CROATIA

Traditions and Music

¸¸
Croatians love holidays and festivities.
There are many festivals celebrated
throughout the year, like jazz festivals
in Zagreb in spring and pop music
festivals and Croatian music festivals in
Dubrovnik in summer.
Zagreb also hosts several international
festivals, such as the International
Festival of Animation, the International
Folklore Festival, and Eurokaz, a
European theatre festival. Croatian folk
music developed under the influence of
different styles. The "kolo"—a Slavic
round dance popular in Croatia--is
usually accompanied by Roma-style
violin or tambura, a Croatian mandolin.
The guitar music is also very popular in
Croatia.
 Festivities and events
• Slavonia has a rich tradition
of hosting cultural events
and performances. The main
event in Đakovo is the yearly
‘Đakovački vezovi’ (Đakovo
Embroidery) which takes
place at the beginning of
July. It is a folklore show
which includes folk
costumes, folklore dancing
and traditional songs from
the entire region. In
Slavonski Brod there is a
folklore festival, the Brod
Round Dance, which takes
place in mid-June, and
 a festival of patriotic folk
songs in May.
• In Požega on St. Gregory’s
Day, March 12, there is a
traditional show of cannons
and mortars which
celebrates the victory over
the Turks in 1688.
• In Požega there is also a folk
music festival ‘Zlatne žice
Slavonije’ (Golden Strings of
Slavonia), held every third
weekend in September (it
lasts three days).
On the first day of the
festival, a traditional grape
harvest is held (‘Požeška
berba grožđa’)
accompanied by folklore
dancing and traditional
songs. Another important
folklore show is held in
Vinkovci. It is called
‘Smotra Vinkovačke
jeseni’ (Vinkovci Autumn
Folk Festival).
 National costumes
• In Slavonia, traditional
women’s costumes consist of
a richly gathered skirt, a red or
black woven ornament
attached to the back part of the
skirt (rubina) or a colourful
waistband. What is also
characteristic is a white linen
blouse with wide sleeves
usually with lace. Women also
wear a beautiful chequered
apron (zapreg) made of thin
wool and a waistcoat.
• Some well-known
accessories are antique gold
jewellery (gold coins) and
red checquered headscarves
with small woollen balls.
• Men usually wear long wide
white trousers with
embroidery and white linen
shirts. Single-coloured
waistcoasts and dark-
coloured hats are also worn.
 Tradition in Slavonia

• ‘Vinkovačke jeseni’ started 30 years ago.

• It is a traditional festival of great importance.
• This festival is a part of our cultural heritage, it
brings people together but it also preserves our
folklore and our customs.
 ‘Vinkovačke jeseni’
• A part of ‘Vinkovačke jeseni’ are ‘Šokački
divani’, together with numerous
exhibitions,presentations,concerts,forums,
chess and tennis tournaments, the Plum
Brandy Fair,The Best Kulen Contest, and
many other manifestations,including ones
for children.
 Golden Strings of
Slavonia
• ‘Golden Strings of Slavonia’is
a three-day event that takes
place every third weekend of
September at the baroque
square of the Holy Trinity in
the centre of Požega. A part of
the event is so called ‘Grape
Picking’with procession of
pickers and folklore exhibiters
who display the centuries-old
tradition of grape cultivation
and quality wine making in the
‘Vallis Aurea’(i.e.the Golden
Valley).
 Golden Srings of Slavonia

The selection of the prettiest Šokica also takes

part here. There the most authentic folk
costume is chosen.
Another important event is the ‘midnight concert
for lovers’ at the Tekija spring in Požega,held
since Turkish times.
 The folklore
• The tambura is an original Slavonian and Croatian
instrument.Every year the festival is visited by many
guests from our country and abroad.
• The international folklore festival is held each year in
Zagreb.It is the greatest European manifestation of
its kind.The traditional folk dances include knight
games (the Sinj ‘alka’,the Korčula ‘moreška’-an
ancient knightly dance form Korčula that evokes the
struggle of the populace with African pirates, the
Blato ‘kumpanija’),as well as picturesque collective
dances(the Sušak,Pag and Krk ‘tanec’).Other
festivities associated with fishing, the so called
‘fishing nights’are held on many locations.
ĐAKOVAČKI VEZOVI

