On the occasion ofthe Croatian Christmas Charity Concert

In Canberra , 9^thof December 2000

 FOLK ARTS

 REGIONALRICHNESS OF CROATIAN CULTURALHERITAGE

Dr Mladen Ibler,Ambasasador of Croatia

The contrasts of modern world somebody named it  global village  with its welfare on the side andpoverty and destruction on the other side, incites us from time to time to lookback to human, ethical, religious and cultural heritage in the hope finding ananswer for a better future.

In this context, folk artspresent a part of human cultural heritage as typical community-oriented art,i.e. the artistic expression of an ethnic environment, attached to traditions,primitive life conditions, and depending upon aesthetic views of many bygonegenerations.

The quality of folk arts variesaccording to single geographic areas and regions. There is one type of peasanthandworks in France or Holland, and another in Croatia or in Ukraine. There isno doubt that in Croatian folk arts many traces are left by the culturalheritage. So, for example, influences of antiquity Byzantine and West-European(particularly baroque) art are well discernible. But these assimilatedinfluences of cultural art can in no way be taken as standards fordeterming the inner qualities of folk arts.

In the Croatian folk arts manytraditional elements are preserved, which testify that folk arts has in itselfretained several ancient forms, some of which date as far back asprehistorically times.

The origin of peasant carving,pottery, building, weaving and design are to be sought in the many regions whereCroats lived trough their long history. Some of these cultural activities mayhave originated from their former homelands  the areas around the modernKrakow in Poland and the regions in Iran. Others began and were adopted in theirpresent country of Croatia. Some cultural products, the origins of which havebeen traced back to the Mediterranean shores, are called Preroman or Roman.

Throughout the ages, manycultural influences have come to Croatia from other European areas, too  fromPannonian areas and the Alpine areas, from the Germanic north, the Christian andMoslem east, the Apenine west and particularly from Venice in Italy. In thisway, significant artwork differentiations developed among different Croatiansregions, and were carried on in peasant art, especially in the regions ofBosnia, Herzegovina and Dalmatia.

The richness of Croatian folkart and its regional differences is well expressed in peasant cloth and items ofadornment for daily use, such as towels, bandanas and pouches.

Ornament is the typical formtrough which the artistic life of the peasant manifested itself throughgenerations. In Croatia typical ornamental motives are dots, straight and wavylines, vegetal configurations, geometrical figures, especially triangles andcircles, and triple-plait, carved in wood or stone, or embroided on clothe(three woolen or cord tails vowen through each other). These motives representsthe artistic form which bears the stamp of social environment from which itsprung up, notably an economic and social community.

The northern region of Croatia,between the Sava and Drava Rivers, and the territory surrounding the Kupa River,are areas in which the peasants showed great skill in tailoring, dying and inproducing decorative pieces, such as veils, aprons, shoulderttes and socks. 

The best-preserved central areaor nucleus of the ancient art of dressmaking in its various forms is along theregion upper Posavina, east of Croat capital Zagreb. In the south  innorthwestern and western Bosnia, and all of Herzegovina, the Dalmatian Zagora(Dalmatian hinterland), northern Dalmatia and Lika  the art work of people isdistinctive, particularly with regards to vests, shirts, aprons, veils, socksand slippers, all of which are richly decorated.

A common characteristic ofCroatian peasant dress is its fine color harmony. Harmonious color combinations,achromatic black and white combined with red, yellow and blue, create beautifulcolor schemes. In some regions dominates red color, in other white, and in someregions black; so it is easy for an observer to recognize from which part of thecountry originates the particular costume.

Generally, red color plays theessential role. Among the secondary colors are violet, orange, purple and green.Violet is Croatian favorite color and more especially the shade of violet. Inevery combination of colors, the most favored colors are bright ones.

It has been said that Croatianpeasant costumes, revealing very fine taste, are among the richest and mostpicturesque costumes in the world.

For many past generations of theCroat people, folk arts with its ornaments, colors and rhythm of motives was notmerely a decoration, but  what is important to note  an expression oftheir inner life, ideals and religious riches. For Croatian peasants thisdecorative art amounted to what for urban population were large buildings.

One must bear in mind that alongwith the process of modernization goes also the decay of folk arts. This processcaused by the alteration of the economic structure of the village during the 20^thcentury and cannot be stopped by any means. This decay is the result ofhistorical changes and economic transformation.

The tradition of folk artshowever, has to be preserved. It is not enough to store it inside the walls ofethnographic museums and scientific institutions. It is necessary to keep italive trough school programs. Courses, open exhibitions and festivals  suchas International Folklore Festival in Zagreb  and trough the use of peasantdress at public and family celebrations, as could be still seen in Norway,Sweden and Faeroes. 

One could provide many answersto the question, why it should be necessary to preserve folk arts. The mostimportant ones are the following:

Folk art is one of the basic andoldest forms of cultural expression of human being and its inner spiritual life,enriched by national and regional differences.

When it dies, a great deal of human souldies, too. 

 www.croatiagifts.com

REMINDER!!! We ship USPS Priority Mail so there is still time to order!

