Guide: all countries » Croatia » Pag Island » Traditions and festivals

Colors of Pag Island - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

Croats are people of contradictions. Pag is filled with relaxed atmosphere and laziness. A taxi driver can talk on the phone and sing songs while driving a car. A manicurist can comment on a TV programme and chat with a friend during the working process. A shop assistant can talk with her friend in the workplace. However, even if a taxi driver is talking on the phone while driving a car, he will take you to the right place. A relaxed manicurist will make a perfect manicure and a shop assistant will count the change quickly and accurately.
Excursion over cultural sights of Pag Island - 'must visit' points of interest
Despite the fact that the island reached its heyday in the middle ages, archaeological findings show that it was inhabited in the ancient times. All of the main amazing buildings are … Open
If a local inhabitant says that he will fulfil your request tomorrow, the next day he will say the same thing. Croats love to promise to do something «tomorrow» and this promise drifts into never. Tomorrow never comes here. People think that this peculiarity makes Croats careless people. Croats don’t like to say «no» and they don’t like to tell tourists that they break rules or don’t follow some traditions or customs. If you are going to visit a reserved territory or private land, nobody will hint at the need for getting permission to enter there.
Most of the locals treat tourists with cold European courtesy. It is obvious because tourists bring a lot of money to the country. Locals provide high service to the foreigners, but they will never tolerate rudeness and go beyond the official duties. Croats are very scrupulous in matters of their private land. If you have accidentally come to someone’s private land, the owner of this place will be rude with you. While walking in Pag settlements, remember that locals are very religious people. Despite the fact that Pag is called «Croatian Ibiza», you shouldn’t walk in the centre of Pag or Novalja without clothes. You will be condemned by the locals and you can even get a fine in the main settlements. Copyright www.orangesmile.com
Your active city break in Pag Island. Attractions, recreation and entertainment - best places to spend your day and night here
Pag is a perfect place for those who love long walks. There are several routes of different difficulty on the island. You can go for a short walk for a couple of hours or go on a camping … Open
Croats are patriots and they love their homeland, they follow customs and traditions. During a wedding, relatives of the groom take off the bride’s veil and clothe her in an apron and a scarf. Family is the basis of the social structure in Croatia. Family ties are very important for locals and weekends are considered to be family time. Some of the inhabitants still have traditional costumes. They wear costumes on different holidays such as Christmas, Easter and Independence Day.
Pag The Winter Carnival is the most famous holiday on Pag. It begins after the Epiphany. Three days festival attracts not only locals but also Croats from other parts of the country and tourists. The Summer Carnival is oriented on tourists. It is held on the last weekend of July. The festival was made to show the culture of the island and its traditional cuisine. Pag Art Festival is held here since 1999. Artists from all over the world come here to perform and show their music. However, you can get introduced to folk music in small settlements of Pag. A typical evening in a local Croatian village is filled with traditional songs and ballads about Croatian famous characters.
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National traditions of Croatia

Croatian folk music is very beautiful and unique. It contains elements of cultures of different nationalities, including Serbs, Gypsies, and Italians. Music originates from Slavic folklore; its foundations were laid back in the 7th century. One of the most famous national musical instruments is a tambour, which is a kind of a mandolin. Songs about love and hard rural life are sung with such an accompaniment. A tambour or gypsy violins accompany kolo, which is a local dance. It looks spectacular when dancers wear bright national costumes of red and white colors. Despite the fact that traditional clothes were no longer worn since the 19th century, Croatians like to dress up in beautiful costumes on holidays to pay tribute to their history. Croatia is a quiet country. The rhythm of life is pretty calm. The locals, even in large cities, do not rush anywhere. The Croats are very hospitable. However, if tourists accidentally wander into the private property or touch upon a national question, Croats may behave aggressively and even bump a stranger. Croats like to go countryside with their family. As a rule, large companies gather there. The rest is accompanied by a noise and fun. Another distinguishing feature of the Croats is the Corzo event. Every evening, locals go for a walk along the main streets of the cities. People demonstrate their beautiful outfits and assess the appearance of other people. … Open

Traditions and festivals in cities around Pag Island

Rab Island
The island still has some traditional customs. For example, the groom’s parents, like hundreds of years ago, take a veil from a bride during a wedding ceremony and clothe her in an apron and kerchief as a sign of status change. Despite the fact that national ... Open »
Losinj Island
Note that it is customary to bargain not only in the markets but even in small coastal cafes and shops. The main thing is not to push – the Croats, unlike the Asians, see the trade not as a competition but as a process that brings mutual pleasure. Local women often ... Open »
Zadar
Travelers are usually attracted not only by numerous places of interest of Zadar, but also by its rich calendar of cultural events. Throughout a year the city hosts many interesting holidays, festivals and fairs, visiting which will be interesting to every tourist. Late ... Open »
Krk
Holiday guests could learn about the most important events in the history of the island and get acquainted with the national culture and traditions of local people. The festival program is full of colorful carnivals and solemn parades, musical and theatrical ... Open »
Cres
Local inhabitants don’t like when anybody enters their private territory. If you have occasionally come to someone’s private land, a nice and polite local can be rude with you. Remember that it is not customed in Croatia to say «no». But don’t be so happy if ... Open »
Murter
For example, a taxi driver can talk on the phone while driving, but he will take you to the right place without any accidents. A hairdresser can discuss philosophical questions with her friend and watch series during the working process, but you will get a perfect ... Open »
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