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Traditional manufacturing of children’s wooden toys in Hrvatsko Zagorje was inscribed in 2009 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

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Along the pilgrimage path leading to the Marian shrine of Our Lady of the Snow in Marija Bistrica, located in the Hrvatsko Zagorje region of northern Croatia, local villagers have preserved a long-standing tradition of handcrafting wooden toys for children. This craft has been passed down through generations. Men in the community prepare the toys by selecting soft woods such as willow, lime, beech, and maple from nearby forests, which they dry, shape, and carve using age-old tools. Women then decorate the toys with environmentally friendly paints, creating freehand floral and geometric designs inspired by their imagination.

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The resulting toys — including whistles, horses, miniature vehicles, furniture, dancers, and birds — remain strikingly similar to those crafted over a hundred years ago, though each one is unique due to the artisanal process.

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Manufacturing of wooden toys - procedure explained

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The method of making them has been passed down within certain families from generation to generation and has been preserved to this day. It is characteristic that the toys are handmade by men, while women mostly do the painting. Each toy is handcrafted, making it impossible to find two that are exactly the same. The toys are made from willow, maple, beech, and linden wood.

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These toys are cherished by locals and visitors alike and are sold at church fairs, local markets, and specialty stores internationally. Over time, the selection of toys has expanded to include contemporary forms like trucks, airplanes, and trains, reflecting changes in children’s interests. Additionally, miniature musical instruments, precisely tuned during production, continue to play a valuable role in the musical upbringing of children in rural areas.