10% Off Coupon Expires December 17th at "Heart of Croatia" Gifts!

Offer: 10% off
Min. Purchase: $50
Expires: 12/17/2002

This coupon has unlimited use. Any customer can use it as many times as he/she would like. When placing an order, merely type the coupon code below where asked for, and your discount will automatically be applied. (These coupon codes are only being sent to a limited number of persons.)
ztx22wmdg

Go to: www.croatiagifts.com  to order.

New Products

*We have 3 dolls that are immediately available with NO wait!
*We have new "Santas on Silk" ornaments available at our Specialty Gifts with European Style category!
*We now carry designer costume jewelry at discounted prices. Check out our popular and trendy stretch bracelets!
*We have 2 new water colors by Miho Simunovic.......Adriatic Garden and Stradun/Dubrovnik. 
*Check out our new Croatian ties with torpedo design motifs!

*Check out our many Croatian Christmas products, including "Christmas in Croatia" video; Croatian Santas, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd editions; Croatian Christmas slates, angel bears, stickers, cards by Marijana, votives, snowmen, card holders, and hand-painted ornaments!
*Don't forget about our Croatian scrapbooks and scrapbooking kits, our Croatian blanket-throws, our new "HR" design T-shirts, our new 14k gold and sterling silver grb jewelry, prints by Ivan Generalic and Miho Simunovic, "Croatian Rose" poster by Milena Soree, our Croatian bear collections that speak and/or sing in Croatian, our fabulous Croatian crystal from Samobor, our "Hrvatski Tanac" Kolo Pins, our Croatian village collection, and our instrument magnets, ornaments and pins. 
*We also carry a large selection of Croatian flags, pins, and car decals.

Melissa and Pam @ Heart of Croatia Gifts
www.croatiagifts.com  
obenaufm@alink.com 
Toll Free: 877-906-8314

New CroatianImport

BBC News
Change to World Wednesday, 25 December, 2002, 21:56 GMT 
Bavarian beavers sent across Europe

A century ago beavers were dying out in Europe


By Katya Adler 
In Berlin In the southern German state of Bavaria, beavers - once threatened with near extinction - are breeding so successfully that wildlife conservationists are having to transport them abroad to save them from angry local farmers, whose crops they have been eating.Bavaria has become beaver country. 

Six thousand beavers currently live there - a few thousand too many for the local farmers who regard the rodents as pests.Beavers love to nibble sugar cane and corn. 

So to rescue the beavers from the potentially murderous ire of the Bavarian farmers, a group of zoologists have been organising their safe transportation abroad.They are bundling them into trailers and motoring them across the border. New generationThanks to these self-styled beaver councillors, Bavarian beavers are now busy building dams across rivers and streams in Spain, Hungary, Croatia, Romania and Belgium. 
A hundred years ago, beavers were dying out in Europe. They were killed to make fashionable winter coats and quack doctors used their sex glands in love potions.Only in Russia, southern France and Norway could beavers paddle with impunity. Until the 1970s that is, when German wildlife conservationists began to breed a new generation of beavers in Bavaria. 

It seems they were a little too successful in fulfilling their aims. 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/2605959.stm 

Zagreb has the grace and the dignity of oldEurope

Statues of Zagreb

Michčle Bernard
special collaboration, La Presse The statue of Proclamation, Josip Jelacic , Zagreb in Croatia. 

Zagreb has the grace and the dignity of old Europe. If to travel, is penetrated it the soul of a people, which is the key of this city? Follow the guide. Or better guides, because statues of parks teach the path of the heart of the millennial capital of the Croatia, the Hrvatska (to read Khoeur-vatt-ska).

Zagreb remembers. In gardens of the low city sits the sculpture The History of Croats, work of Mestrovic (1932). A tranquil force emanates from the seated womanly youth. Memory of its people, it protects, its hands joint, the book written in glagoljica, alphabet invented in Croatia, ancestor of the handwriten cyrillique used by the orthodox orientals.

The free and artistic Zagreb is well learned. Whole around parks flower, the proliferate cultural life with its theaters, opera, ballets, halls of concerts, national museums, naive art galleries and particular collections, university or serious academies.

