The Guardians of Zagreb, a performance troupe dedicated to medieval historical re-enactments, will perform their “Christmas Knight Fairy Tale” show on December, 22nd at 8:30 pm on the main Advent stage at the Ban Jelačić Square.
The Guardians of Zagreb (Red Čuvara grada Zagreba) is a non-profit association engaged in promotion, development and improvement of Croatian and European medieval historical re-enactment and cultural heritage. The Association is engaged in living history according to the world’s latest and most actual principles, achievements and rules in historical re-enactment (lat. historia revivata). Its members create concepts of re-enacted personas (lat. persona revivata) within one or more sub concepts set in one precisely specified temporal, spatial, historical and social phenomenon.
Of course, at least once a year, one must step out of their comfort zone (and for the people involved in The Guardians of Zagreb that is the concept of “historical correctness”), and create a Christmas fairy tale, as a gift to the people of Zagreb. So, tonight you and your children will get to enjoy the fully costumed play in which you will follow the path of a female elf searching for the lost gift from Santa Clause. Of course, there are bad guys, as there should be in any fairy tale, the Black Knight Kreštalo (Squawker or Howler) and his mean dragon Njurgalo (Grumbler or Growler). The show will include several battles of various knights, fire-spewing (did we mention there be dragons?!?!) and flaming swords, so it should be a spectacular performance.
The Guardians usually re-enact the crusader order of the Knights Hospitaller, according to the historical Order of St. John as it was in the 12th and 13th century, when it was actively present in the whole Europe, as well as on Croatian historical grounds. Based on the chosen concept, historical documents, archaeological finds and reconstructions, the members of The Guardians build a structured organization which shows the way of life and activities of such a military order – the variety of its members from the lowest to the highest position, fighting aspects, reconstruction, arms and armour, clothes, furniture, medical techniques, free time and all other aspects of life which help them create a complete story of how life was almost a thousand years ago.
