Advent weekend with emigrants in Trogir and Split

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Vesna i Antonio Sammartino na Bakalarijadi

The fair in Trogir saw representatives of the Croatian community from Molise in Italy and vintner Mate Kliković from the Gradišće (Burgenland) region in Austria take part. A second Advent candle was lit by journalists at the Brasserie on 7 restaurant owned by two returnees from Australia – Marija Mustapić and Korana Bučić

The Bakalarijada (“Codfishiad“) event was organised on the occasion of St Nicholas feast day at the Meden hotel by the Rašeljka ecological association from the village of Ljubitovica near the town of Trogir, where they grow garlic in the traditional fashion. For the second year running the president of the association, Ivan Marjanica, has invited the Split branch office of the CHF to take part in this international event.
The Bakalarijada event is more than just a codfish cooking competition – it is also a small fair in which all interested people can showcase their products. The fair saw representatives of the Croatian community from Molise in Italy and vintner Mate Kliković from the Gradišće (Burgenland) region in Austria take part. Stipe Ercegović was there on behalf of the Tin Ujević Croatian Community of Belgrade in Serbia. His movie Croatians in Srijem was screened for the fair participants and visitors. The Croatian-Australian Society was represented with the organisation’s president Tania Blažević on hand to present promotional material on Australia.
A special group taking part in the Bakalarijada were those attending the Croaticum Croatian language course – some fifty young people from around the world are taking part in the course at the University of Split’s Faculty of the Humanities and Social Sciences. They were there accompanied by their teachers Helena Burić, Josipa Korljan, Matea Rajković, Magdalena Nigoević and Josip Lasić. They presented the specialities of their domicile countries and won a group prize.
Both amateurs and professionals tried their hand at preparing codfish in the traditional methods. The event wrapped up with a presentation of prizes and a concert featuring pop star Neno Belan.

The second candle of Advent in Split
Sunday, December 7th was the second Sunday of Advent. Split-based nutritionist Olja Martinić hosted the Gastro Advent event in which she prepares food and lights a candle as a symbol of peace every Sunday.
The theme of this year’s Advent festivities is the fig – the organisers wish to pay homage to the old traditions and revive this ancient foodstuff. A second candle was lit by journalists and Split Mayor Ivo Baldasar at the Brasserie on 7 restaurant owned by two returnees from Australia – Marija Mustapić and Korana Bučić. On hand for the occasion was Ambassador Susan Cox and consul Dijana Grahovac of the Australian embassy in Zagreb. Also taking part were representatives of the City of Split and of the local Tourism Board and returnee Croatians of the Croatian-Australian Society and their friends.
Next year we plan to involve returnees from other countries in the Advent festivities and present the traditions of their second homelands to the people of Split.

Text by: Branka Bezić Filipović

  

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