The Easter egg is a symbol of the resurrection of Jesus Christ

At Easter, Catholics would carry a basket of traditional food (including pinca- Croatian Easter “bread”, egg, salt, and matches). During the Holy Mass, the priest blesses the food, which is kept to eat before the family lunch.

LOVE, AFFECTION, HONESTY, AND FRIENDSHIP

The custom of giving eggs as gifts represents love, affection, honesty, friendship, human attachment, and closeness. Painting Easter eggs is an especially beloved tradition in Dubrovnik and one of the traditional customs would be painting the eggs with wax. It’s an old and special technique.

Choose between needle, toothpick, or blank old fountain pen, dip it in melted hot wax, and with quick moves, that wax doesn’t get cold, decorate your Easter egg, boil them in the water you wish your egg to be painted and let it cool down.

It used to be custom that eggs would first be distributed as a gift to relatives. Previously, many more eggs were selected and donated, from 12 to 48 eggs to each immediate family member. A young bride married in the past year would be obliged to donate 12 painted eggs to her mother-in-law. Some people still practice this. After this, painted eggs were intended for children, girls, boys in the household, and friends, guests. In recent times, as households are not so big, the number of painted eggs got smaller.

On Easter Day, a traditional game is played in which at least two people choose eggs and hold them vertically while one person lightly taps the end of the other egg with their end, to see whose will crack. Anyone whose egg cracks must choose another and then tap the other person’s egg, and they continue until all the eggs have been used and cracked but the last one. Whoever holds the strongest egg at the end which has not been cracked, wins.

The most common phrase put on painted eggs is Happy Easter, or “Sretan Uskrs“ in Croatian.

So dear readers, happy and blessed Easter to you and your families from Hello Dubrovnik.

Photo credit:
Tonci Plazibat (Hanza Media)

Those who come from plague-infected areas shall not enter Dubrovnik

The first solid quarantine of Dubrovnik were the islands of Mrkan, Supetar and Bobara in front of Cavtat. These are small, mostly naked, unprotected islets, in which the sheltered or isolated (exiled) have nowhere to hide from rain, wind, cold or summer heat. 

There was no water, and food was brought to them by boat. For this reason, very costly and poor barracks were built occasionally and temporarily for them. They could be assembled quickly and could be easily destroyed or burned if needed (worn out or end of an epidemic). Until the 1930s, these islands were the most common contours of the Dubrovnik Republic. When there was no longer any place for them as a quarantine to isolate the sick and suspected of having a contagious disease, they used Sveti Andrija (Croatian for “Saint Andrew”) and Mljet island. In 1466, the Senate decided to build the lazaretto at Danče and used it as a plague hospital (today there are only remains of it).

For the Dubrovnik Republic to function successfully in a segment of preventing the plague spread and be able to implement procedures and measures, health officials were appointed in 1420 to serve as “officiales cazamortuorum,” popularly called Cazamorti (catchers of death), as the supreme health authority in the Republic. Special persons were designated to bury the dead, popularly called kopci (gravediggers). There is an interesting practical decision by the Senate, dated in 1462, to employ 20 women who survived the plague in the Lazaretto, because they were not in danger of contracting the infection – which indicated an early comprehension of acquired immunity. It was also decided, in 1486, that ships had to have health certificates, which contained health information on situations in ports that the ships sailed from for port health authorities to be able to determine the level of preventive measures for persons and cargo upon their arrival.

At the very beginning self-isolation in quarantine was 30 days but prolonged to 40 days (quaranta) due to unknown incubation period. Italy followed this sample 46 years later and established lazarettos in 1423 on Santa Maria di Nazareth (also called „Nazaretum“ or „Lazaretum“, today „Lazzaretto Vecchio“), an island in the Venetian Lagoon.

The Lazarettos we know today situated at Ploče are build in 1590 with construction completed in 1642. It contained 10 multistory buildings (5 for goods, 5 for people) connected by 5 interior courtyards. Today, the Lazarettos are used for recreation, trade, and entertainment.

Text by Hello Dubrovnik and Dubrovnik Tourist Guides
Photo credit: Ivan Vuković Vuka

The Romans believed that the red Mediterranean coral had magical and medicinal properties

Roman children wore coral necklaces to protect them from danger and keep them healthy. Victorian babies from wealthy families had teething rings made of coral and Native American artisans also created fine jewelry from coral.

WISDOM, HAPPINESS, MODESTY, AND IMMORTALITY

Corals often represent wisdom, happiness, modesty, and immortality. These stones can also be used for curing intestinal spasms, sleeplessness as well as problems like bladder stones. Corals are also believed to be able to get rid of stress, anxiety, fears, nervousness, nightmares, panicking, foolishness, and depression. Red coral is the most valuable form of coral. The deeper the red, the more it is prized. Call them the diamonds of the sea.

Rather than simply following current trends, gold and silver is used in combination with coral to create timeless pieces. By the 18th century, the trade of Mediterranean red coral to India was at its zenith. India supplied Europe with diamonds, and Europe supplied India with the red coral.

If you want to purchase an elegant piece of Dubrovnik jewelry made of coral, you have to keep in mind not everything that is red is a natural red coral. Ask for a certificate of authenticity with Latin name of the coral on it. This is a  guarantee the coral is real and not treated or coloured. You should also ask for the invoice with the company’s name and VAT number.

Visit Clara Stones workshop to find out more about this fascinating Dubrovnik jewelry.

If you are spending Christmas away from home, our recommendation is to visit Dubrovnik.

As the majority of the Croatian population is Catholic, Christmas is without a doubt the biggest celebratory holiday of the year.

CHRISTMAS EVE (BADNJAK)

The festivities truly begin on Christmas Eve, a celebration the Croats refer to as “Badnjak”. This is that one day of the year when you will discover one of the richest cultural experiences. Everyone dresses in nice clothes head into the Old Town and the Dubrovnik turns into one big family singing Kolenda (Christmas carol) in front of the St Blaise church. You will see the locals congratulate each other and drinking. In the evening, the locals go from house to house with close friends singing Kolenda (Christmas carols) and eating even more.

The tradition originates from the 13th century and it is gladly practiced to this day. Singers go from house to house and congratulate Christmas Eve, as well as New Year’s Eve. Usually, the singers also play instruments, such as guitars, harmonica and mandolin.

Getting to Dubrovnik in winter is a bit challenging. Yet, if you’re planning a holiday getaway or looking for someplace to visit in Europe for Christmas or New Year, coming to Dubrovnik is worth your time.

We promise you’ll be kept warm and happy by the Dubrovnik Christmas festivities and merry spirit.

Photo credits: Dubrovnik Winter Festival