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As well as the influence of the Venetian and Austrian civilian carnivals the six century-old carnival tradition of this area is the foundation on which the renewed Rijeka Carnival began to create its characteristic identity back in 1982. Starting with only three domestic carnival groups and around hundred participants it has turned into an international event which today, only during the International Carnival Parade, counts over ten thousand participants from around ten world countries.
The large number of participants and observers in 1995 ensured full membership of the Federation of European Carnival Cities for the Rijeka Carnival and selected it amongst the most important in Europe. The Rijeka Carnival is part of Croatian cultural heritage, the city of Rijeka, Primorsko-goranska County and the Republic of Croatia’s strong tourist trump both within the country and abroad, it is a favourite entertainment and sporting event for citizens of all generations and interests and because of this, is included in the “top 500 European events”, as well as, in 2007, in the 24 most exotic events in the world by the Sunday Times.
The Rijeka Carnival program which starts on 17th January and lasts until Ash-Wednesday gathers more than 20,000 participants and more than 600,000 domestic and foreign visitors. Large media companies watching both nationally and abroad, the occupancy of all accommodation capacities in Rijeka and its surrounding areas and an increased consumption in catering and commercial facilities out of season, have positioned the Rijeka Carnival as the 3rd largest in the world.
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Carnival madness begins its ritual with the Rijeka Carnival Queen Pageant and the handover of the town’s keys to the Master of the Carnival. Concerts, exhibitions, shows, masquerades and parties fill the days until the jewel in the crown of the carnival celebrities – the huge masked parade. Competitions in imaginativeness, humour and originality, fireworks of colours and shapes result in a parade of hundreds of allegorical floats, thousands of masks and an uncountable number of observers.
Challenging the weather and space, the Rijeka Carnival is a friendly host for every willing human who is looking for an escape from sullen everyday life in play, laughter and fun.
Traditions
This area’s shrove-tide tradition dates back to prehistoric times. Through the inclusion of the local population, Shrove-tide has become interpreted as a Carnival and has become a traditional way of having fun, relaxing and reacting to life.
Shrove-tide customs in this area have origins which date back to ancient times, when, according to popular legend, the so called “Ugly masks”, by their rumpus joy, chased away evil forces, evoking the spring and celebrating the birth of new life. The bellringer we can see today is identical to the one who, some centuries ago, defended his land from the Ottoman invasion.
A hundred years ago, Rijeka lived its carnival life more intensely than any other city in this part of Europe. Carnival parades and carnival balls were organized in which the Austrian and Hungarian aristocracy, Russian princesses, German barons, countesses and counts from all over Europe took part. Shows such as, for example, a very suggestive "Flowers holiday" were organized in the theatre, where the stage and orchestra would become a huge dancing hall.
Today we find ourselves in the situation not only of preserving tradition, but of creating it by ourselves too. We create it through new adventures, parties, masks and new periods. We do this in an organized and imaginative way, adjusted to contemporary conditions.
When, in 1982, three masked groups (the "Lako ćemo" carnival group, the "Pehinarski feštari" carnival group and the "Halubje Bellringers" carnival group) passed through the Korzo pedestrian street organised by the Rijeka Tourist Board (Municipality of Rijeka Tourist Association), nobody foresaw the range this would take over the years, which has already become traditional International Rijeka Carnival. In 1990, the masked parade on Korzo Street was followed by 80,000 people, and in 1994 it was a real masquerade spectacle with 100,000 observers and around 4,000 domestic and foreign masks which was the cause of Rijeka accepting full membership of the Federation of European Carnival Cities –FECC in 1995. In carnival parades of the Rijeka Carnival in 2001 72 children’s carnival groups took part with 4,200 participants on the Children's Carnival Parade and in the International Carnival Parade 144 carnival adult groups also participated with 10,000 participants from 12 world countries which were observed by 110,000 observers. With that the Rijeka Carnival affirmed itself as one of the largest in Europe.