Zagreb the European. Ahead the station, one falls nose to nose with the statue of the king Tomislav, work of Mihanovic (1947). The second, the Esplanade hotel, Art style déco, dessert since 1925 travelers of the Orient - Express. Its restaurant resides one of the best count in city. And then the contemporary writer Miroslav Krleza proclaims,k L'EUROPE finishes on the terrace of the Esplanadeť?
Warlike Zagreb. Original of Carpates, the tribe of Croats is invited to the VIIth century by the Roman emperor Héraclius to defend Balkans. Croats have come, have seen and have conquered. Then, they have remained, bartered their conversion to the Christian faith against the protection of the pope John of Dalmatia. In 925, the emperor proclaims king their chief Tomislav. The lord unifies the country until the sea. The not hard kingdom and from 11e century, the Croatia eternalizes under the Hungarian domination.
Ambiguous Zagreb. Even during the socialist yoke, the historical Croat pride subsists. ŤWHAT, you have no king? tease - they their neighbor come Slovenes to sell the product of closes them to the market Dolac. Where dominated already the beautiful red parasols of today, asserts - on.
In the high city of Zagreb, hill Kaptol and Gradec rival since always. From 1093, the ecclesiastical Kaptol shelters bishopric and catholic cathedral. To 12e century, the secular Gradec lodges the Sabor -the Parliament - as well as the nobility and the middle class. Between the two, the place Jelacic is the point of fall of the city. "Place tournante" (turning point), all streetcars seem to end there. From there radiate pedestrian streets and commercial establishments, snack and restaurants, terraces and cafes where to taste the viennoiseries of usage. Youths give appointment Ťunder the tail of the horsť of Josip Jelacic, work of the sculptor Fernhorn (1866).
Resistant Zagreb. Slava mu, glory to it! The viceroy Jelacic requests in 1848 the abolition of all tutelage for Slavs of the empire Austro - Hungarian. It loses the battle and the Croatia residence submit until to 1918. Strange fact, the statue of Jelacic resides in place under the domination of magyars. In 1947, under the communist Tito, the statue disappears, struggle against all nationalism of the share of the six Yugoslav republics. Then, Jelacic leaves the dust in 1991 during the independence of the Croatia.
Idealistic Zagreb. To 19e century, Strossmayer is partisan to the union of all southern Slavs, Yugo - Slavs. The severe enacts the patriot - bishop, work of Mestrovic (1925), throne in supporting gardens its name. Strossmayer has not seen neither the beginning nor the end of its dream, Yugoslavia.
Tender Zagreb. Smile to lips, the passerbys melt ahead the Bench of Matos, work of the contemporary Ivan Kozaric (1972). Sat eternally, the sage and threadlike celebrity of bronze meditates near the funicular connecting low and high cities. Welcome to Zagreb.Dobrodosli.


CROATIE

Les statues de Zagreb

Michčle Bernard
collaboration spéciale, La Presse

La statue de Ban Josip Jelacic ŕ Zagreb en Croatie.

Zagreb a la grâce et la dignité de la vieille Europe. Si voyager, c'est pénétrer l'âme d'un peuple, quelle est la clé de cette ville? Suivez le guide. Ou mieux les guides, car les statues des parcs enseignent le chemin du coeur de la capitale millénaire de la Croatie, la Hrvatska (lire Khoeur-vatt-ska).
Zagreb se souvient. Dans les jardins de la basse ville sičge la sculpture L'Histoire des Croates, oeuvre de Mestrovic (1932). Une force tranquille émane de la jeune femme assise. Mémoire de son peuple, elle protčge de ses mains jointes le livre rédigé en glagol, alphabet inventé en Croatie, ancętre de l'écriture cyrillique utilisée par les orthodoxes orientaux.

La libre et artistique Zagreb est bien savante. Tout autour des parcs fleuris, la vie culturelle prolifčre avec ses théâtres, opéra, ballets, salles de concerts, musées nationaux, galeries d'art naďf et collections particuličres, université ou sérieuses académies.

Zagreb l'européenne. Devant la gare, on tombe nez ŕ nez avec la statue du roi Tomislav, oeuvre de Mihanovic (1947). Ŕ deux pas, l'hôtel Esplanade, de style Art déco, dessert depuis 1925 les voyageurs de l'Orient-Express. Son restaurant demeure une des meilleures tables en ville. Et puis l'écrivain contemporain Miroslav Krleza ne proclame-t-il pas ŤL'Europe finit sur la terrasse de l'Esplanadeť?

Zagreb guerričre. Originaire des Carpates, la tribu des Croates est invitée au VIIe sičcle par l'empereur romain Héraclius ŕ défendre les Balkans. Les Croates sont venus, ont vu et ont vaincu. Puis, ils sont restés, troquant leur conversion ŕ la foi chrétienne contre la protection du pape Jean de Dalmatie. En 925, l'empereur proclame roi leur chef Tomislav. Le seigneur unifie le pays jusqu'ŕ la mer. Le royaume ne dure pas et ŕ partir du 11e sičcle, la Croatie s'éternise sous la domination hongroise.


Publicité

Zagreb ambiguë. Męme pendant le joug socialiste, la fierté historique des Croates subsiste. ŤQuoi, vous n'avez pas de roi?ť taquinent-ils leurs voisins slovčnes venus vendre le produit de leur ferme au marché Dolac. Oů dominaient déjŕ les beaux parasols rouges d'aujourd'hui, affirme-t-on.

