Original scientific paper

SHROVETIDE CUSTOMS AT GRAČANI NEAR ZAGREB

Domagoj Novosel ; Zagreb

Abstract

The paper aims to describe shovetide customs at Gračani, a settlement near Zagreb. Gračani was formerly a village, and nowadays it is the suburb part of Zagreb. In a broader sense it is part of the region called Zagrebačko prigorje. The paper elaborates on shrovetide customs in the 20th and 21st centuries. The research has been conducted using the method of oral history, i.e. by touring the sites and talking to four narrators: Mirko Banek (born in 1919), Barica Filetin (born in 1920), Stjepan Jelačić (born in 1929), and Rudolf Puntijar (born in 1932). Testimonials were used found in the sv. Franjo (St Francis) monastery and the Remete parish that had been the proper authorities for the Gračani territory until 1983. In fact, both of the testimonials were handwritten diaries with entries made during the 20th century. Shovetide customs have existed at Gračani since the beginning of the 20th century and to date their authenticity has been preserved to a great extent, with occasional rises and falls during the previous century. Although Gračani is not a village any more but the suburban area of the city of Zagreb, the consciousness about the former village still remains, even though urban behaviour patterns, urban architecture and all other similar elements are growingly replacing rural elements. The awareness about the past is evident mostly on basis of customs taking place throughout the year, of which shovetide customs are the most prominent ones, and the least altered in comparison to former times.

Keywords

shovetide; 'mačkor'i (masked people), 'mačkarinje' (shovetide); shovetide wedding, Ash Wednesday, Gračani, Prigorje

Hrčak ID:

136911

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/136911

Publication date:

20.6.2014.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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