Colors of Zagreb - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

Zagreb is famous for its colorful festivals and national holidays that attract curious tourists from all over the world. Experienced travelers have reasons when they call Zagreb "festival city". Numerous events take place there literally every month and are devoted to various themes. April is the traditional time for a festival called Music Biennial. This event attracts not only local and national groups, but also guests from foreign countries. In the beginning of summer Zagreb hosts Animation Festival. Surprisingly, this festival is popular not only among young visitors, but also among adults.

Fans of theater will be more impressed by Evrokaz festival, which is a true event of international significance. Summer Festival is one of the most prominent and well-known events not only in the country, but also beyond its borders. The event is accompanied by a number of interesting entertainment activities, concerts and theater performances, exhibitions and competitions. Puppet Theatre Festival is one more event worth your attention. This festival is usually held in the beginning of September and lasts for five days.

Today these events are held in various European cities, but the festival in Zagreb is considered one of the oldest. First puppet shows on the streets of the city started appearing yet in the early medieval period. This entertainment has not lost its popularity even many centuries later. The festival is traditionally attended by theater groups from different countries. During last hundred years the festival was attended by more than 500 theater groups. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The program of this exciting event will be of a great interest to spectators of all ages. Scenes are set in all major streets and squares, so visitors are free to attend one event after another. The festival is the time for interesting exhibitions, fairs and even master-classes, during which experienced puppet masters will teach visitors how to make dolls and control them.

In June Zagreb hosts the international flower exhibition called "Flora-art", which attracts not only experienced florists, but also many curious travelers. The variety of holidays is so big that even a great connoisseur of the local culture can get lost in them. A visit to any of the festivals mentioned and other national holidays will bring foreign visitors a lot of impressions and will help to evaluate rich culture of the local people.

Prior to visiting any country, it is better to learn more about the national character of its residents. Zagreb is no exception. Local people miraculously combine such contradictory traits as, for example, perfectionism and some indifference that is easy to mistake for laziness. They are diligent and relaxed at the same time. That said, they are very skilled in combining these characteristics, so they do their tasks flawlessly and are never late for an important meeting. This is one of the most unusual features of the national Croatian character. When dealing with tourists, local people might look somewhat reserved, but they are a lot more emotional with friends and family.

Residents of Zagreb can be relied upon in case or a problem. If someone has a Croatian friend, that person is lucky because Croatians always help their friends, no matter how hard that is. The wellbeing of their “inner circle” is very important to them. At the same time, tourists shouldn’t be afraid to seek help from locals. Zagreb residents will always help tourists and provide them with the necessary information. Just like in any country, religion and politics are “prohibited” themes that are better not to discuss with locals. When it comes to the national cuisine, consider trying Strukli (dough with various fillings like cottage cheese, cream, and eggs), various soups and meat dishes (Buncek – smoked shank boiled with natural juices and fermented cabbage). There are also many delicious dishes with mushrooms. Among desserts, consider trying Cremeschnitte (custard cream cake) and Zacher (chocolate cake).

Festivals, which take place in Croatia, are no less interesting. The largest music-related event in the capital of Croatia starts at the end of June. It is called INMUSIC. This is a popular event that gathers hundreds of electronic music fans in one place, and this place is Jarun Lake. Visitors are welcome to stay in a camping area and enjoy a mesmerizing holiday. Everyone will easily find music to fit their taste and listen to such genres as punk, indie, techno rave, and many others.

Zagreb International Folklore Festival is one more wonderful event in the capital of Croatia. For travelers, it is an excellent opportunity to learn more about local culture and admire its diversity. Croatian culture is multifaceted because many ethnic groups shaped it. The festival is a great chance to see that in person. Old music, traditional dancing, unforgettable theatrical performances, impressive master-classes, an unforgettable program for children, fair trade with fabulous hand-made items – lucky visitors of the festival can participate in all these events. Zagreb International Folklore Festival takes place in the middle of April on two scenes, namely, Trg bana Josipa Jelačića and Gornji Grad. Entrance is free.

Zagreb hosts three interesting events connected with cinema. First of all, it is important to mention the Zagreb Film Festival. This festival is divided into three sections – documental films, short films, and Croatian films. The cinema festival takes place in Kino Europa in the middle of October. The second festival dedicated to cinema is called Fantastic Zagreb Film Festival. This event is dedicated to such film genres as horror, mystics, and science fiction. As a rule, the festival takes place at the end of June or the beginning of July. Film screenings are made in the open-air scene of Tuškanac, Institut français de Zagreb and Kino Europa. The last but not the least, AnimaFest Zagreb is, as it is not hard to guess, dedicated to animated films. This festival takes place in Nova ves 18 and starts at the beginning of June.

The largest dancing event in the city takes place at the end of May or beginning of June. Because this festival has been held in Zagreb for decades, it has won love and dedication of hundreds of people around the world. It is called Dance Week Festival, and it takes place in Hrvatski Institut Za Pokret I Ples. Every year, hundreds of people gather to watch performances of professional dancers and participate in interesting master classes. Different outdoor activities are also frequent during the festival, so tourists and residents of the city are welcome to become a part of a colorful street festival that combines music, dancing, art, and sport.