Intangible cultural heritage of croatia

1. THE DAILY NEWS
www.dailynews.com THE WORLD’S FAVOURITE NEWSPAPER - Since 1879
INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF CROATIA /BY ITS
NUMBER/ - TOP ONE IN EUROPE!
THE LIST:
1.LACEMAKING
2.TWO-PART SINGING and PLYING IN THE ISTRIAN SCALE
3.FESTIVITY OF ST. BLAISE, THE PATRON OF DUBROVNIK
4.SPRING PROCESSIONS OF LJELJE FROM GORJANI
5. ANNUAL CARNIVAL BELL RINGERS’ PEGEANT FROM THE
KASTAV AREA
6.PROCESSION “ZA KRIŽEN” /FOLLOWING THE CROSS/ ON
THE ISLAND OF HVAR
7.TRADITIONAL MANUFACTURING OF THE WOODEN TOYS
IN HRVATSKO ZAGORJE
8.BEĆARAC /FOLKLORE DANCE OF SLAVONIA/
9.GINGERBREAD CRAFT FROM NORTHERN CROATIA –
LICITAR HEARTS
10.THE CUSTOM OF SOCIAL GATHERING – LIČKO PRELO
11.ALKA FROM SINJ

2. 1. Lacemaking in Croatia
The difference between the n European countries and our country lies
in its creators. In Europe, lacemaking was in the hands of nuns,
bourgeoisie and nobility, while in Croatia it was transferred from
them to the hands of rural women in small villages. They have made
lace for trlacemaking iaditional clothes and furnishings.
Nowadays, there are three main centres of lacemaking in Croatia,
whose work is a continuation of the long-lasting lacemaking tradition.
These are: Lepoglava in Hrvatsko zagorje with bobbin lace, Pag on
the Adriatic with needle point lace and Hvar with aloe lace.
The skill of making ribbon bobbin lacework from flax fibres that the
rural women from Lepoglava made for decorating their garments or
for sale, resulted in the making of fine lace with different forms.
The Pag lace is an ornamental element first occurring in folklore
textile and later as an independent decoration. The skill of making
lace from aloe in the town of Hvar is specific due to the material it is
made of (aloe) and its single connection to a Benedictine convent.

3. UNESCO IN CROATIA
- Since 1802
TWO-PART SINGING and PLYING IN THE
ISTRIAN SCALE
FANTASTIC!!!
There is often a degree of improvisation and variation
during the performance in both voices, but endings in
unison or in octave remain as a strict rule. This feature can
be noticed in bugarenje sub-style, too, regardless of the
fact that the lower voice drops additionally for a second or
a diminished third.
Most of tone rows consist of four to six tones. Metro-
rhythmical organization, formal structure and structure of
the sung text range from simple to very complex patterns,
and the relationship between music and lyrics is specific.

4. Date today 19/2/2012 NEWS
The Festivity of St. Blaise, the
3. FESTIVITY OF ST. BLAISE- patron of Dubrovnik, Based on the legend of the
appearance of Saint Blaise to
PATRON SAINT OF DUBROVNIK represents an exceptional
help the inhabitants of
example of intangible cultural
heritage, which in a Dubrovnik against their enemy,
continuous historic sequence the Festivity is an occasion in
from the 10th century to our which the people of the City and
time, has kept its traditional its surrounding area, the
and recognizable features and representatives of state and local
exquisite expression, authorities together with the
channelling local and national representatives of the Roman
cultural landscape into diverse Catholic Church participate.
manifestations, intertwining
tangible and intangible cultural
heritage with permeating
spiritual dimension.
SPIRITUAL DIMENSION
Added to the spiritual dimension is a special effect the
Festivity produces in relation to social relations and order,
as well as the quality of the authorities. The Festivity as a
display of the worship of the Saint has influenced and
shaped the entire cultural and partly natural space of the
1) His cult became widespread in Europe in the eleventh and City and its surrounding area contributing to the
twelfth centuries. St. Blaise is one of the Fourteen Holy intercultural dialogue by welcoming guests, individuals and
Helpers or Auxiliary Saints and his legend is recounted in the groups, from other parts of Croatia as well as the
fourteenthcentury Legenda Aurea. Saint Blaise is the saint of the neighbouring countries.
wild beast.

5. Date today 27/2/2012 NEWS
Spring procession of Ljelje/Kraljice
(Queens) from Gorjani Đakovo: dating
from 1898!!
Kraljice (queens) from village
Gorjani are girls who go through
their village in a procession and
perform a ritual consisting of
special songs and dance with
sabres in spring, on Whitesunday.
They are divided into kraljice
(queens) and kraljevi (kings);
about ten kings wear sabres and
male hats decorated with flowers
and half as much queens wear
white garlands on their heads like
brides.
From a wide repertoire of kraljica lyrics they choose songs
corresponding to the families they are visiting; most often
they sing to a girl, boy or a young bride. Then kraljevi
perform a dance with sabres, and kraljice comment on the
dance figures through song. This is followed by a folk
dance accompanied by musicians that can be joined in by
I the household members. After they are treated to food and
drinks, the procession goes to another house. On the
second day of Whitsuntide they visit a neighbouring village
or a close by town. Finally there is a common feast and
entertainment at one of the participant's homes.

