Valamar Blog

After the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, here come the masquerades. Fašnik, karneval or mesopust are local names denoting the folk festivity which celebrates the end of winter which is drawing near and the beginning of spring. One of the oldest and best known carnivals in Croatia is the Rijeka Carnival, but the island of Krk also has a long tradition of celebrating this masked madness. Following the path of the procession in Rijeka, the town of Krk also organizes a procession in which both “the big and the small” march together and dance to the carnival music wearing silly masks and costumes. However, the locals think of the time prior to the Lent as a time of uncontrolled indulgence in food, drinks and costumed parties. The carnival tradition is present all around the island and numerous homemade delicacies, such as fritule (fritters), kroštule (dry pastry) with almonds, smokvenjak (fig pastry), presnac (pastry made of sheep cheese) and a rich offer of local wines, are prepared for the welcoming of the masquerades.
Starting a bonfire is a traditional custom of marking the end of all carnival madness and returning to everyday life. The rag doll symbolizing the person responsible for all bad things that happened during the past year is burned on a bonfire, and all the sins and pranks made during the carnival disappear with it. The carnival tradition dates way back in time when, according to common belief, the “masks” used to drive the dark forces away with their loud sounds of joy, calling onto spring in the process. Whatever the case, the carnival is by all means a time of joy when we can, if only for one day, wear a mask, let go to madness and enjoy dancing, singing, eating and drinking.