27/11/2011
As the year is coming to its end, we are facing its most joyful month – December. Glare of Christmas and New Year turns our everyday panoramas into a real winter fairytale. Short and cold winter days are warmed up by illuminated city streets and squares, coated in inviting scent of roasted chestnuts and mulled vine, coming from wooden stands where you can find hand made presents for your friends and family.
This experience can be very special if you go to some new place – that is why we recommend you to visit Adriatic in December.
Chocolate introduction in Opatija
Already at the beginning of the month, Opatija will prepare a sweet introduction to joyful events of December – the Festival of Chocolate. Confectioners and hoteliers will open their doors to chocolate lovers, and chocolate promenade will tempt any passer-by to stop and taste those delicatessen. Apart from standard offer, visitors may see making of a giant cake, like the one, 12-meters-long, made last year. Spectators can also watch fascinating sprinkling of chocolate fountain or relax in luxurious chocolate treatments in wellness centers.
Burning of the old for the benefit of the new – tradition of the island of Vis
On the island of Vis you can take part in an ancient traditional ritual performed on Saint Nicholas Day. Generations back, Komiža has sent many sailors out into the world, so locals have dedicated quite a few rituals to St Nicholas, the patron saint of sailors. The tradition of ritual burning of ships is still very popular. Locals symbolically burn old ships to call good luck for all new ships and sailors. They burn traditional ship from Komiža – Falkuša. That old timer became widely popular at Lisbon's Expo 1998. A walk down the Komiža's waterfront in December takes you to the ancient times of burnt offerings. It is a place where you can enjoy peace and quiet of a small island town, avoiding summer crowd.
Grand finale of December in Christmas – New Year's fairytale
The rest of Advent on Adriatic, you can have fun at joyful Christmas fairs, dominated by holiday spirit. City streets and squares are full of colorful stands and alluring smell of mulled wine and sausages.
If you are staying in Croatia for Christmas, first relax on Christmas morning, and then run off to explore holiday customs in this part of Mediterranean sea. Strong Catholic influence, obvious in many local traditions, can be found in smaller places in churches of bigger towns. After a dosage of culture and meeting local customs, treat yourself with a cup of coffee on a sunny coast in mid December.
The last day of this year and the first day of 2012 can be celebrated on one of many squares, drinking champagne and dancing all night long by the rhythms of performers that guarantee great atmosphere. In big cities public New Year celebrations traditionally host the most famous Croatian singers. However, you can have a good time in any coffee bar, restaurant or hotel that organize unforgettable parties every year.