Dans la ville haute de Zagreb, les collines Kaptol et Gradec rivalisent depuis toujours. Dčs 1093, l'ecclésiastique Kaptol abrite évęché et cathédrale catholiques. Au 12e sičcle, la séculičre Gradec loge le Sabor -le Parlement- ainsi que la noblesse et la bourgeoisie. Entre les deux, la place Jelacic est le point de chute de la ville. Plaque tournante, tous les tramways semblent y aboutir. De lŕ rayonnent rues piétonničres et commerçantes, casse-croűte et restaurants, terrasses et cafés oů déguster les viennoiseries d'usage. Les jeunes se donnent rendez-vous Ťsous la queue du chevalť de Josip Jelacic, oeuvre du sculpteur Fernhorn (1866).

Zagreb résistante. Slava mu, gloire ŕ lui! Le vice-roi Jelacic réclame en 1848 l'abolition de toute tutelle pour les Slaves de l'empire austro-hongrois. Il perd la bataille et la Croatie demeure soumise jusqu'en 1918. Fait étrange, la statue de Jelacic demeure en place sous la domination magyare. En 1947, le socialiste Tito la fait disparaître, luttant contre tout nationalisme de la part des six républiques yougoslaves. On sort Jelacic de la poussičre en 1991 lors de l'indépendance de la Croatie.

Zagreb idéaliste. Au 19e sičcle, Strossmayer est partisan de la réunion de tous les Slaves du Sud, les Yugo-Slaves. La sévčre statue du patriote-évęque, oeuvre de Mestrovic (1925), trône dans les jardins portant son nom. Strossmayer n'a vu ni le début ni la fin de son ręve, la Yougoslavie.

Tendre Zagreb. Sourire aux lčvres, les passants s'attendrissent devant le Banc de Matos, oeuvre du contemporain Ivan Kozaric (1972). Assis éternellement, le sage et filiforme personnage de bronze médite prčs du funiculaire reliant villes haute et basse. Bienvenue ŕ Zagreb.Dobrodosli.

O starinama

Bozicni obicaji kod backih Hrvata - Bunjevaca

Pise: Marija Maftej-Dulic

Kao i u svakom kraju Lijepe Nase i backi Hrvati - Bunjevci imaju svoje obicaje o svakom vecem blagdanu ili radu u koji su ulozili mnogo truda i napora i priveli ga konacnom kraju (Duzijanca - zetvena svecanost, slavi se u kolovozu, pred blagdane Velike Gospojine). Posto se nalazimo u predbozicnom vremenu i raspolozenju, opisat cu obicaje i proslavu tog velikog krscanskog blagdana, kad slavimo rodjenje djeteta Isusa - Spasitelja svijeta. 
Cetiri tjedna prije Bozica, Advent ili Dosasce, svako jutro rano drze se mise Zornice ili Rorate. Mi djeca natjecali smo se da ne izostanemo ni s jedne premda su one pocinjale u sest sati ujutro, jos prije svanuca.
5. prosinca uvecer stavljali smo ociscene cipele na prozor kako bismo ujutro nasli u njima poklone od sv. Nikole.
Na sv. Luciju (13. prosinca) posijalo bi se zito, obicno u salice ili zdjelice, te se svaki dan zalivalo kako bi do Bozica naraslo zeleno. To zito se stavljalo na stol za Badnju vecer, ispod jelke, i tu bi ostalo sve do Sveta tri kralja. Jedno se na Badnji dan odnijelo na groblje - svojim pokojnima s grancicom jelke.
Najsvecaniji i najradosniji dan prije Bozica su Materice (treca nedjelja Dosasca), posvecena majkama i zenskom svijetu. Muskarci cestitaju ovaj blagdan zenama. Djeca cestitaju majkama, bakama, tetkama, i ostalim rodjakinjama, pa i susjedama, poljubivsi ih u ruku. Zauzvrat dobiju orahe i jabuku u koju je utisnut metalni novac. Kad sam bila dijete, skupljali smo te darove u veliki rubac i kao bucuric (zavezljalj) nosili kuci. 
Majke (bake) su za taj dan pravile veliki svecani rucak (uznu), gdje su se okupila njihova pozenjena i poudana djeca, te unucad. Obicno bi se dobijali i pokloni, izuzev jabuka i oraha. Muskarci mogu dobiti kravate, zene kecelje ili marame za glavu, a djeca rupcice. 
Pokloni su mogli biti i veci (npr. dukat); vec prema imovnom stanju baka.
Tu bi se nasla na okupu najbliza rodbina, te bi se i zapjevalo i zaigralo. 
Druzili bi se i veselili sve do veceri. Bilo je slucajeva da je zet ili sin dosao cestitati Materice uz pratnju tamburasa. Sjecam se jedne pjesmice kojom su se cestitale Materice:

Faljen Isus gazdarice
cestitam vam Materice
Ja sam doso priko mora
Da mi date malo ora
Suvi sljiva i jabuka
Naiso sam kraj ovaca
Da mi date i novaca.
Napolju je jako zima
Molim jednu casu vina.

