Fun and festivities in Croatia - celebrations, festivals and cultural events

Croatia is a deeply religious country. Therefore, holidays associated with religion, enjoy a special attitude. The main holiday of the Catholic world of Croatia is Easter. Its date is not fixed and, every year, it changes. The next day after Easter, Monday, is a non-working day, which speaks of the special importance of the holiday for the Croats. Women bake cakes and serve festive tables; relatives give each other memorable gifts. There are solemn church processions and gastronomic fairs on the streets of many cities. Another spectacular religious holiday is the feast of the Divine body and blood. It’s taking place on the 54th day after Easter. On this day, churches also organize solemn processions with holy gifts through the streets of the city or around churches. On December 25, Croatia, like other Catholic countries, celebrates Christmas. This holiday is considered a family one. On the Christmas Eve, the whole family gathers at a big table. The main dish of the feast is baked carp. There must be different sweets on the festive Christmas table. Already in early December, there are fairs in the central areas of the cities. There, you can buy small souvenirs and gifts for the holiday. The fairs are colorful. They also feature theatrical performances and folk festivals. It is customary to discuss plans for the next year. After dinner, the Croats often go to the temples for Christmas services. The New Year celebration in Croatia is also accompanied by mass festivities. It is customary to gather in the central squares where the best view of the festive salute opens.

The Croats are patriotic. They are very proud of their nation and honor the freedom they have suffered in a difficult struggle. On October 8, the Independence Day is celebrated in the country. This is a day off. Peaceful rallies and processions are held on the streets. On June 22, Croatia celebrates the Day of Anti-Fascist Struggle. The date was chosen not for an accident. It was on June 22, 1941, when the Sisak detachment was created. That was the first anti-fascist partisan organization in Europe. June 25 is the Day of Power, and August 5 is the Day of Victory and Thanksgiving to the Fatherland. This memorable day arose as the result of the victory in the war of 1991-1995, when Croatia managed to restore its territorial integrity. These days are the most important for the national self-awareness.

A huge number of festivals take place in Croatia every year. Most of them are held at various venues in Zagreb. In April, the Music Biennale, a festival of classical music and folk culture, is held in the capital. For several days, musicians and orchestras perform on different venues. The event ends with a grandiose gala show. In June, it is worth to visit the Flora Art exhibition in Zagreb. There, rare plants, trees and flowers are presented to the public, as well as an accompanying equipment for gardening. In autumn, Zagreb hosts the International Festival of Puppet Theaters, Jazz Days and the International Fair. In Rovinj, in early May, the famous Rovinj-Pesaro Regatta, which gathers athletes from different countries, starts. From the 14th century, competitions for shooting arbalets are traditionally held on the small island of Rab. Everyone can try their hand. Another bright event is the Dalmatian corrida in the mountain village of Radoshich. Animals are fighting not with a bullfighter, but with each other. The show is pretty cruel, but extremely impressive. The carnival in Dubrovnik is one of the most spectacular processions in the whole country. It starts on the main street of the Old Town, which is famous for its stone panoramic vaults. The lane has a limestone pavement. On the first day of the carnival, entertaining performances for children are arranged. At the rest of the time, costumed processions pass through the streets of the city. The carnival ends with a party that lasts until the morning. Copyright www.orangesmile.com