This year, Čapljina will once again host the oldest and most numerous carnival event in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which has been bringing entertainment for all generations for 60 years, both in the south of our country and for visitors arriving from all over BiH, the Republic of Croatia and Montenegro.
The Croatian cultural and artistic society “Seljačka sloga” in Trebižat, Čapljina is organizing Christmas Days 2024 again this year, and the program will start on Sunday, February 4, in the Trebižat House of Culture at 6 p.m., when the Little masquerade will open the event.
The President of the Society, Miro Brajković, explained to Fena news agency that this traditional children’s event, with music, dance, mascots and gifts, will be completely adapted to children.
He further stated that the central part of the Great Masquerade – Carnival Fest will begin on Sunday, February 11, with a vigil in the morning, followed by the carnival procession in Trebižat and the welcoming of guests.
“Then the procession from Trebižat will head towards Čapljina, where numerous guests and schools will join us at the Čapljina Sports Center. Only the Vladimir Pavlović Elementary School will have over 500 participants, and there is also the Čapljina Kindergarten with over 100 participants, as well as numerous cultural and artistic societies from Čapljina and the surrounding area,” emphasized Brajković.
Handover of power and Marko Krnjeval
On that day, a large procession of 1,500 masked participants will move through the streets of Čapljina to King Tomislav Square, where the traditional handover program of the city government will begin.
“The masquerades take power into their own hands and raise the carnival flag. Next comes the indictment against ‘Marko Krnjeval’ for all that was not good in the past year. This is followed by the program of the participants of the ‘Carnival Fest – 2024.’ Trebižat-Čapljina, as well as the entertainment program,” he revealed.
On Shrove Tuesday, February 13, the final masquerade is organized when the participants return the keys to the city and go to a reception with the mayor of Čapljina, who is traditionally the patron of this event.
“In the evening at 7 pm in Trebižat, we organize a trial where we have the roles of judge, defense attorney, prosecutor, jury, etc. The trial is followed by the burning of ‘Marko Krnjeval’, followed by a masked ball. Then we are preparing a big party with the Tamburak band ‘Dukati’, and we will also give out prizes for the best masks,” he underlined.
Five seasons
As Brajković explained, in addition to the mentioned events, the organizers are also preparing a series of other events on other days, such as “caricaturing” the streets, in order to interest the public.
“Otherwise, this is a normal winter carnival. Most citizens have heard of tourist carnivals, which are usually summer, but this is the norm. It is no coincidence that it takes place in the winter months, when the event ends before Lent, before Clean Wednesday. By the way, we in Trebižat have five seasons: spring, summer, autumn, winter and masquerade. For masquerades, everyone prepares specially for the jubilee carnival. Our Society alone has more than seven groups that will be in the procession throughout these days,” he pointed out.
Referring to the carnivals of the countries in the region, Brajković said that Ljubuški has a 25-year tradition in organizing carnivals, Rijeka 41 years, while the contemporary carnival in Venice, such as the one in Trebižat, has a 45-year tradition. On the other hand, the carnival in Trebižat celebrates its 60th anniversary this year.
99 years of continuous work
In the end, Brajković clarified that HKUD “Seljačka sloga” Trebižat Čapljina is celebrating 99 years of continuous work this year, adding that each of their events is in symbiosis with the economy and tourism.
“We have a lot of friends all over Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the Republic of Croatia, Montenegro… All our events, the klapa festival, masquerades and concerts, are on a kind of triple border between Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Montenegro. Many of our friends participate in these events, and we, as an Association, are invited to their events as well,” concluded the President of the Association.