Posljednje nedjelje pred Bozic su Oce, kad se ocevima cestita. Obicno se taj dan slavi kao i Materice, ali ipak je manjeg znacaja. Neki cak cestitaju s Matericama odmah i Oce ocevima. Svaku predvecer ulicom bi isli Betlemari, i nosili Betlehem, zvoneci i pjevajuci. 
To su bili malo stariji djecaci, obuceni u krznenu odjecu, kao pastiri. 
Napravili bi od bojenog papira (najcesce crvenog) vecu kucicu, izgleda crkvice, u koju bi stavili slamice s figurama Malog Isusa, Djevice Marije, Josipa, te jos koju od domacih zivotinja. Tu kucicu bi stavili na nosila sa cetiri kraka. Svaki krak je pridrzavao jedan djecak. U crkvici je svijetlila svijeca ili baterija. Obicno bi ih domacin kuce pozvao unutar, na radost ukucana, posebice djece. Pastiri bi tad otvarali vrata Betlehema, pricali svoja vidjenja rodjenja Isusa, otpjevali koju pastirsku bozicnu pjesmu... Bili bi darivani novcem, jabukama, orasima, kolacima…
Pred Bozic se obavlja takozvano veliko spremanje kuce ili stana i rade se ukrasi za jelku. 
Djeca ocekuju Bozic s nestrpljenjem, brojeci dane do njega. Tako znam jednu inacicu: Danas dan, sutra dan, prekosutra Badnji Dan! Na Badnji dan se posti i ne jede se do vecere. Vecera je rano - cim se smrkne. 
Jelka je svecano ukrasena, stoji na celu stola, koji je pokriven bijelnim stolnjakom i postavljen. Ispod jelke (bunjevacki grana) je kolac bozicnjak, zeleno zito i u casi zrnevlje, pa jabuka, orasi i luk. Domacin unosi u sobu slamu sto kod djece izaziva veliko veselje. Valjaljuci se po slami djeca traze orahe koji su baceni u nju. Vrijedne su domacice spremile tradicionalnu veceru: corbu (juhu) od graha, nasuvo (rezance) sa sirom i makom i pecenu ribu na maslu. Kad se svi okupe oko stola, najmladje dijete unosi svijecu zapaljenu na ognjistu (danas stednjak) i izgovara: Faljen Isus, cestitam vam Badnje vece i Isusovo rodjenje. Domacin odgovara: Navike faljen, ti ziv, zdrav i srican bio, i posipa ga zitom. Malom se svijecom zapali velika svijeca u ciraku (svijecnjaku) koja gori cijelu noc. Sve se svjecice na jelki takodjer zapale a ona mala stavi u zito i gori dok traje vecera. Potom slijedi zajednicka molitva, popije se zamedljana rakija, jabuka se izreze na onoliko komada koliko je ukucana za stolom i svatko dobije svoj dio. Onda se komadic bijelog luka umace u med i pojede, pa jabuka i orasi - isto s medom. Domacica tada unosi grah-juhu i cestita svima Badnju vecer. Potom dolaze na red rezanci i riba. Nakon svega jos od slatkog se donosi kompot od visanja i suvih sljiva. Na kraju vecere svjecica u zitu se gasi vinom. 
Postoji i vjerovanje po kojemu ce onaj na koga ide dim prvi umrijeti. Prije vecere svjecicu moze nositi gost. To je obicno starije dijete od rodjaka, takozvani polozaj koji ce sve dane Bozica provesti tu, kao gost. Do ponoci je jos ostalo dosta vremena, pa se u obitelji pjevaju bozicne pjesme. Neki se od mladih oblace u vasange (maskare), idu do susjeda ili prijatelja gdje ima mladezi, te se uz sale i doskocice zabavljaju. 
Prije ponoci krece se u Crkvu na misu Ponocnicu. Jedan clan obitelji (obicno stariji) ostaje kod kuce da cuva Bozic, jer gori velika svijeca pa da ne bi doslo do pozara. 
Izlazeci iz Crkve jedni drugima cestitamo blagdan Isusovog rodjenja zeleci ujedno sretan Bozic. 
Zurimo kuci. S nestrpljenjem gledamo ispod jelke i trazimo poklone sto ih je nama djeci Mali Isus donio. To su obicno igracke, neka lijepa knjiga, ili kapa, rukavice i slicno. Potom se jedu paca (hladetina). Spavanje je na slami. 
Prvi dan Bozica je jako svecan. Ukucani idu na Veliku misu (pjevanu). Domacica sprema uznu (objed). To je juha od koke ili morke, riza, pecena curka sa svim prilozima. Svijece se opet upale, cestita se Isusovo rodjenje, slijedi molitva, pa zamedljana rakija i objed. Sad ima vina i ostalog pica, kolaca i torte. Na Bozic se obicno nigdje ne ide, jer je to obiteljski blagdan. Jedino predvecer neki mladji rodjak moze donijeti bukaricu, sto je boca posebnog oblika. Donji joj je dio prosiren, napunjena je vinom i zacepljena pecenim batakom. To se ispije s domacima, a prije odlaska bukarasu boca se opet napuni vinom.
Na drugi dan Bozica svecarima se cestita sv. Stipan. Slicno se slavi kao i prvi dan, no sad se rodjaci i prijatelji posjecuju. Tako je i treci dan, na sv. Ivana. Neki uz pratnju sviraca zaredjaju po susjedstvu, rodjacima i prijateljima, cestitajuci im tako Bozicne blagdane. Na dan Nevine djece znali bi djecaci ukrasiti sibu, pa kao sibari otici do rodjaka i susjeda te zensku celjad malo mlatniti sibom, za sto bi dobili neki dar. Taj dan se vec iznosila slama iz sobe.
U bozicno vrijeme odrzavaju se i priredbe s tematikom Isusovog rodjenja. To traje sve do Sveta tri kralja - kada se s jelke skidaju ukrasi i ona se iznosi iz kuce. Na taj blagdan vrsi se i posveta kuce i na vrata upisuju tri slova M.B.G. (Melkior, Baltazar, Gaspar - pocetna slova imena kraljeva ili mudraca).

