Travel Blog

Carnival time in Croatia

Posted by: ConnectoTravel.com


The first months of a year in Croatia are reserved for traditional carnivals. If you organize a trip to North Adriatic and Istria in this time of year, you will be a part of imaginary world of carnivals. Put your mask on and visit three different and unique carnivals in Kastav, Pag and Rijeka.

THE PAG CARNIVAL
The Pag Carnival has been held for over 80 years. From the first week in January till the end of February every Saturday is reserved for dances in private cellars and Pag hotels. During the last three days, the carnival events move to the central square, called pjaca.
A Carnival procession starts on Sunday. It passes the city and ends on pjaca where the official handover of the keys is held. The carnival celebration lasts for three days. On Ash Wednesday there's the reading testamment and the burning of Marko, the one to blame for all problems.
The main female character of the carnival is a slave Robinja. Robinja is played by a man dressed as a woman wearing a kerchief and accompanied by two young boys, a salesman, a musician and other characters from the time of Turkish rule. The plot is based on selling the slave. While the buyers are arguing whit each other, she escapes.

RIJEKA CARNIVAL - THE LARGEST CARNIVAL IN CROATIA
The city of Rijeka has the largest Carnival programme in Croatia with more than 20,000 participants and more than 600,000 domestic and foreign visitors. This year Carnival in Rijeka has started on 17 January and it will last until 22 February.
Carnival starts with a handover of the town’s keys to the Master of the Carnival. Exhibitions, shows, masquerades and parties fill the days until the jewel in the crown of the carnival celebrations – the huge masked parade. The parade with thousands of masks and an uncountable number of observers has positioned the Rijeka Carnival as the 3rd largest in the world.

KASTAV- THE TRADITION UNDER UNESCO PROTECTION
The traditional Carnival in Kastav became a part of The Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage established by UNESCO. The tradition of the zvončari who are going around villages and chasing away winter and evil spirits with the noise of their bells and with their scary masks, has been kept in the entire Kastav region.
The carnival starts in January, on Saint Anthony's Day. By blowing the Antonjski horn the carnival frenzy (pusne nemotarije) is announced. Members of all the masked troops are gathering at the central town square where they introducing their masks and Pust, that will be tried and burnt on Ash Wednesday. Every year maskers are choosing a carnival mayor. If you want to be a part of this old and unique tradition, visit the town of Kastav during the carnival period.