Licitar Hearts
Licitars are colorfully decorated biscuits made of sweet honey dough that are part of Croatia`s cultural heritage and a traditional symbol of Zagreb. They are used as an ornamental gift, often given at celebrations of love such as weddings and St. Valentine's Day. At Christmas time, the city of Zagreb and the Christmas tree in the main square in particular are festooned with thousands of licitar hearts.
In 2010, UNESCO added the Gingerbread craft from Northern Croatia to the "Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage" for Croatian culture.
The tradition of making and giving Licitars stretching as far back as the 16th century.
Licitar makers, known as Medičari, were highly regarded in society,
and their Licitars very much sought after (licitars were more sentimental than giving a bouquet of roses).
Even today the tradition is kept alive by a select few who covert the art in family secrecy, and their methods of production have scarcely changed.
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Traditional Manufacturing of Children’s Wooden Toys in Hrvatsko Zagorje
Wooden children’s toys are recognizable traditional products of Hrvatsko zagorje with a long history. Precisely in this area, a peculiar production of toys was developed in the 19th century and it has been preserved in some villages such as Laz, Stubica, Tugonica and Marija Bistrica. All these villages are on the route to the greatest pilgrimage site in Croatia - Marija Bistrica. From very simple reed toys, the assortment widened so that, at times, one hundred and twenty different toys were produced. The method of their production was passed on from generation to generation in some families and has been kept to this day. The peculiarity is that they are handmade by men and mostly painted by women. There can never be two completely identical toys since each one is handmade. The material used is soft wood from the area, willow, lime, beech and maple that craftsmen hew after drying and then cut and shape it with the help of wooden or cardboard models. In painting they use eco paint and their base colours are usually red, yellow or blue.
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Bećarac
Bećarac is a humorous form of folk song, originally from rural Slavonia, and eventually spreading across Croatia and into southern Hungary and Vojvodina. The root of the word comes from bećar (Turkish: bekâr), meaning "bachelor", "reveler" or "carouser". Bećarci are always teasing, mocking and/or lascivious, and are usually sung by a male company at village parties.
Bećarac uses a strict form of couplet in decasyllable, always sung to the same music, played by a tamburitza orchestra or just by the choir. The first verse is sung by the choir leader and forms a logical thesis; it is repeated by the choir of gathered men. The second verse is a humorous antithesis, also repeated by the choir (but often broken by laughter). Bećarci are usually performed at the peak of a party as a drinking song after the crowd is sufficiently warmed up by wine and music. A series of bećarci can last indefinitely. The lyrics are often made up at the spot or improvised and the best ones are spread and reused for later parties.
Inscribed in 2011. on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Becharac
1. My uncles told me, to either get married or cut it off.
2. In my village old women are idle - just farting and cursing thugs.
3. I have best man and he has a wife. She is wearing panties with a rubber band.
The UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List is made up of intangible heritage elements that are in need of urgent safeguarding. The UNESCO committee has so far inscribed over 35 elements globally. The list is comprised from all over the world and I was delighted to find that Croatia’s rich culture has 14 cultural masterpieces on the list. All in addition to the 7 sites inscribed on the World Heritage List. That’s more than any other country in Europe (excluding Spain which also hold 14). Go Croatia!
Read more here - http://www.chasingthedonkey.com/croatian-culture-unesco-intangible-cultural-heritage/