Zvoncari
Encyclopedia
Rijeka
Rijeka is the principal seaport and the third largest city in Croatia . It is located on Kvarner Bay, an inlet of the Adriatic Sea and has a population of 128,735 inhabitants...
, Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
. Itt was added to UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
The Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage are established by UNESCO aiming to ensure the better protection of important intangible cultural heritages worldwide and the awareness of their significance...
in 2009.
The custom dates to pagan antiquity, and remains typical for this region. The primary task of Zvončari is to scare away evil spirits of winter and to stir up new spring-time cycle. During the Rijeka Carnival
Rijeka Carnival
The Rijeka Carnival is held each year before Lent in Rijeka, Croatia. It is the biggest carnival in Croatia. In 2008 it celebrated its 25th anniversary.- History :...
time Zvončari march from village to village throughout the region, following the same centuries-old route, making an extraordinary amount of noise, fueled in part by the wine provided by the locals en route.
The standard Zvončar costume includes white trousers, striped shirt, and a sheepskin throw. In their hands they hold a "balta" or "bačuka" - a stylized mace
Ceremonial mace
The ceremonial mace is a highly ornamented staff of metal or wood, carried before a sovereign or other high official in civic ceremonies by a mace-bearer, intended to represent the official's authority. The mace, as used today, derives from the original mace used as a weapon...
, and around the waist one or more big brass bells. The costume varies from village to village; for example, Zvončari of Halubje and Grobnik
Grobnik
Grobnik can refer to:* Toponym of Grobnik near Rijeka, Croatia** Battle of Grobnik field** Automotodrom Grobnik* Grobnik, Istria County, Croatia - a settlement near Pićan* Grobnik, Karlovac County, Croatia - a settlement near Slunj...
(Dondolaši) wear special stylized masks representing fantastic animal heads, while Zvončari of Zejane and Brguj wear "flower hats".
A legend tells that Zvončari scared away invading Tatars
Tatars
Tatars are a Turkic speaking ethnic group , numbering roughly 7 million.The majority of Tatars live in the Russian Federation, with a population of around 5.5 million, about 2 million of which in the republic of Tatarstan.Significant minority populations are found in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan,...
or Turks
Turkic peoples
The Turkic peoples are peoples residing in northern, central and western Asia, southern Siberia and northwestern China and parts of eastern Europe. They speak languages belonging to the Turkic language family. They share, to varying degrees, certain cultural traits and historical backgrounds...
. According to the legend the shepherds put masks on their heads, belted on bells, and produced a deafening noise that scared the enemy away. From that time on, a mace became part of the standard equipment of Zvončari.
With their impressive appearance, Zvončari have become something of a tourist attraction, participating regularly in the international Rijeka Carnival
Rijeka Carnival
The Rijeka Carnival is held each year before Lent in Rijeka, Croatia. It is the biggest carnival in Croatia. In 2008 it celebrated its 25th anniversary.- History :...
.
See also
- Busójárás
- KurentovanjeKurentovanjeKurentovanje is a ten-day rite of spring and fertility, celebrated in Slovenia. The origins of Kurentovanje are not certain, but it is likely connected to Slavic paganism....
- Pre-Christian Alpine traditions
- Rijeka carnivalRijeka CarnivalThe Rijeka Carnival is held each year before Lent in Rijeka, Croatia. It is the biggest carnival in Croatia. In 2008 it celebrated its 25th anniversary.- History :...