February 7, 2020 – After Sinj mayor Kristina Križanac handed over the city keys, the Sinj Carnival Association, in the presence of a dozen of its members, announced its brief but memorable rule in the Alka city. The Cetina Region Carnival can officially begin!
Through February 25, the citizens of Sinj and their guests can expect a lot of fun and laughter as part of the vibrant Carnival program.
Thus, on February 8, the traditional Tripiciada, a competition in the preparation of tripe, will be held. As always, when it comes to food, there is no compromise – this competition is ruthless, and the winner’s secrets are not revealed at any cost.
Saturday morning, February 15, is reserved for the children’s masquerade. The colorful and cheerful procession of little superheroes, princesses and princes, fairy tale characters and cartoons is always accompanied by playful laughter.
Milan Sabic
Later in the day, at 2 pm, a different kind of carnival procession begins. From the Sinj Hippodrome, the Carnival procession of the Cetina region begins. This year, they will gather for the sixth time, driven by the success and attendance of past events. The Carnival tradition of this region has been preserved for centuries by carefully and strictly established rules.
After the Feast of the Holy Three Kings, the best bearers and guardians of the Carnival customs in the region visit the villages and hamlets. How precious they are is also evidenced by the fact that they are on the list of protected intangible cultural assets of the Republic of Croatia.
The Carnival groups are from the villages of Gljev, Han, Obrovac Sinjski, Bajagic, the municipality of Otok (Jelašce, Priblace, Živinice, Gala, Ruda, Udovičići, and occasionally groups from Glavičica-Priblace, Ovrlja and Korita), while in Trilj, there are groups from Grab, Jabuka, Košuta, Vedrine, Vrpolje, Čačvina and Velić.
The most attractive and impressive part of the procession is the ‘didi’ (old men), who carry the fleece of sheep on their heads, standing tall at a height of up to 1.5 meters, with bells around their waist. They are dressed in old clothes with colorful fringes sewn on. The ‘didi’ symbolizes the ritual battle of good spirits in winter, and chase them away by making noise and jumping.
Zeljko Zrncic
This year’s Carnival will also feature Grobnički Donodolaši, an old carnival group from Grobinscina (near Rijeka).
In addition to the traditional Carnival groups who preserve the precious traditions of the Croatian people with ritual, numerous groups participate in the spectacle, and with their comical stage performances, completes the whole procession.
Sime Strikoman will also commemorate this year’s show with his famous millennium photo.
On February 21, a memorial evening will be held to commemorate the early departure of dear and beloved fellow citizen Vlatko Rogulj.
On February 22 and 23, the Sinj Carnival will be presented at the Rijeka Carnival and will crown their reign in Sinj on February 25, on the carnival Tuesday, with a traditional parade procession and masquerade at the Alkar Hotel.
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