Croatian Intangible Cultural Heritage (UNESCO) (C)

Festivities of Saint Tryphon and the Kolo (chain dance) of Saint Tryphon
Festivities of Saint Tryphon and the Kolo of Saint Tryphon are the traditional features of Boka Croats who moved from the Bay of Kotor to Croatia. Festivities of Saint Tryphon are dedicated to Saint Tryphon, the patron saint of the Diocese of Kotor and the people of Boka. The Boka Croats brought the tradition with them to Croatia, where they have preserved it for generations. The bearers of this UNESCO-listed heritage are “The Boka Navy 809” Croatian Fraternities from Zagreb, Rijeka, Split, Pula and Dubrovnik.

Saint Tryphon is an early Christian saint born in 232 in Kampsada (Asia Minor). He died a martyr’s death in 250 during the reign of Emperor Decius. He was executed for his strong faith after declaring and confessing: “I am a free man, and by conviction, a Christian”. He is especially admired in Kotor, where a cathedral was built in his honor in 1166. The Boka Croats continued to admire their saint after settling in Croatia, where today around 10,000 members of this community reside. The relics of Saint Tryphon were brought to Kotor on 13 January 809. He is celebrated on 3 February.

The spirituality of the Boka people is inextricably linked to the veneration of Saint Tryphon. Their traditional identity is seen in the celebrations involving the Boka Navy. It is the oldest seafaring fraternity in the Mediterranean. According to tradition, it was found in 809 – the year when Saint Tryphon’s arrival in Kotor was recorded. This is a fraternity that has retained its mostly religious character to this day. The Boka Navy established its branches in Croatia in 1965 in Zagreb, Rijeka and Split. Today, these are known as “The Boka Navy 809” Croatian Fraternities. Today, the Croatian fraternities also operate in Pula and Dubrovnik. Through their efforts, Saint Tryphon is celebrated in the locations where they are active in Croatia.

The celebrations of Saint Tryphon are centered around the Holy Mass. The Boka Navy traditionally participates in the procession, honoring the patron saint by performing the Kolo of Saint Tryphon and offering thanks delivered by the small admiral. Sailors, officers and non-commissioned officers in the colorful uniforms of the Boka Navy line up on that day and participate in the celebration. Before the Holy Mass, the small admiral, a boy aged 8 to 12 who is part of the Boka Navy unit, gives thanks (lode) to Saint Tryphon. Through the lode, the small admiral addresses the patron saint on behalf of the entire community and conveys the message of the faithful people. In Kotor, the small admiral delivers the lode from the balcony of the cathedral on 27 January, while in the communities in Croatia, the lode are made from the altar before the start of the Holy Mass.

Another key element in showing devotion to the patron saint is the Kolo (chain dance) of Saint Tryphon, which is a popular expression of piety. The privilege of participating in and performing the Kolo belongs only to the members of the Croatian Fraternities “The Boka Navy 809”, as well as the Boka Navy in Kotor. According to tradition, the Kolo was first performed back in 809 in Kotor, when overjoyed sailors, upon the arrival of the relics of the patron saint, Saint Tryphon, performed a dance or a folk game in celebration. Since then, the Boka Navy has been performing the dance in honor of Saint Tryphon, which is why it is called the “Kolo of Saint Tryphon.” It can also be performed on special occasions, such as religious holidays or national celebrations. In the past, the Kolo was performed around the relics of the saint in the Cathedral of Saint Tryphon. Today, it takes place in front of the cathedral or in the church where the Mass dedicated to the patron saint is celebrated.

The Kolo begins with a blessing from the bishop or priest, which is requested by the leader of the Koloon behalf of the Boka Navy. The scenes from the Kolo symbolize the community’s spirituality, while some of the more complex formations reflect the maritime life and traditions of the Boka people. The traditions of the Boka Croats in Croatia, recognized as intangible cultural heritage, are a symbol of the continuity and identity of Boka community in Croatia. They are crucial for preserving the identity of the community, and their continuation and transmission to new generations ensure that the rich history and traditions of the Boka people continue to live on into the future.

