Discovering the Dubrovnik Christmas Fair
Dubrovnik in Croatia is a wonderful place to be at Christmas. With stalls set up in the town square, traditional festive customs and homes twinkling with lighted decorations, it’s safe to say that Christmas in Dubrovnik is well worth experiencing.
The town bustles with locals parading through the streets, mixing with visitors in a wonderfully warm and welcoming manner. The stalls display all kinds of traditional arts and crafts, plus delicious food and gifts for visitors to take home as presents. These are very often handmade items and certainly not mass produced. This wonderful Christmas market starts from around the 3rd December and continues until the second week in January and is open every day from 10 am till early evening.
The stalls are often covered with old Dalmatian traditional cloths and handmade small carvings, worked with simple tools that have been used for centuries, can be purchased to hang from your Christmas tree. The craftsmen are often working on site, so you can watch the skill that has been handed down through the families.
Small kiosks sell home-produced local cookies and sweet savouries, such as Brustulan mjenduli, which are sugar-coated almonds. Other delicacies include quince jellies and light crunchy fritters, ideal when washed down with some delicious local mulled wine.
The traditional market is not the only entertainment on offer. There are Christmas carols on the church steps, from both professional ensembles and children’s choirs. Dancing is not left out, as there are performances from various troupes and impromptu efforts from the locals.
The religious aspect is very important and tied in with the traditions of the area. Families gather not only for feasting but also for prayer and celebration of the meaning of Christmas.
If you want somewhere different to go during the festive period, somewhere full of traditional ambience, then Dubrovnik may just be the answer.