Croatian language
Croatian language belongs to western-south Slavic group (source Institut za hrvatski jezik i jezikoslovlje) of languages. As all Slavic languages its root is in old Slavic language.5,5 milion people speak Croatian language in Croatia, part of Bosnia and Hercegovina,Austria, Hungary, Serbia, Montenegro, Italy, Slovenia, Rumania, Slovakia and other countries.
Croatian language is divided in official Croatian language and dialects. Croatian dialects are cakavski, kajkavski spoken only in Croatia and stokavski is spoken in Croatia and other countries. Croats in Gradisce Austria speak a cakavski dialect although forms of kajkavski and stokavski dialects are used too. Croats in Italy Molise speak stokavski, Krašovani in Rumania speak torlacki dialect specific only for that Croatian enclave.
First written text in Croatian (it was a mixture of church Slavic and cakavski dialect) date from the end of 11 century. These texts were written in Croatian Glagolitic script. In 12 century Croats begin to form their own form of Cyrillic script Bosancica., from 14 century Latin scripts are in use. Croatian medieval texts were written in three scripts: Latin, Glagolitic, and Croatian Cyrillic (arvatica, poljičica, bosančica), and also in three languages: Croatian, Latin and Old Slavic. The most important early monument of Croatian literacy is the Baška tablet from the late 11th century. It is a large stone tablet found in the small church of St. Lucy on the Croatian island of Krk, containing text written mostly in cakavski.

Beaches in Croata my little sustainable text

Over last 8 years of accommodation providing business I have notices one „problem“ that occures when people visit Croatia. Unfortunately, Croatia is seen as a beach destination only (some attempts by our Tourist board to change this perception are starting to occur), and when I say beach it manly reffers to sandy beaces.
I often wandered why that is so, but unfortunately, it is a rule not an exception. One of the reasons is definitely the guides people often buy. I seams that most of the guide writes either never been to Croatia or they are for some unknown reason to me, lying.
Croatia does have some sand beaches but is not so often to have them. Croatian coastline is manly rocky with pebbles (smaller and bigger).
If you love sandy beaches and your perception of a great summer destination is sand you should definitely avoid Croatia. This way you will not be surprised once you arrive and you will help us preserve our country as it is.
My opinion is if people don’t realize this sandy problem we’ll lead to a bigger one when some hotel or destination owner gets a terrific idea to put sand on our rocks and destroys the sea eco system. Fish that live in our sea will not get used to this new situation and then we’ll have another problem – no fish in our sea.
Being responsible both travelers and us Croats is the essential, so please respect our country as it is, don’t try to change it, and please don’t ask me this question: where can I find a sandy beach?!

Here is the list of sandy beaches in Croatia:
Trincel - island Pag,
Lumbarda - island Korčula,
Lopar - island Rab,Sabusa,
Jelenica i Kostanj - island Ugljan,
Lapad - Dubrovnik,
Trstenica - Orebić,
Slanica - island Murter,
Saplunara - island Mljet
Beaches of island Susak
Lumbarda island Korcula
Beaches of Omis riviera

Ash Wendsday

Ash Wendsday was yesterday and The Season of Lent has started. After an overdose of krafne I definitely need it. The winter ends with mocking, carnival and a big party, princ fasnik is burned (false king, clown, the one guilty for all sins) and the lent begins.
Croatian lent tradition starts on Ash Wednesday with symbolic ash sprinkling. In Croatia, the name for Ash Wednesday is Čista srijeda and Pepelnica.
My grandma used to tell me that tradition was that everything in the kitchen had to be washed carefully. No traces of grease on dishes was allowed, everything had to be spotlessly clean.
Food had to be we would call it today vegetarian. No meats, for example in Samobor (M. Lang 1913) butcheries were closed for 40 days like in many Croatian towns. Typical food in that period was papula od graha (bean pate), kukuruzni žganci (polenta), dried fish, pasta usually with cottage cheese and sour cream, poppy seeds or walnuts.
Women used to wear different clothes during lent period. Dresses were darker color, with white scarf around the neck and no jewelry at all. In Zagreb area and Turopolje lent dressed were made of žutenina, hand woven material yellowish in color with white stripes and flower design. All lent Sundays have a name. Čista nedjelja, Pačista or Pračista, Bezimena, Sredoposna, Glušnica (Gluha, Gluva), Cvjetnica or Cvitnica are their names.Today most of our old customs are forgoten.
I keep the tradition of giving up usually food during lent. One year it was meat, another sweats but generay I try to make less meat dishes, cook our old vegetarian dishes and I don't buy and make cakes (anything sweet). I think it is a period to give our body a rest.

