Božićno razdoblje u dugopoljskoj tradicijskoj kulturnoj baštini
Christmas time in the traditional cultural heritage of Dugopolje

Summary/Abstract: The paper deals with the annual folk customs in Dugopolje that are related to holidays and commemorations during the Christmas period. The Christmas period lasts twelve days during which the people celebrate Christmas, St. Stephen the First Martyr, St. John the Apostle, Holy Innocents’ Day, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day and the Epiphany, all of which abound in both religious and secular customs in which the pre-Christian elements can be found. Religious customs are manifested through prayers, blessed water, going to the midnight mass and masses in general, lighting the candles. Lighting and the maintenance of fire, Christmas hay, Christmas pastries and bread, Christmas lunch, blessed water, customs and processions related to the laymen, as well as the ashes of the unburned Christmas yule log have an apotropaic and panspermic character. Giving children gifts for Christmas and New Year’s Day, as well as the whipping of the children’s foot soles on the Holy Innocents’ Day are of an educational nature. The deceased family members are also honored through prayers and candle lighting. With the help of scientifi c literature, the original field records collected in the Municipality of Dugopolje in the period from 2016 to 2022 are interpreted and analyzed.

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