6. Date today 7/3/2012 NEWS
Annual Carnival Bell Ringers’ LOTS OF SKILLS and
Pageant from the Kastav Area PHYSICAL ENDURANCE
NEEEDED! They all have sheepskin throws
turned inside-out and bells, after
During the Carnival period which they were named. They
(between the 17th of January ring with the bells by moving in
and Ash Wednesday), about different ways, which requires
ten groups of men in the certain skill and physical
Kastav area march through endurance. Therefore it is
considered that not just anyone
their own and surrounding
can become a bell ringer.
villages in processions via Although, on one hand, visibly
traditional routes, several embodying the ancient magical
kilometers long. Some wear meaning of a ritual, which
masks and others different should invite fertility at the end
headgear symbolizing of winter, this custom is still
vegetation and fertility. very much alive even today.
Every January!!
By enabling interaction of a group of bell ringers (and the
people following them in their procession) with the
inhabitants of the villages they pass on their way, the ritual
maintains and stresses the social significance and function of
mutual relationships between villages in the Kastav region,
which is extremely important for the cohesion of the villages
in which the ritual takes place. Bell ringers are from Bregi,
Brgud, Halubje, Mučići, Mune, Rukavac, Zvoneća, Ž ejane,
Frlanija, Vlahov Breg, Korensko.
Extraordinary event! Come, see and be!

7. Date today 8/4/2012 NEWS
Procession Za Križen (Following On the night from Maundy
the Cross) on the Island of Hvar Thursday to Good Friday, the
Procession passes through 6
IN HVAR – villages on the island: Jelsa,
CROATIAN Pitve, Vrisnik, Svirče,
CULTURAL Vrbanj and Vrboska. At the
same time, processions start
IDENTITY!! from six parish churches with
The Procession “Following a cross-bearer ahead, wearing
the Cross” is a very pious a heavy cross as a symbol of
ceremony and an expression prayer or gratitude, as his own
of the religious and cultural or family pledge. He is
identity of the population of followed by a chosen suite in
the central part of Hvar brotherhood tunics and
Island. It has been taking numerous worshippers and
place for nearly five centuries pilgrims.
uninterrupted.
THE LAMENTATION OF THE VIRGIN MARY
The people in the Procession pass 25 kilometres in
8 hours. It is prepared and conducted by
brotherhoods, i.e. communities of Hvar believers
whose history has been profoundly marked by the
cross. The central part of the Procession is the
Lamentations of the Virgin Mary, an octosyllabic
They stop in front of churches and chapels in other villages Passion-related text dating from the 15th century,
where greeted by priests and return to their parish church before sang in a dialogue form by chosen singers -
dawn. kantaduri.

8. NEWS
Traditional Manufacturing of Children’s Wooden A LONG HISTORY!!!
.
.
Toys in Hrvatsko Zagorje Wooden children’s toys are
recognizable traditional From very simple reed toys,
products of Hrvatsko zagorje the assortment widened so
with a long history. Precisely that, at times, one hundred
in this area, a peculiar and twenty different toys
production of toys was were produced. The method
developed in the 19th century of their production was
and it has been preserved in passed on from generation to
some villages such as Laz, generation in some families
Stubica, Tugonica and Marija and has been kept to this
Bistrica. day. The peculiarity is that
they are handmade by men
All these villages are on the and mostly painted by
route to the greatest women.
pilgrimage site in Croatia -
Marija Bistrica.
THE MATERIALS USED
The material used is soft wood from the area, willow, lime,
beech and maple that craftsmen hew after drying and then
cut and shape it with the help of wooden or cardboard
models. In painting they use eco paint and their base
colours are usually red, yellow or blue. They paint the
There can never be two completely identical toys since each toys with floral and geometrical ornaments. Today,
about fifty types of toys are made, ranging from various
one is handmade.
reeds, tamburitzas, animal toys and objects of common
use.

9. Date today 9/2/2012 NEWS
Since 1717!
ALKA FROM SINJ The Sinjska Alka is a chivalric The tournament rules, codified in
tournament that takes place a 1833 statute, promote ethics and
annually, as it has since 1717, in fair play, and stress the
the town of Sinj, in the Cetinska importance of participation in
krajina region. During the community life. Participants must
contest, knights ride horses at be members of local families of
full gallop along a main street, Sinj and the Cetinska krajina
aiming lances at an iron ring region. The whole community
hanging on a rope. The name of helps to make, conserve, restore
the tournament derives from this and reconstruct weapons, clothes
alka or ring, a word whose and accessories to support the
Turkish origin reflects the continuation of the tradition.
historical co-existence and
cultural exchange between two
different civilizations.
AN EXTRAORDINAR
EVENT!
The tournament is also entwined with local religious
practices, social gatherings, family visits and festivities at
home and in the open air. The Sinjska Alka is the only
It has become a marker of local history and a medium for remaining example of the medieval knightly competitions
transferring collective memory from one generation to that were regularly held in the Croatian coastal towns
another. until the nineteenth century.

