Croatia's Good Friday traditions unite communities

Good Friday, the Friday before Easter, was observed across Croatia with fasting and other religious and traditional rites and customs, and one of the most famous customs is "Behind the Cross", a Catholic procession on the southern Croatian island of Hvar.

"Behind the Cross", a procession that starts every Maundy Thursday on Hvar, ended in the morning of Good Friday. Six simultaneous processions were organised in Jelsa, Pitve, Vrisnik, Svirče, Vrbanj and Vrboska, CE Report quotes HINA.

They are led by barefoot bearers carrying ancient crosses weighing between 10 and 18 kg, walking along a 25-kilometre route for a night of contemplation and prayer through the other settlements. Finally, the processions complete their circular route, arriving back where they started about 07:00 on Good Friday. During the procession, chosen singers, that is "kantaduri", sing "Gospin plač" ("Lamentation of Virgin Mary"), which is an octosyllabic Passion text from the 15th century. The centuries-old pious custom, called "Za Križen" in Croatian, was added to UNESCO's intangible heritage list in 2009.

Lenten meals

The City of Vinkovci and local unionists once again organised their traditional distribution of a Lenten meal - fish and potato salad - for citizens on Good Friday.

“This is a lovely tradition that has been going on for many years. On the eve of the greatest Christian holiday, we share a Lenten meal - fish and potato salad - with our fellow citizens. It’s also a wonderful opportunity for us to come together, talk, and strengthen what matters most - our sense of community. In that spirit of unity, I wish all our citizens a happy and blessed Easter,” said Josip Romić, Deputy Mayor of Vinkovci.

Similar events took place in the main square of some other towns and municipalities.