Tomislav Brguljan, univ. spec. iur

The art of falconry
Falconry has been recognized by the Croatian Ministry of Culture as intangible cultural heritage. It is also inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. In our country, falconry has a documented history lasting over a thousand years. At the court of King Petar Krešimir IV in the year 1070, the falconer Apricije held such a high rank that he had judicial authority and the right to use a seal. Moreover, the word sokolar (falconer) is one of the oldest Croatian words written in the Latin script, found in the so-called Confirmation of Radovan’s Charter from the year 1070. Legend also mentions a falconer at the coronation of King Tomislav in 925 – exactly 1100 years ago.

The beauty of birds of prey has captured the human imagination since the dawn of mankind. Neanderthals, our predecessors, had a special relationship with birds of prey. In a cave near Krapina, they made a necklace from eagle talons 130,000 years ago. Today, this one of a kind necklace is housed in the Natural History Museum in Zagreb. All civilizations that have lived in the territory of Croatia have left artistic depictions of birds of prey. These would often feature falconry hunts as well. Birds of prey symbolized the power of kings and deities. They were used as motifs in jewelry, paintings and sculptures. Family coats of arms, house facades, city names, as well as coins and money, often feature the names or depictions of falcons, eagles and hawks.

A part of the cultural heritage is also the folk tradition that dates back to pre-Christian times. It mentions the supreme Slavic god Perun, who in the form of an eagle sits on the tree of life, while beneath its roots hides the dragon of the god Veles. Even more fascinating and valuable is the old Croatian song that describes the god Jarilo hunting with a greyhound and a falcon. In the territory of our country, various deities were worshipped and the ruling power often changed. Celts, Illyrians, Japodes, Liburnians, Huns, Avars, Romans, Byzantines, Italians, Austrians and Hungarians are just some of the peoples who have left valuable artistic works in Croatia. Thanks to this, we have prehistoric pieces of jewelry adorned with birds of prey, Roman eagle on coins and military regalia, the eagle of Zeus from the Roman city of Asseria near Benkovac, Byzantine capitals of columns in the Euphrasian Basilica in Poreč, and in the Dalmatian hinterland, Bogomil stećci (medieval tombstones) with incredible sculptures of falconry hunts. In Catholic churches, the eagle often symbolizes St. John. Artistic depictions of falconers and falconry hunts are preserved in the collections of the most renowned cultural institutions, such as archaeological, historical and city museums, galleries, archives, libraries, as well as in the Glyptotheque of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts.

The oldest preserved Croatian depiction of a bird of prey is found on the side of the altar of an early Christian church in Zadar and dates back to the 11th century. The depiction of a horseman hunting with a bird of prey on his arm, found on an 11th-century stećak, is a pure artistic expression. In Split, in the Hrvoje’s Missal from 1404, there is a famous image of a falconer riding a horse, with a hunting dog and a falcon on his arm. In the same city, Marko Marulić, in his Judita from 1521, provided a nearly identical description: “The falconers rode (…), grey falcons perched on their arms, greyhounds and hunting dogs ran alongside them.” The Republic of Dubrovnik bought its freedom to trade in the Mediterranean by acquiring falcons, which were trained by the falconers of Dubrovnik. Detailed records of this can be found in the Dubrovnik archives.

From the 19th century, there is a drawing from 1878 by the French artist Ferdinand Quiquerez that depicts a young man in Slavonia with a hawk on his left arm, equipped with falconry jesses. At the beginning of the 20th century, newspapers published a photograph and article about the Zagreb falconer, Mr. Oskar Furmin. Falconry is called an “art” because it involves the delicate weaving of emotions between a human and a wild animal – trust, respect and dedication. We live in an era that is ideal for falconry. Since 1994, falconry has been included in the Hunting Act. The tradition has been preserved and has not changed much since the time of Frederick II or Kublai Khan. The equipment has remained the same – glove, jesses and hood.

Breeders in Croatia successfully raise falcons, hawks and eagles. They are available to everybody who is interested. Licensed mentors now prepare candidates for falconry exams, but it wasn’t always like that – falconry was once a privilege reserved only for certain social classes. Thanks to the new favorable conditions, falconry in Croatia is progressing quickly, attracting new members and gaining positive public attention.

Vitold Košir, academic sculptor and falconer