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Easter is celebrated each year on a different date, but it is still one of the Sundays between the 22nd March and 25th April. Preparations for Easter lasts 40 days and end on the Sunday before Easter – Palm Sunday, after which begins the Holy Week. The celebration of Easter is connected with the variety of symbols.

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One of the things that mark Croatian Easter tradition are definitely dyed eggs, home made versions. In Croatia, they are called  PISANICE. This Slavic custom of egg decorating dates back to pagan times.

Easter eggs used to be decorated with natural colors using the shell onions, beetroot, spinach or reed.

Eggs would also be decorated in various drawings, ornaments and labels which would be imprinted with vinegar or brine, by attaching leaves, flowers and grass.

Another traditional way of decorating Easter eggs is to use hot liquid wax and pencil-like instruments. You need to make sure that eggs are clean and dry. You take wax and melt it, dip your pen into the melted wax and draw different patterns on eggshells. Then you cook them in coloured water- the wax will melt and leave beautiful designs, while the rest of eggs will be coloured. In the end, polish it with some vegetable oil, the colour will be nice and shiny.

Easter eggs would be given to one another as a present, mostly to children, but also to friends, and as by tradition they were used to show affection and love, and were exchanged by girls and boys in love whit one interesting there saying “this is an egg for a kiss.”
In Dubrovnik, the girls would give their eggs to their fiancés and future mother in laws would bake a braid from dough.

These traditions are no longer well preserved but even today when you go to your friend’s or family house during Easter time, it’s tradition to bring some of your home made dyed eggs. Then you exchange them and bring one as a souvenir from every visit.

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One more interesting custom is the so called “eggs fighting” On Easter day, a traditional game is played in which at least two people choose eggs and hold them vertically while one person lightly taps the end of the other egg with their end, to see whose will crack. Anyone whose egg cracks must choose another and then tap the other person’s egg, and they continue until all the eggs have been used and cracked but the last one. Whoever holds the strongest egg at the end and whose has not been cracked wins.

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Easter bonfire - KRIJES or VUZMENKA/VUZMICA

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Easter bonfire - KRIJES or VUZMENKA/VUZMICA

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The ignition of the Easter bonfire in the past had a tradition of village gatherings, singing Easter songs and common celebration of the holiday season. All this happened around the fire, light – as a symbol of Christ.
 In northwestern Croatia, on Holy Saturday, the Christians would prepare the fire by cutting stone on stone before the vigil. When the fire is lit, the Christians burn their own a piece of wood, which they carry home and in that way transfers the holy fire.

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It is a custom to fast on Good Friday. The continental part of Croatian prepares dishes such as beans, stewed fruit, dough with nuts and poppy seeds as well as fish carp and pike. Dalmatia, Istria and Primorje enjoy in seafood and different fish.
Before eating, the food is blessed in the churches during the Easter Mass. Variety of dishes is brought to the blessing.
It is a tradition to eat ham on Easter Sunday as well as the baked bread and other sweets. The Christians gather on Easter lunch and celebrate this holiday with the family.
In northern Croatia, the main course is chicken, turkey or lamb while at sea the best white fish is served.
Obligatory symbols of our Easter are special sweet breads, and breads made of fine white flour that was used only for holidays. Easter breads were at first salty but after the sugar became more available, sweeter and finer breads are starting to be baked more.
Traditional Croatian cake made during the Easter time is called PINCA or POGAČA. t’s actually similar to hot cross buns, but made in larger bread-like form. Usually orange and/or lemon zest and dried fruit are added to it. People usually cut the cross on the surface of the cake, before baking, as a symbol of Christianity, but it is also made in the form of the braid.