Dear Friend,

I am delighted we have met here. I am Stella Vegas and I have been happily living in the Emerald Isle Ireland for  2 decades but I was born and grew up in a picturesque Mediterranean Croatia and for this special occasion I will take you on an exciting journey of discovering magic of Advent Spirit in Zagreb. 

Let’s, discover the joy of Advent in Zagreb and Licitar hearts together!!!

Zagreb, the magical city -that was once a desert was named after a legendary warrior king who with his thirsty army, after miraculously opening the cities spring by stabbing his sword in the sand in frustration - asked a local beauty, “Magda darling, won't you Grab me a glass of water!” - hence ZaGreb!

Source: večernji.hr Manduševac Fountain, one of the symbols of the city of Zagreb located on Ban Jelačić square

JOY OF ADVENT IN ZAGREB

While this city of miracles is a mystical journey any time of the year, in the time leading up to Christmas the numerous squares, parks and historic quarters transform into a magical Christmas fairy wonderland. All of the city sparkles with the glow of a hundred thousand different flickering lights (fairy and otherwise!) Christmas decorations, entrancing traditional music - turning the city into a Christmas playground, bringing Christmas spirit to life in your heart. The smells of spicy Christmas brandy cake, the sounds, the spirit will whisk you away...

Magic Wonderland

If you love to experience a rich culture with layer upon layer of cultural experiences, you will be utterly sated! Here there are concerts, art exhibitions, plays for the kids and a gallery of the nativity scene at all of Zagreb’s churches.

Your mind and heart will be captivated by this living dream, this fantasy Christmas wonderland, with enough festive cheer you could drown in it like a bee in honey... Voted the best Christmas fair in Europe five years in a row.

Advent in Zagreb 2022 is THE best award winning Christmas fair in Europe!

TRADITIONAL LICITAR HEART SYMBOL OF ZAGREB

Made of honey dough, is an explosion of mouth watering taste, bewildering colour, challenging the definition of a cake into a class of Christmas decoration that rivals “fine porcelain” - this is the fine art of icing decoration blended over honey dough decorated cake..

First made in the northwest of Croatia, for over 500 years, Lictars have a unique bright red glaze and unique patterns that grew into a symbol of Croatia. It has even been recognised by UNESCO as Croatia's heritage!

In Fact, Licitar, is a class of cake/decoration that is very much shrouded in mystery and secrecy, passed down traditionally strictly within gingerbread baker families, from the central and lowlands of Croatia.

These decorations, although entirely edible, are designed to delight the eye and bewitch the soul with their fine beauty. They are the traditional Christmas tree decorations of Croatia..They are traditionally bright red and produced in various traditional shapes and sizes such as: heart, cherry, doll, robins, mushrooms, horse shoe, small wreath and horses.

Larger ones are created as gifts.

The history goes back to the old convents in the middle ages when cakes were richly decorated in wooden moulds. The authentic licitar recipe is a closely guarded secret handed from generation to generation, and it has since become a craft industry from the Easter alps, to the Pannonian parts of Croatia. Licitar makers would make dough and wax gifts, gingerbread cakes, candles and wax candle votives and even drinks such cas grvic and mead!

These and licitars were sold at parish fairs on church festivals such as various saints days, along with mead of course!

This would provide that special festive feeling!

The City of a Million Hearts looks forward to sharing the joy and warmth of this special time of year with you.