Carnival events in the city of Rijeka are a characteristic bond of European civil carnivals, above all, the Venetian and Austrian ones as well as the folklore elements and old Slavic mythology. Emerged in a hundred year-old tradition, the International Rijeka Carnival, in the past few years, has given the city of Rijeka, the region and Croatia itself a recognizable event and an impressive happening to which many masks, organized carnival groups, participants, observers and media, as well as many domestic and foreign guests respond.
Shrove-tide customs in this area have origins which date back to ancient times, when, according to popular legend, the so called “Ugly masks”, by their rumpus joy, chased away evil forces, evoking the spring and celebrating the birth of new life. The bellringer we can see today is identical to the one who, some centuries ago, defended his land from the Ottoman invasion.
A hundred years ago, Rijeka lived its carnival life more intensely than any other city in this part of Europe. Carnival parades and carnival balls were organized in which the Austrian and Hungarian aristocracy, Russian princesses, German barons, countesses and counts from all over Europe took part. Shows such as, for example, a very suggestive "Flowers holiday" were organized in the theatre, where the stage and orchestra would become a huge dancing hall.
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Today we find ourselves in the situation not only of preserving tradition, but of creating it by ourselves too. We create it through new adventures, parties, masks and new periods. We do this in an organized and imaginative way, adjusted to contemporary conditions.
When, in 1982, three masked groups (the "Lako ćemo" carnival group, the "Pehinarski feštari" carnival group and the "Halubje Bellringers" carnival group) passed through the Korzo pedestrian street organised by the Rijeka Tourist Board (Municipality of Rijeka Tourist Association), nobody foresaw the range this would take over the years, which has already become traditional International Rijeka Carnival. In 1990, the masked parade on Korzo Street was followed by 80,000 people, and in 1994 it was a real masquerade spectacle with 100,000 observers and around 4,000 domestic and foreign masks which was the cause of Rijeka accepting full membership of the Federation of European Carnival Cities –FECC in 1995. In carnival parades of the Rijeka Carnival in 2001 72 children’s carnival groups took part with 4,200 participants on the Children's Carnival Parade and in the International Carnival Parade 144 carnival adult groups also participated with 10,000 participants from 12 world countries which were observed by 110,000 observers. With that the Rijeka Carnival affirmed itself as one of the largest in Europe.
Carnival events in the city of Rijeka are a characteristic bond of European civil carnivals, above all, the Venetian and Austrian ones as well as the folklore elements and old Slavic mythology. Emerged in a hundred year-old tradition, the International Rijeka Carnival, in the past few years, has given the city of Rijeka, the region and Croatia itself a recognizable event and an impressive happening to which many masks, organized carnival groups, participants, observers and media, as well as many domestic and foreign guests respond.
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International Carnival Parade
The International Carnival Parade is the jewel in the crown of the carnival festivities on the Kvarner and even further afield. Competitions in imaginativeness, humour and originality, fireworks of colours and shapes result with a parade of hundreds of allegorical floats, thousands of masks and uncountable number of domestic and foreign observers.
Since the day it was organised for the first time, in 1982, by the Rijeka Tourist Board, the renewed Rijeka Carnival has, in the best possible way, continued with the tradition of masking of more centuries in the coastal area of Croatia and has placed the city on the Rječina River amongst the most important European carnival cities. When, in 1982, three masked groups (the "Lako ćemo" carnival group , the "Pehinarski feštari" carnival group and the "Halubje Bellringers" carnival group ) passed through the Korzo pedestrian street, nobody foresaw the range this would take over the years, which has already become traditional International Rijeka Carnival, within which the International Carnival Parade is only one of the programs of this important event which every year brings together larger number of participants and audiences both from Croatia and from abroad.
Today we find ourselves in the situation not only to preserve the tradition, but to create it by ourselves as well. We create it through new adventures, parties, masks and new periods. We do that in an organized and imaginative way, in step with contemporary conditions. The International Carnival Parade is a muster of traditional and urban carnival groups which operate as citizen societies and by means of their masks try to retrospect actual social events.
