboard as well as of parts of lamb or rabbit pelts, and sometimes have red noses and always have horns. Zvoncari are usually in groups and, depending on the village they come from, use different steps, meaning that the bells ring differently for different groups. When in front of a house or a crowd they collide on purpose in order to make their bells ring as loud as possible.
Visit Kastav! The Carnival in Kastav begins on the 17th of January (St Anthony's Day) and ends on Ash-Wednesday.
International Carnival in Rijeka
Some hundred years ago, carnival events in Rijeka took place much more often than in any other city in this part of Europe. Carnival parades and balls were organized for Austrian and Hungarian aristocrats, Russian princesses, German barons, as well as counts and countesses from all over Europe. A very impressive event was the so-called "Praznik cvijeca" (Flower Holiday) when the theater was transformed into a huge dancing hall. Nowadays, one of the largest carnivals in Europe, International Rijeka Carnival is held in Rijeka and attracts numerous carnival groups as well as thousands of visitors from Croatia and all over the world. The carnival events in the city of Rijeka are an amazing blend of traditional European carnivals, primarily Venetian and Austrian characteristics, and of elements of Slavic folklore and mythology.
Visit Rijeka! The International Rijeka Carnival takes place from the 17th of February to the 4th of March. We suggest you take a look at the Villa Astra in Lovran where a masked ball will take place. Apartments in the villa can be booked online on our pages.
Carnival on the Island of Pag
The city of Pag on the northern Dalmatian island of the same name is the center of the carnival called "Robinja" (female slave). Pag's Robinja is a singing performance consisting of a dance with wooden axes accompanied by verse. The female slave character is played by a man dressed as a woman wearing a kerchief and accompanied by two boys. Besides this character, there are also a salesman with his aides, a standard-bearer and a musician as well as many characters related to the time of Turkish rule. After all participants have formed an ellipse in front of the parish priest's house, a distinguished citizen's house or on the main square, the performance starts. The simple plot is based on selling the female slave. The opposing sides argue and retell past events. At the climax of the performance, the ellipse starts shrinking and the female slave escapes.
Visit Pag! The Winter Carnival in Pag begins on the first Saturday after Epiphany. Three days prior to Ash-Wednesday, numerous events take place on the Petar Kresimir IV square. Ash-Wednesday is the last day of the carnival.
Carnival in Split
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, Pierrots, harlequins, and historic plays, Split was also known for luxurious celebrations and impressive lighting.
Dubrovnik Carnival
The Dubrovnik Carnival goes back to the 14th century when the city authorities allowed its citizens to wear masks (inappropriate masks were not allowed) 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.
Visit Dubrovnik! Enjoy the carnival atmosphere on the streets of the city of Dubrovnik from the 22nd of February to the 4th of March. |
