ZAGREB, December 16, 2018 – About a hundred scouts from throughout Croatia brought the Bethlehem Light of Peace from Austria to Zagreb on Sunday.
After a procession through the city centre, they were joined by Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković and Zagreb Cathedral Rector Josip Kuhtić and together they took the Light of Peace into the Zagreb Cathedral.
The ceremony was organised for the 26th year in a row by the Croatian Scouts Federation. It is held under the auspices of the Croatian parliament.
The Bethlehem Light of Peace is a symbol of Christmas and in the Bible, it symbolises the coming of Jesus, whose birth promised peace to all people of good will. The burning and sharing of the Bethlehem Light is a reminder to people of good will to wish one another peace and well-being and to spread peace among people.
The head of the Croatian Scouts Federation, Lidija Pozaić Frketić, said that the custom of burning and sharing the Bethlehem Light of Peace was started by Austrian scouts, who first brought the light from Bethlehem to Austria in 1988. Every year scouts from across Europe flock to Austria to collect the light and take it to their respective countries.
Croatian scouts collected the Bethlehem Light of Peace in Linz on Saturday and today they will take it to their parishes and to many state institutions.
More news on the Advent festivities in Croatia can be found in our Lifestyle section.
