Annual Ceremonials in the Surroundings of Zagreb

This contribution reports on some yearly ceremonials which are still held in the villages near Zagreb. Those customs that already disappeared, or that are replaced by the urban ones, are also mentioned. Most of the yearly ceremonials are associated with the Catholic church holidays. For example, on Palm Sunday flowers are blessed, including wild roses, even though the meaning of this custom - blessed roses guard health and keep away the danger of lightning - is forgotten. Easter eggs\u27 decorations of the old style (with patterns in wax) disappeared before World War I, and have been replaced by simple painting with industrial dyes. The widespread processions on Easter Saturday were also gradually abandoned, the last one being held several years ago. Bonfires on St George\u27s Day, with the ceremonial of driving cattle over the ashes, were given up when cattle-raising was reduced due to increasing employment opportunities in the city. Many of the ceremonials of the winter cycle are not alive any more; however, some are still common, both in urban and in rural populations. Such is the planting of wheat in small containers on St Barbara\u27s or St Lucille\u27s (the wheat is grown until Christmas and is then placed bellow the Christmas tree or on some other special place). The forms of Christmas greenery in the villages around Zagreb varied: there were simple branches, lower parts of a pine, as well as more elaborate wreaths of pine branches decorated by simple, home-made ornaments and hung above the table in the large room of the house. Nowadays, the standing pine tree, with commercial ornaments, is to be found everywhere. Carnival processions were held in all of the investigated villages. Before World War I a "trial" of a human figure (made of straw or rags), with subsequent burning or drowning, was a part of the ceremonial. At present Carnival processions are organized at the instigation of some individuals or Tourist societies, and are opportunities for entertainment for the citizens of Zagreb