NAPOMENA:
Ovo sam opisala kao dozivljaj Bozica u svom djetinjstvu i mladosti. Danas se slicno slavi, ali se slama manje unosi u domove. Na salasima se drugacije slavilo. Tu su bile sanke i konji. Bozicno veselje je dulje trajalo. Bijeli luk, orasi, jabuka i med kojima pocinje vecera na Badnjak, imaju svoje posebno tumacenje. Luk i orasi - zdravlje i otpornost, jabuka - zajednistvo obitelji, a med - blagost i ljepota zivljenja.
Kod Bunjevaca baku su nekad nazivali majka, a mamu nana. Kod nekih obitelji ti su se nazivi odrzali i do danas. Prije sto i vise godina, Bunjevci nisu imali jelku ili bor. Jedna lijepa grana od vocke bi se otpilala na svetu Luciju i unijela u kucu, stavila u posudu s vodom kako bi do Bozica procvjetala. To je bila grana koja bi se stavila na stol. Jos i danas kod nas se za jelku kaze grana. Ja sam cula u djetinjstvu od starijih kako se osusena korovska grana lijepog oblika znala okititi ukrasnim krpicama od tijesta, staviti u pec da se osusi, pa je i to znala biti grana.
U cilju ocuvanja obicaja pravljenja bozicnjaka, danas Katolicki institut za kulturu, povijest i duhovnost Ivan Antunovic organizira uoci Bozica izlozbu bozicnjaka. Kucanice donose svaka svoj bozicnjak ispecen i divno ukrasen figurama. Bozicnjak je poseban kolac, napravljen od brasna s kvasom i mlijekom. Ispleten je i ukrasen figurama od tijesta bez kvasa a u obliku jaslica, Malog Isusa, Djevice, Josipa, domacih zivotinja, ruza, ptica i grozdja. Najljepsi se stavi na oltar u subotickoj Katedrali, a neki po zupnim crkvama. Inace bozicnjak u domovima stoji ispod jelke sve do Nove godine kada se trosi za jelo.
Posljednjih nekoliko godina u subotickoj Katedrali se slavi Ponocka pjevanjem Bozicnih pjesama uz pratnju tamburica. Znacajan je i koncert Katedralnog zbora Albe Vidakovic koji se odrzava u svecanoj Vijecnici Gradske kuce. Koncert je uvijek dobro posjecen. Uz klasike, pjevaju se bozicne pjesme iz Backe, a i one diljem Hrvatske. Zbor vodi i uvjezbava sestra Mirjam Pandzic. Tu su i priredbe po zupama sa igrokazima, koje ujedinjuju obitelj u zajednicu Crkve.

O AUTORICI:
Marija Maja Dulic (rodjena Maftej u Subotici, 16. sijecnja 1925. godine od oca Djure i majke Cecilije Cilike Rogic). Imala je samo cetiri i pol godine kad joj je majka umrla u svojoj dvadeset devetoj godini zivota, ostavivsi za sobom i mladju cetrnaestomjesecnu kcerkicu Olgu (danas zivi u Splitu). Marija je nakon zavrsene osnovne skole i cetiri razreda srednje pohadjala Drzavnu uciteljsku skolu u Zagrebu (1941.-1945.). Radila je kao uciteljica u Gornjem Tavankutu tri godine. U proljece 1948. godine u namjestenom politickom procesu osudjena je na cetrnaest mjeseci strogog zatvora s prinudnim radom. Tada je osudjeno dvadeset sedam Hrvata katolika. Nakon izdrzane kazne, vise nikada nije dobila uciteljsko mjesto. Zavrsila je Visu komercijalnu skolu u Subotici i sve do mirovine radila kao knjigovodja. Zivi u Subotici i u Torontu.

Za tisak priredila mr. Ljerka Lukic, prof. urednica Nasih zivota (zivotne price,zivotopisi, zapamcenja). 416-534-5442, Ljerka-Susan@Rogers.com 

One Year on the Internet

Dear All

It has been exactly one year since we started CROWN on Internet. CROWN is incirculation for little bit less then 4 years, but permanent version on Internetstarted on Christmas Day 2001. In one year we published 1150 letters, had275,000 visits (hits) to our website. For website that has not been advertised,it is an AMAZING number. I witnessed many new friendships and most of all wecreated a platform to find data and introduce your talent to other Croatiansaround the world. I desire to be more wise at this moment, but I need some restthese days. It has been wonderful. Help us continue this work. 

