The winter season in Croatian is called Zima, lasting from December through February. Winter in Croatia is cold and if it's windy even colder. It's rare to snow near the sea, it's more likely to just rain, but nearby mountain tops are covered with powder. The most popular activity in winter is skiing, especially in the Gorski Kotar region. Platak Ski Resort is only a 45 minute drive from our rental apartments and nearby Mrkopalj is known for their cross-country skiing. Tourist locations are much less crowded and accommodations and flights are at their lowest prices after New Year's. Just when you think the partying is over after December's many holidays, you get thrown back in to more festivities with the beginning of Carnival in January that continues through the rest of winter.
December 24th - Christmas Eve
Croatians also call this day Badnja večer. Badnjak is a log lit on Christmas Eve and is meant to stay burning throughout Christmas Day. Traditionally, this is the most important part of the entire Christmas celebration. This day is also more commonly when you put up and decorate the Christmas tree and then leave up until Three Kings Day or Epiphany on January 6th of the new year. Croatians did not begin the custom of the Christmas tree until the mid-19th Century. Before this, homes were decorated with flowers and seasonal fruits, like plums, pears and apples. Children would make paper ornaments. The main course for the feast on this day is traditionally fish with festive pastries and cakes for dessert.
December 25th - Christmas Day
Christmas, or Božić in Croatian, is a day of family and feast usually consisting of some type of main meat dish, such as pork, lamb or beef. Sarma is a popular recipe to bake (and is also one of my favorite meals) that consists of soured cabbage rolls stuffed with meat and rice.
December 31st - New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve, or Stara Godina in Croatian, is celebrated similarly to countries all over the world with parties, concerts, a countdown and fireworks at midnight. Two towns in Croatia celebrate New Year's Eve at noon, Zagorje and Fužine. Food, music and dancing fill the towns and when the clock strikes twelve colorful powder fireworks fill the sky.
Find out about even more winter events happening each month:
January 6th - Epiphany/Three Kings
The vast majority of Croatians are Catholic and celebrate the Epiphany or Three Kings on January 6th. This is a national holiday marking the event of the three kings (or wise men) visiting newborn baby Jesus. In some parts of Croatia on the eve of the Epiphany, Croatians take water to the church to be blessed by the priest and then sprinkle the water on their homes, animals, fields, gardens, vineyards, etc. into the next day. Some areas call January 6th, the Feast of the Three Kings and boys dressed as the Three Kings or Starmen (Zvjezdari) come to your house to sing church hymns and you give them gifts in return. In the northeastern area of Croatia, called Slavonia, Slavonians swim in a nearby river on the Epiphany because they believe it will help ward off diseases in the coming year. Some people even take coal and ash from their fireplace leftover from Christmas time and spread it in their fields, gardens and vineyards because they believe it will prevent bad weather and a good harvest. More traditionally common on the Epiphany, Croatians take down their Christmas tree and other decorations. Between Christmas and January 6th, a priest comes by your house to bless it with holy water and you make a monetary offering to the church.
Carnival
The largest event during winter in Croatia is Carnival, spoken either as Karneval or Maškare, begins in January and ends on Ash Wednesday, before the 40 days of Lent and then Easter. Carnival is celebrated slightly different in each city, town and village of Croatia, but always involves masks and costumes, music, a parade of some sort and a kind of puppet or Pust that represents someone or something usually disliked in current society. No matter where you visit there is a Carnival party every Saturday with live music, dancing, contests and more. For many Croatians, this is their favorite time of year! The city of Rijeka holds one of the best carnival parades in the world!
At the end of the month of January museums open their doors. Over 200 museums from around Croatia participate. This is a free event filled with many different workshops and other events.
for everything else to sightsee after carnival and the museums.
February 3rd - Festival or Feast of Saint Blaise/Sveti Vlaho
If you are traveling to the southern part of the country this time of year at the beginning of the month in the city of Dubrovnik you can experience a festival that has been celebrated since the year 972. Saint Blaise is the patron saint of Dubrovnik. Also known as the City of Dubrovnik Day, where a host of ceremonies, concerts, exhibitions, theatre performances and other events are held for the next several days.
Every February this expo is an international business, crafts and agriculture fair that takes place in the city of Virovitica, located east from the capital of Zagreb. Hundreds of exhibitors from at least 29 countries are featured at the expo.
Interested in a boat tour to the islands? GO HERE!
If you are near the capitol, Zagreb, tour this grand boat exhibition. One of the largest displays of boats in the region presenting international manufacturers of boats, yachts, sailing boats, jet skis, kayaks, paddle boards, marine engines as well as clothes and footwear, equipment and accessories for diving, fishing, sailing and other water sports.
Croatians seem to know how to make the best out of the cold winter season. Christmas markets and Carnival celebrations with some mulled wine and roasted chestnuts will keep you warm. With the least amount of tourists during this season, you should get more opportunities to experience Croatia like the locals do.
North Coast Croatia Travel Agency specializes in travel to Croatia and surrounding European countries. Providing consultations, custom itineraries, pre-designed theme itineraries, summer beach rentals and a travel blog. Booking flights, accommodations, cruises, tours, rental cars, transfers, bus/train/ferry tickets, travel insurance and more!
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Happy Travels! Sretan Put!
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