Carnival tradition

It is carnival season. In Croatia we have a long and interesting carnival tradition. Each region has its name for carnival, in Zagreb and Zagorje region it will be fašnik, Slavonija poklade, seaside krnjeval or karneval or maškare used all over Croatia. First think that comes to my mind when carnival is mentioned is krafne. This is a cake made during carnival season more less in whole Croatia, except seaside, where krostule or fritule are made. Krafne are similar to doughnuts. Recipe you can find in my cookbook.
Zvoncari is another carnival association I have. I used to watch them as a child in my home town Zagreb. It is not a typical Zagreb custom, but I lived in the city suburbs that were a village before world war two and they kept the village custom of Zvoncari. Today you can see them in villages and Rijeka carnival. Zvončari" (bellmen) - the origin of which dates back to prehistoric times. The customs are typical for the regions in which cattle was raised - we know it from the equipment of "Zvončari" as their primary task was to scare away evil spirits of winter and to stir up new spring-time cycle. "Zvončari" have a sheepskin thrown over and a big bell, tied around their waist, on their back. On their heads they wear stylized masks, representing strange animal heads with a red tongue stuck out and with horns. "Zvončari" in Rijeka region wear white trousers and sailor’s striped shirts, while in northern Croatia they are covered with animal fur. In their hands they hold a "balta" or "bačuka" - a stylized mace. In carnival time, regardless of weather conditions, "Zvončari" as a big group go from village to village in the region, following always the same schedule drawn up centuries ago. There is a music section, too, at the head of the procession accompanied with young boys, the "eggers", who ask for eggs the local citizens which they need for supper. Local resident join the group of the bell bearers, welcome them and follow all along the villages they pass by. The dancing derives from ancient times. They gather in the middle of a village, in front of pubs or at crossroads, where they form a circle. They perform a special show, comprising wrestling in pairs or all together, rough movements with the bodies and separating at the end. I remember when Zvoncari used to come to my street kids would run into houses usually terrified by the noise they made and watch them form safe distance through window.
Towns usually didn’t have Zvoncari or very little, feasts on Tuesday before Ash Wednesday were and still are very popular. Most popular feasts are in Samobor and Rijeka, but almost every town has some kind of feast. The central part of most of town feasts is burning as called in Samobor prince Fasnik. It is a big doll made from straw and old clothes sometimes even representing some politician or other public figure that is not very popular within citizens. After a “trial” where prince Fasnik is accused of many crimes (bad weather, raise of prices etc…) he is burned.
The main attraction of all carnival traditions in Croatia are children. Kids dress up and walk form house to house asking for gifts. They sometimes sing and make a little performance. In our old tradition in especially north west and east Croatia children have to sing and perform and as a reward the would get money, eggs or krafne.
Every region has is own eating traditions during carnival. In Zagorje and Zagreb region sauerkraut,Krafne, sausages (cesnjovke-garlic sausages typical for Samobor) baked beef or turkey are most popular. Slavonija table is full of various sausages, dried meat, krafne. Seaside and inland Dalmatia have slightly different customs. Instead of krafne, fritule and hrostule are made. Both recipes you can find in my cookbook.
Since carnival somehow represents a new start because of a spring coming soon, there are many superstitions connected with it. For example in Zagorje region it is believed if you sprinkle your feet on Ash Wednesday with water where sauerkraut was cooked, this will protect your form sneak bites all year thorough. Another custom says if you on Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, before sunrises eat sauerkraut with krvavice (similar to black pudding, blood pudding) flies will stay away from you all year thorough. If you drink milk on Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, you will not get sunburns that year. Interesting who know maybe, it works.