I want to thank again Eugenij Lezaja for creating the whole structure of CROWN,Marko Puljic for more consistent work on CROWN, our sponsors "AdriaticTravel", "Heart ofCroatia Gifts", "Artificial Intelligence Design","Enconet", "Nenad Bach Music Ltd" and all of you whoparticipate with your submissions and contributions. Thank you from the bottomof my heart.

In four years I've never asked you to recommend others of your kind, but I willdo it right now. We need quality people who are willing to change the world onbetter. So, think of 5-10 of your friends who are talented and willing to participate inthis arena of life. Introduce them the concept of CROWN and ask them to join us.We Croatians are Sleeping Giant. So talented andso under appreciated. Waiting for political vision and leader. Our time is NOW. We are strong and we can do it.

Enjoy holidays !

Nenad Bach 

Editor -in-Chief

P.S. Please send me your suggestions on what was good in this first year.What was not and what would you do to improve the CROWN.

Eastern Slavonia, Western Srijem and Baranja through history

Eastern Slavonia, Western Srijem and Baranja through history

Eastern Croatia, also called Slavonija, is a Croatian historical region that includes the fertile valley 
between rivers Sava, Drava and Danube. It got its name from Latin Sclavonia which meant the country 
of Slavs. 
Croats inhabited the Danube region in 7th century on the territory of the former Roman province 
Pannonia. At the beginning of the 9th century there was the kingdom of Pannonian Croats that rose 
against Frankish Empire in 818. By 1102. almost the whole Slavonia fell within Kingdom of Croatia and 
from then till 1527. in Hungarian-Croat state. 

Slavonia spread between Sava and Drava rivers and eastern Slavonia had 4 counties: Virovitica, Pozega, 
Vukovar, Srijem. 


In 16th century the Turks with the help of non-Slavic Vlahs of orthodox religion and Croats that 
converted to Islam occupied big part of Croatia and eastern Slavonia all the way to the river Cazma, up 
to the line between Virovitica on Drava and Sisak on Kupa and Sava. The Turkish occupation lasted till 
1699. when the Christian army, together with Croatian troops liberated entire Slavonia except the most 
eastern part , Srijem. 

In 1745. Slavonia was returned to Croatia and three out of four counties were reestablished: Virovitica, 
Pozega and Srijem. The Southern part of Slavonia near the Sava river was set as Vojna krajina with the 
custody of Austria over it. The Turks as well as the Austrians were relocating nomads Vlahs of orthodox 
religion particularly in Vojna krajina. With the help of Serbian patriarchy they were turned into Serbs at 
the end of 19th century, although ethnically they weren't similar to the Serbs from Serbia. 

When in 1881. Vojna krajina ceased to exist, its territory following the historical rights, was returned to 
Croatia from which had been forcefully taken away. It mainly contributed to the enlargement of Srijem 
county with the capital in Vukovar. It consisted of kotars Vukovar, Vinkovci, Zupanja, Ilok, Irig, 
Srijemska Mitrovica, Ruma, Stara Pazova and Zemun. It means that the whole Srijem belonged to the 
Kingdom of Croatia, which had the autonomy within Austrio-Hungarian Empire. The city of Zemun, 
which is today a part of Belgrade, formed a part of historical Croatian territory. It should be stated here 
that towns of Vukovar, Osijek, Ilok and even Knin in southern Croatia never belonged to Vojna krajina.. 
Also Vojna krajina never was "Serbian ground" because it always had Croatian majority. 

When in 1918. the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenians was formed the Kingdom of Croatia brought 
in all its territories except Istria, which was occupied by Italy. Therefore Croatia, Slavonia, Dalmatia, 
Dubrovnik, Boka Kotorska, Rijeka, Medjimurje were parts of Kingdom of Croatia that were brought into 
a new State. 
Included also should be the southern part of the Hungarian county known as Baranja, the triangle of 
land between Drava, Danube and the Hungarian border, an area of 114 square km that after loosing the 
war, following the ethnic principal, Hungary had to relinquish to the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and 
Slovenians which from 1929 was called Yugoslavia. This territory was relinquished via a treaty signed 
in Trianon. Baranja has in spite of Serbian attempts to increase their population density at the expense of 
its Croat and Hungarian ethnic groups retained its Croatian majority (22 740 Croats vs. 13 851 Serbs and 
17 674 others). 

Since 1918 the Government of Belgrade attempted to enforce a centralised rule over Yugoslavia with no 
regard to historical boundaries. The aim was to Serbify and assimilate all the constituent nations of 
Yugoslavia, especially Croatia. However in 1939 the Serbs were forced to loosen their grip on the other 
republics with the creation of the Croatian Banovina which comprised partly historical Croatian 
territory but also regions from Bosnia and Herzegovina which were inhabited by Croats. All of Eastern 
Slavonia and Western Srijem formed an integral part of this Banovina as well as all of the territory that 
today forms part of Croatia. Sid, a village which currently pertains to Serbia also comprised a part of the 
Croatian Banovina. 

