Croatian Zvoncari, also known as bellmen or bell ringers, is a characteristic folk custom preserved in the region around Rijeka.
The custom dates to Slavic pagan antiquity and is unique to this region. During the Rijeka Carnival, Zvoncari march from village to village throughout the region; the noise they make is extraordinary, with locals providing wine along the route. The primary task of Zvoncari is to scare away the evil spirits of winter and to create new spring-time cycles.
A standard Zvoncari costume includes white trousers, a striped shirt, and a sheepskin throw. They carry a "bala" or "bacuka" - a stylized mace and wear big brass bells around the waist. Different villages wear different costumes; for example, Zvoncari of Halubje and Grobnik [hr] (Dondolasi) wear masks depicting fantastic animal heads, while Zvoncari of Ejane and Brgud According to local legend, the Zvoncari scared away invading Turks and Tatars during the Ottoman conquest. Shepherds wearing masks on their heads and carrying bells worn on their belts would produce a deafening sound that scared away the enemy. Since that time, maces have become part of the standard equipment of the Zvončari.
In northwest Croatia, bell ringers marched through the villages during the January carnival period. The ringers wear sheepskin throws with bells tied to their waists and sport distinctive hats adorned with evergreen leaves as they swagger behind a guide carrying a small evergreen tree. As they walk, they bump each other's hips rhythmically and leap into the air in order to enliven their gait.
In addition to theatrical characters, these groups may contain pranksters such as a bear who escapes from his two guards regularly. As soon as they reach a village, the bell ringers form concentric circles around the town square and ring loudly until the residents offer them food and help them rest before continuing their journey. Each village's ringers comb through its own village at the end of the carnival and collect rubbish at each house, which is then burned out front, with everyone in attendance participating.
With variations that differ from village to village, the carnival bell ringers' pageant is a valuable tool for strengthening community ties and integrating newcomers into the traditional culture of the village. During the international Rijeka Carnival, the Zvoncari appear regularly in costumes. Today, the celebration is not only a celebration of the bell ringers from Kastav but is also a celebration of customs and songs from the surrounding areas, whose people are very proud of their traditions.
References
(https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/annual-carnival-bell-ringers-pageant-from-the-kastav-area-00243) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zvon%C4%8Dari) (https://croatia.hr/en-gb/unesco/annual-carnival-bell-ringers-pageant-kastav-area) |Subject=Belief, Entertainment and Recreation, Ritual |Country=Croatia |SDG=(11) Sustainable Cities and Communities }}