Easter traditions in Croatia

Easter traditions in Croatia

First thing first - we wish you happy Easter!

This article is written for real sailors, that decide to spend their Easter holidays in spring 2022 sailing along the Dalmatian coast. In this article you will learn all Easter traditions celebrated in Croatia, so that while you are sailing, you can maybe try to follow some of our customs.

Croatia is mostly know for being a religious country that follows many traditions and has many interesting customs. This statement is partially true. Even though many young people aren't that religious, they follow traditional customs. Here are some traditional and religious customs we follow for Easter:

1. Pepelnica, korizma and Cvjetnica

Pepelnica or Čista srijeda is a tradition of putting pepeo (ashes) on our heads. We all go to church so that the priest can put ashes on our head. Korizma starts with Pepelnica. Korizma or četrdesetnica starts with Pepelnica and ends with Veliki četvrtak.  It is a 40 days fasting process. Within those 40 days people usually "give up on something", for example chocolate, meat, cigarettes, coffee... It's a tradition and also a way of detoxing you body and preparing it for the summer! Cvjetnica is celebrated one week before Easter. On that day we pick flowers and put them in a water bowl. The custom is to start the day with washing your face with that water. There is also one Easter tradition of taking your olive tree branches for a blessing in your nearest church exactly on that day.

2..  Veliki petak

On Veliki petak we have a custom of  fasting - it is a big part of our traditions. We don't eat meat and greasy foods (some even don't eat milk products). On Veliki petak we also try not to do anything. No garden work, no household chores, nothing! We just welcome Easter and spend time with our family and of course make a lot of cakes and cookies (like mađarica, ruske kape, tuljci, muffins, čupavci itd.). On this holiday we eat bakalar bianco for lunch. Bakalar bianco  is a traditional fish meal that people from Dalmatia prepare for fasting. 

3. Croatian traditional Easter meals and customs

Let's get real, this is what you wanted to know and what interests you the most. What to eat and what to prepare for a real Dalmatian Easter breakfast and lunch:

1. FRANCUSKA SALATA (Olivier salad), pršut (prosciutto), ham and cheese is a must! 

2. SIRNICA and on the side boiled eggs is also a must!

3. A LOT OF DESERTS, cakes and cookies is a must!

Breakfast is a special part of  Easter celebration and a traditional Easter breakfast needs to be blessed by a priest before eating. Before eating breakfast there is often an egg fight - "tucanje". It is a fun "competition" to play in pairs. Eggs are usually boiled the "old" way. You put a cilantro lief on your egg and wrap it usually in fabric or tights. In the pot you put water and red onion tunic and let it boil. This is the natural way of decorating. For breakfast the whole family is at the table and eats the blessed food (cakes, cookies, sirnica, boiled eggs). There is nothing more delicious than the combination of sirnica and boiled eggs. It is the flavour of Easter! And don't forget everybody's favourite combination good ham and francuska salata. 

We hope you will enjoy your Easter holidays!

Your Marina from Noa Yachting team