During the 2nd world war, Croatia acquired the status of independent state and comprised all of 
Slavonia, Srijem, Bosnia and Herzegovina except Istria and part of Dalmatia which was occupied by 
Italy. Baranja was once more taken by Hungary. Thus Eastern Croatia retained its historical borders 
instituted in 1918 when it entered the first Yugoslavia. 

After the 2nd world war in 1945, it was the Communist party which acceded to power who drew the 
borders which would separate the individual republics in the 2nd Yugoslavia. In Croatia both historical 
and ethnic rules were applied, with Croatia emerging loser on all counts. Its one victory was its being 
assigned Baranja. 
When ethnic considerations were applied to Croatia, Eastern Srijem located between Sid and Srijemska 
Mitrovica to Zemun was lost to the autonomous province of Vojvodina, which formed part of Serbia. At 
the same time, Croatia failed to acquire part of Backa especially the areas around Subotica and Sombor 
which were inhabited predominantly by Croats. 

The Serbian Communist lobby also requested Baranja for itself, but failed to do so on the grounds that 
less than a third of the inhabitants of this region were Serbs. Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1945 reacquired 
their historical borders, again however at Croatia's expense owing to the fact that the republic retained 
compact ethnically Croatian territory including the town of Neum inhabited by 90% Croats, a fact which 
served to cut Croatia into two parts. 

Anachronistically, against all historical and ethnic expectations Montenegro gained an important 
military harbour Boka, which was also predominantly inhabited by Croats as well as part of 
Herzegovina known as Sutorina. 

When during the Croatian Spring of 1971 the issues of the concept of true federalism, the economical 
exploitation of Croatia and the Croatian right to use its own language etc. were raised, Josip Broz Tito, a 
Croat by nationality, ordered the adoption of a new constitution according to which all Yugoslav 
republics gained the status of real states with their rights and borders. Under this constitution, from 
1974, all the republics regained the right of sovereignty over their borders which acquired international 
recognition. Thus Serbia claims erroneously that within Yugoslavia, internal borders were solely 
administrative in function and temporary in nature. Under the provisions of this constitution Serbia 
does not have the right to alter the borders of the individual republics to its own benefit in its pursuit of 
a Great Serbia. 

In 1986 the Serbian Academy of Science created a memorandum outlining the creation of a Great Serbia. 
This was adopted as a plan of action in 1988 by the Serbian communist party under the leadership of 
Slobodan Milosevic. Thus was promoted the break-up of Yugoslavia. 
When in 1989, the 600th anniversary of the battle of Kosovo was celebrated in Serbia, Milosevic directly 
announced Serbia's policy of aggression towards other republics particularly Croatia and Bosnia and 
Herzegovina, together with his intention to create a greater Serbia. Since then Belgrade has continued to 
supply Serbs out of Serbia with weapons clearing the JNA of other nations and disarming territorial 
defences in Croatia and elsewhere. 

When in Spring 1990, Croatia held its first democratic elections, and ousted the Communist system, 
Serbia directly threatened Croatia with war. On the 30th May 1990, the Republic of Croatia was 
proclaimed and in December of the same year its first constitution was accepted. The Serbs in Croatia 
thus initiated a rebellion in response, which in summer 1991 turned into a real war lead by the ex and 
already Serbified Yugoslav army. 

In July 1991 direct aggression on Croatia started, with emphasis on the town of Vukovar. The slaughter 
of Croats in Celije, Erdut, Dalj, Aljmas and the siege of Vukovar and the bombardment of Osijek and other 
Croatian cities in Slavonija, as well as the occupation, robbery and devastation of everything Croatian 
became a reality. After 3 months of strong defence, Serbs captured the city of Vukovar, the symbol of 
heroism, and killed thousands of Croats, not only soldiers, but also those wounded, civilians, children 
and forced tens of thousands to leave their homes. Thus the whole Eastern Slavonia was ethnically 
cleansed. 

The main aim of Serbian aggression was to occupy Croatia all the way to the line 
Virovitica-Karlovac-Karlobag, to acquire the approach to the Adriatic Sea and to control the area around 
Danube. Thanking Croatian people and all minorities except Serbian, Serbian aggressors managed to 
occupy only one third of the Croatia and formed so called Republic of Srpska krajina. They also 
conquered about 70% of Bosnia and Herzegovina in order to partly fulfil their dream o Great Serbia. 

Between May and August 1995. Croatia liberated Western Slavonia and after the action Storm 
established its sovereignty in so called "krajina" and the city of Knin. The only occupied territory 
remained Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Srijem. It makes only 4.6% of Croatian territory, but it 
is the richest part. Serbia has never throughout history crossed the border on Danube and Sava rivers. 

http://pubwww.srce.hr/svjedoci/east/1str.html  (Source)