Zvončari
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Zvončari ("bellmen") is the characteristic folk custom maintained in the region around Rijeka, Croatia. It was added to UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009.[1]
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Quick Facts Annual carnival bell ringers’ pageant from the Kastav area, Country ...
Annual carnival bell ringers’ pageant from the Kastav area | |
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Country | Croatia |
Reference | 00243 |
Region | Europe and North America |
Inscription history | |
Inscription | 2009 (4th session) |
List | Representative |
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The custom dates to Slavic pagan antiquity and remains typical for this region. The primary task of Zvončari is to scare away evil spirits of winter and to stir up a new spring-time cycle. During the Rijeka Carnival, Zvončari march from village to village throughout the region, following the same centuries-old route, making an extraordinary amount of noise, fueled in part by the wine provided by the locals' en route.