• The ‘Đakovački Vezovi’ festival takes place

every year.Many folk groups from Slavonia
participate.For 38 years the town of Đakovo
has been the host of this folklore festival. It
is a manifestation where
folklore,customs,cutural heritage and
tourism are promoted.
• The manifestation includes authentic
folklore of Slavonia,Baranja and other
regions of Croatia. Some other events that
take place there are exhibitions, equestrian
events, literary evenings, musical
manifestations, days of bread, wine and
“kulen”.
 TAMBURIZA

Tamburiza is a wired music instrument,

some consider it to be one of our
national instruments. The original shape
and model of tamburiza is preserved in
Teba and Egipt, where that instrument is
called lauta.
I love Tamburiza !
It makes me
happy!
 tamburiza
• Tamburiza was one of
Lets find
the favourite something
about
instruments of tamburiza
Bosnian-Turkish
professional army
called “janičar” who
would play on the
tamburiza by himself
and that’s why
tamburiza is also
called ‘Samica’.
 ...and a bit more 
• Samica only had two
wires. Its threemain
parts are the troop, Where are
my notes
neck and head. Main about
characheristic of the tamburiza?

first professional
tamburiza’s orchestra
was that it had 3 – 8
players who played in
restaurants.
 An American in Zagreb
• I was born in America but I have been
living in Zagreb for 10 years. It is very nice
here in Zagreb. There are a lot of nice
churches and a lot of caffés. Most of the
people are very kind and friendly. Even
though I love living here in Zagreb I look
forward to going to America every
summer.
People in Zagreb
• Everyone is very nice
looking and into
fashion. They like to
have fun. The part
that I dont like about
them is that some
people show off a
little too much, but I
guess you can find
people like that
everywhere.
 When I came to Croatia from Germany, I was 6 years old. The first
place I visited was Umag in Istria. I spent two weeks of holidays there.
During that time I visited a lot of famous cities along the Istrian coast.
Just to name a few, Pula , Rovinj, Poreč, Novigrad, Labin, Rabac and
Opatija. I was also in the inland of Istria and visited old cities like
Motovun and Grožnjan and Buzet. After the vacation I moved to Zagreb
and had to start school. Zagreb is the capital of Croatia and it is a very
active city. Zagreb has 1 million citizens. There are a lot of universities
and museums. They have a beautiful Opera in the center of Zagreb. In
comparison to Germany the houses look older and the streets are not
as good as in Germany. There are famous places in Zagreb like Trg
Ban Jelačić – the main square. There are some big shopping centres
like King Cross, Importane and Kaptol. There is also a big park with an
artificial lake called Jarun. Zagreb has so many places that even many
Croatian people don’t know the whole Zagreb. It is great to live here.
Zagreb
 Music in Slavonia
and Zagreb

• Folk music of Zagorje is known for polka

and waltz music similiar to the neighboring
Slovenia and Austria.
• Folk music of Međimurje, small region in
Croatia, with its melancholic tunes that
became most popular form of folklor.
• Towns of Vinkovci
and Đakovo host
yearly folklore
festivals where
music is listened
as a part of
tradition.
 Music
• Since its independence in 1991,Croatia
has maintained a very active musical
culture.Most of the present-day
activities are the result of the
establishment of institutions over a
century ago and of a musical heritage
going back to the Middle Ages.
• In the capital city alone there are
numerous orchestras, an opera company
and other musical ensembles. The
Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra is the
nation’s oldest orchestra, it was
founded in the same year as the Zagreb
Opera Orchestra in 1870.
• The reputation of the orchestra
increased in the 20th century
under a number of distinguished
conductors, including the
legendary Lovro von Matačić
who led the orchestra in the
1970s. Zagreb’s other orchestra
are the Croatian Radio and
Television Symphony Orchestra,
which were founded in the early
20th century.
 ...and more music 
• Founded in 1991, the Croatian
Army Symphony Wind
Orchestra is the official
orchestra of the Repuplic of
Croatia.
• There are four opera houses in
Croatia which have the title of
the “National Opera “: they are
situated in Zagreb, Osijek, Split
and Rijeka.
• The Zagreb Music Biennele is
one of the world’s major
contemporary music festivals.
 ...and lastly 
• Dubrovnik Summer Festival is
one of the most important music
festivals in Croatia.
• Some other festivals that take
place in Croatia are Varaždin
Baroque Evenings, Pula
International Music Festival,
Zagreb Summer Festival,
Čakovec Days of Croatian
Music and International Jazz
Days.