Valamar Blog

Advent is the time of year when the believers prepare for Christmas, one the most important Christian holidays. According to the Bible, this is a period of four Sundays before Christmas which symbolize four thousand years that had passed from the creation of the world until the Coming of Jesus Christ. Christmas time is one of the most cheerful seasons in the year with a strong presence of family closeness, love and peace. In order for the holiday to pass with as much splendour as possible, long and demanding preparations are necessary.

Advent is the period of praying, fasting, honouring specific customs and, generally, making preparations to celebrate Christ’s birth in the most worthy and beautiful way. Christmas Eve is a fast-day and dinner on that day is therefore in accordance with that tradition and the choice of food and drinks on the island of Krk is quite special. Traditional dishes are prepared as well as the homemade cheese, marinated fish, mulled wine as well as the wide range of Krk pastry made of almonds, walnuts and dry figs. Everything is accompanied by Christmas manifestations and the particular folk customs, such as blessing the wine on St. John’s Day and going round the houses and wishing well to the families living in them and marking the New Year as the new beginning. Most of the afore-mentioned customs indicate that Christmas is a time of year filled with love, peace and hope for a better and more successful New Year.