Nowhere in the world will you be able to experience such a characteristic bond of European civil carnivals based on historical and cultural customs and folklore elements with mythology so be whatever you want, come to the Rijeka Carnival!
The Rijeka Carnival is hard to describe in words or conjure up with photos or television broadcasts. The Rijeka Carnival must be experienced and passed through! So we invite you all to the Rijeka Carnival – where you can be whatever you want!
Since the day it was organised for the first time, in 1982, by the Rijeka Tourist Board, the renewed Rijeka Carnival has, in the best possible way, continued with the tradition of masking of more centuries in the coastal area of Croatia and has placed the city on the Rječina River amongst the most important European carnival cities. When, in 1982, three masked groups (the "Lako ćemo" carnival group , the "Pehinarski feštari" carnival group and the "Halubje Bellringers" carnival group ) passed through the Korzo pedestrian street, nobody foresaw the range this would take over the years, which has already become traditional International Rijeka Carnival, within which the International Carnival Parade is only one of the programs of this important event which every year brings together larger number of participants and audiences both from Croatia and from abroad.
Today we find ourselves in the situation not only to preserve the tradition, but to create it by ourselves as well. We create it through new adventures, parties, masks and new periods. We do that in an organized and imaginative way, in step with contemporary conditions. The International Carnival Parade is a muster of traditional and urban carnival groups which operate as citizen societies and by means of their masks try to retrospect actual social events.
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Nowhere in the world will you be able to experience such a characteristic bond of European civil carnivals based on historical and cultural customs and folklore elements with mythology so be whatever you want, come to the Rijeka Carnival!
The Rijeka Carnival is hard to describe in words or conjure up with photos or television broadcasts. The Rijeka Carnival must be experienced and passed through! So we invite you all to the Rijeka Carnival – where you can be whatever you want!
Children's Carnival parade
The Children’s Carnival Parade is a carnival event in which the younger generation from Croatia and abroad take part, when a river of children in colourful masked parades flood Rijeka’s Korzo.
Numerous characters from fairytales flood the city and on that day they are the Rijeka Carnival’s main attractions for which numerous visitors from all over the world come here.
They represent the guarantee and the promise that the carnival tradition will never be forgotten in this area and will live for a long time transmitting the spirit of masquerading to future generations who will learn to appreciate their ancestors’ heritage.
Numerous characters from fairytales flood the city and on that day they are the Rijeka Carnival’s main attractions for which numerous visitors from all over the world come here.
They represent the guarantee and the promise that the carnival tradition will never be forgotten in this area and will live for a long time transmitting the spirit of masquerading to future generations who will learn to appreciate their ancestors’ heritage.
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Queen pageant of Rijeka's carnival
Carnival madness in Rijeka starts its ritual with the Rijeka Carnival Queen Pageant and the handover of the town keys to the Master of the Carnival. Through this event, which over the last couple of years has taken place in the Youth Sports Hall, the Carnival will formally get the most charming spokeswoman of masked groups. In front of a crowded Youth Sports Hall, with a special musical and scenic spectacle, from where the carnival group’s spokeswomen, the Rijeka Carnival Queen will be elected who will participate in all formal Rijeka Carnival presentations.
Within the program, by means of the ceremonial handover of the town keys by the Mayor to the hands of the “Carnival Mayor” with an adequate entertainment program, the Rijeka Carnival will formally be opened. From that moment on, the masks rule and all worries are forgotten. The celebration and the rich cultural and entertainment program begin. Rijeka's FIFITH SEASON is on its way!!!
Within the program, by means of the ceremonial handover of the town keys by the Mayor to the hands of the “Carnival Mayor” with an adequate entertainment program, the Rijeka Carnival will formally be opened. From that moment on, the masks rule and all worries are forgotten. The celebration and the rich cultural and entertainment program begin. Rijeka's FIFITH SEASON is on its way!!!
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