10. Date today 00/00/00 NEWS
Gingerbread craft from Northern
Croatia – LICITAR HEARTS! FROM MIDDLE
AGES ON…
The tradition of gingerbread The process of making
making appeared in certain gingerbread requires skill and
European monasteries during speed. The recipe is the same for
the Middle Ages and came to all makers, utilizing flour, sugar,
Croatia where it became a water and baking soda – plus the
craft. Gingerbread obligatory spices.
craftspeople, who also made
honey and candles, worked in
the area of Northern Croatia.
LICITAR HEARTS
Each craftsperson decorates gingerbread in a
specific way, often with pictures, small mirrors and
verses or messages. The gingerbread heart is the
Gingerbread has become one of the most recognizable symbols most common motif, and is frequently prepared for
of Croatian identity. Today, gingerbread makers are essential marriages, decorated with the newlyweds’ names
participants in local festivities, events and gatherings, providing and wedding date.
the local people with a sense of identity and continuity.

11. Date today 00/00/00 NEWS
DALMATIAN
OJKANJE SINGING HINTERLAND!
Ojkanje singing, found in the Melodies are based on
Croatian regions of the limited, mostly chromatic,
Dalmatian hinterland, is tonal scales, and the lyrics
performed by singers (male or cover diverse themes
female) using a distinctive ranging from love to
voice-shaking technique current social issues and
created by the throat. Each
song lasts as long as the lead
singer can hold his or her
breath. politics.
Passed on orally… from
generatio to generation…
Although Ojkanje is traditionally passed on orally,
audio and video media and organized training within
local folklore groups now play an increasing part in its
transmission. However, the survival of individual
Ojkanje owes its survival to organized groups of local tradition voice-shaking techniques and numerous two-part
bearers who continue to transmit the skills and knowledge, forms depends greatly on talented, skilful singers and
representing their villages at festivals in Croatia and around their capacity to perform and to pass on their
the world. knowledge to new generations.

12. Date today 21/5/2012 NEWS
LIČKO PRELO:
The Custom of Social Gathering WOW NEWS In libris graecis appetere
mea. At vim odio lorem
In libris graecis appetere omnes, pri id iuvaret
mea. At vim odio lorem partiendo. Vivendo
omnes, pri id iuvaret menandri et sed. Lorem
partiendo. Vivendo volumus blandit cu has.Sit
menandri et sed. Lorem cu alia porro fuisset.
volumus blandit cu has.Sit Ea pro natum invidunt
cu alia porro fuisset. repudiandae, his et facilisis
Ea pro natum invidunt vituperatoribus. Mei eu
repudiandae, his et facilisis ubique altera senserit,
vituperatoribus. Mei eu consul eripuit accusata has
ubique altera senserit, ne. Ignota verterem te nam,
consul eripuit accusata has eu cibo causae menandri
ne. vim.
ARTICLE HEADLINE
In libris graecis appetere mea. At vim odio lorem
omnes, pri id iuvaret partiendo. Vivendo menandri et
sed. Lorem volumus blandit cu has.Sit cu alia porro
fuisset.
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and an entertaining part, and are characteristic of entire Lika. eripuit accusata has ne. Ignota verterem te nam, eu
cibo causae menandri vim.

13. Date today 12/6/2012 NEWS
WITTY and
BEĆARAC: folk singing ORIGINAL!!! Bećarac uses a strict form
of couplet in decasyllable,
Bećarac (plural Croatian: always sung to the same
Bećarci) is a humorous form of music, played by a
folk song, originally from rural tamburitza orchestra or
Slavonia, and eventually just by the choir. The first
spreading across Croatia and verse is sung by the choir
into southern Hungary and leader and forms a logical
Vojvodina. The root of the word thesis; it is repeated by
comes from bećar (Turkish: the choir of gathered men.
bekâr), meaning "bachelor", The second verse is a
"reveler" or "carouser". Bećarci humorous antithesis, also
are always teasing, mocking repeated by the choir (but
and/or lascivious, and are often broken by laughter).
usually sung by a male company
at village parties.
THE ATMOSPHERE
In 2009, Croatia submitted the bećarac among others for inclusion in
the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists. In 2010, the attempt
was again unsuccessful, and English translations were made for
better reference. In 2011, it was included in the list!

14. KLAPA SINGING
• Klapa singing has been place on
UNESCO’S LIST of intangible cultural
heritage in 2012!
• A most wonderful news, too!