Winter in Dubrovnik: Season of Celebrations
Dreaming of a winter escape? Don’t rule out Dubrovnik for the holidays!
Tasteful Croatian Journeys is pleased to share the insights of talented tour guide and Dubrovnik local, Mr. Ivan Vukovic. Both a colleague and friend, Ivan is one of the many smart, sophisticated, and passionate professionals which make up our network of local guides in Croatia.
Here, in his own words, Ivan explains why Dubrovnik “The Pearl of the Adriatic” makes a fantastic winter holiday destination.
Dubrovnik is a year-round destination, but many people think of it only as a summer destination. I do not know why as we have lovely mild winters. The climate reminds me a lot of southern California. In fact, I do not even possess a winter jacket, just a wind breaker.
You see, Dubrovnik is not only about summer and sea; we have a rich history, beautiful architecture, and many other things. It is a great destination for a winter break as there are a lot of festivities in the period from December to February. Celebrations begin in late November and continue through Christmas, New Year, and the Feast of Saint Blaise. The customs around those holidays are very diverse in Dubrovnik and have long traditions. All of the celebrations include traditions such as dressing up, singing, preparing traditional meals, family reunions, music, drinking champagne, and fireworks at midnight. The Feast of Saint Blaise is a truly local experience and Dubrovnik’s most important holiday. It is celebrated on February 3rd in honor of the city’s patron saint and protector. Statues of St. Blaise can be found all around Dubrovnik on the city walls, and of course the Church of Saint Blaise is located in the heart of the Old City. The celebration dates back more than 1000 years and is protected on UNESCO’s list of the world’s Intangible Cultural Heritage. One fun fact is that people from here traditionally decorate their Christmas tree on Christmas Eve and keep that decorated tree in their homes until St. Blaise Day.
The holidays are a perfect time to visit if you want to blend in and witness our traditions as a traveler, not as a tourist. It’s your best opportunity to experience Dubrovnik as the locals do.
Winter festivities kick off at the end of November when the main street of Stradun gets decorated and the countdown to Christmas can begin. I love how the Christmas vibe permeates the city. Stradun street becomes a large outdoor stage, the center point of the Dubrovnik Winter Festival. This is when the locals take over and hang out with friends and family, and the most beautiful street in the world plays host to Dubrovnik’s lovely Christmas Market. Although we do not have snow, there is plenty of mulled wine to add to the Christmas atmosphere. You can also sample some traditional foods like smoked ham, cheese, or “prikle.”
If you want to know what “prikle” are, you will just have to visit us in the winter time!
Christmas Carols have a special place in the festive spirit of the city. They are known as “Kolende” and singers with instruments like guitars or mandolins go from home to home to sing and celebrate on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and even New Year’s Eve. This is a 700-year-old tradition; an ancient custom which is still alive and well. When you are in Dubrovnik for the holidays and you see people going around and singing, ask to join them as they will take you to some really great local places. You do not even have to know how to sing! As the singers go from door to door, knocking and playing music, you will see it is quite normal that the host will invite the whole crowd into his or her home and treat them to festive delights such as candied almonds, brandies, wine, dried figs, and other snacks. This is also a popular tradition among children as so many people give them candies and small amounts of money – a bit like the American custom of trick-or-treating on Halloween. When I was a kid, I loved this tradition. It was the best time as you could eat lot of candy and earn money even without knowing how to sing. There have always been a lot of children doing that. However, nowadays the tradition is fading which does not make me happy.
In case you want to come celebrate Christmas with your family in Dubrovnik and stay through the New Year, there are a few things you need to know about New Year’s Eve in Dubrovnik.
The New Year’s Eve celebration starts in the morning. I have told you that we have some strange customs, but this is because “Children’s New Year’s Eve” is held during the day. Parents bring their kids into the old town, nursing their coffee while the kids have fun and enjoy some children’s concerts.
As there is nothing better than to welcome the New Year in Dubrovnik, you can choose to celebrate on Stradun or in one of the bars on the side streets of the old town. This open-air celebration will be interrupted by a massive fireworks display at midnight and then everyone in your vicinity will start to hug you, kiss you, and shake hands, so be prepared… We are a very warm people who do not like any social distance!
“Party all day, party all night” could be a great motto for this celebration in Dubrovnik.
After all of that, if you think that the party is over, think again. After a whole night of dancing and celebrating the change in year, New Year’s Day has come and at noon the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra performs in the main square of the old town to entertain all ages.
Music, oysters, and sparkling wine is served to celebrate New Year’s Day. Not a bad idea! That is how we do it here after a sleepless night of celebration. January 1st could not start better.
