Page 23 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Croatia

A POR TR AIT OF CRO A TIA  21

historical, religious and military
events. Some festivals are ex pressions
of primitive or ancient faith, and mix
Christianity with ancient pagan rites;
others are linked to the religious
calendar. Traditional costumes and
jewellery, carefully preserved by the
older generation, are worn on
these occasions. The materials may
sometimes be new but the designs
stay faithfully traditional. One of many religious events in Split
Other expressions of popular culture
are the rites linked to the rhythms of Language
farming: harvesting, bringing flocks The attempt to fuse the Croatian
down from the mountains, felling and Serbian languages lasted more
trees. The Feast of St Blaise, the patron than a century, but in 1991 the
saint of Dubrovnik, is magnificent. official language of Croatia became
People from local and surrounding Croatian, and this is now part of
parishes gather, dressed in splendid the constitution. The language has
costumes and displaying ancient always been a fundamental part of
banners in honour of the saint. Croatian identity, even under foreign
Even the communists were unable domination. The people continue to
to suppress this tradition. Another use three basic dialects, štokavski in
spectacular festivity is the Olympics southern and eastern Croatia, čakavski
of Ancient Sports in Brođanci, when in Istria and parts of Dalmatia, and
young people parade in gold- kajkavski in Zagreb and the north.
embroidered costumes, followed by A dialect similar to Venetian is spoken
groups of musicians. Other important along the coast.
events are the Festival of the Bumbari
in Vodnjan with its donkey race, the Religion
Folk Festival in Ðakovo and the Religious feeling has always been
Moreška and Kumpanija festivals in important to Croatians. Religion
Korčula, commemorating battles was relegated to a secondary role
against the Ottoman Turks. during the communist period but the
great sanctuaries are
once again centres of
spirituality. In the 2011
census, 90 per cent
declared they were
Christian (86 per cent
Catholic, 4 per cent
Orthodox), with a
Muslim minority,
mostly Bosnians, and
a Pro testant minority,
mostly Hungarians.
The Orthodox
community has shrunk
due to the fall in the
Visitors admiring historic buildings in Split’s Old Town number of Serbians.

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