«Vinkovacke jeseni» is a folklore festival of national importance, and also the largest festival of its kind in this part of Europe. It first took place back in 1966, being immediately accepted by the locals as mainstage for the cultural legacy not only of local people, but also of entire Croatia and a number of foreign countries.
................................................................................................................................
The treasure of authentic culture is imponderable
The national folk festival is a true delight for the people who understand value of tradition. She's fluid, substantial, she fills your heart and soul with joy and remains trapped there. Two separated parts (in which every folk ensemble had an 8 minute show) showed 250 minutes of diverse performances on a beautiful stage, that the audience had an opportunity to enjoy in many different ways.
Danijel Sota, organizer and director of National folk festival this year's 44. Vinkovacke jeseni emphasizes that representation of counties and region affects on selection of performing folk groups, but the most important is representation of all folklore zones. Zones of Dinara, Adriatic islands, Posavina, Podravina, Alpes represented 32 folklore groups, while Panonia was represented by folk groups from 4 counties. It's important to point out that it's very difficult to equally plead every part of Croatia , but first of all, we attempted to keep the highest level of quality of one folklore ensemble.
The art director of Vinkovacke jeseni, Ivan Ivancan, points out that, in terms of quality, it is difficult to say which group is the best, because every year the best is selected on regional festivals in whole Croatia. According to that, it is a new representation not only of Croatia, but also of the neighbour countries inhabited by Croats.( Herzegovina, Vojvodina, Montenegro). It is festival that chose groups with top quality, but only the ones which haven't performed on Vinkovacke jeseni in the previous two years in order to show the most diverse heritage possible. Furthermore, the groups are not connected by a single idea, the main idea is to present the beauty and characteristics of the many fields of Croatian music tradition
It is essential to point out that Croatia, in terms of cultural tradition beauty, represents a world rarity-so many diverse customs, songs, costumes... The reasons for that are geographical, this is an area where mountains and sea collide, there is a wide lowlands, and in terms of climate and relief, those are very diverse conditions that forced people to live in different ways. Throughout history, in this area many people came into touch, which has also reflected in customs that were mixed.
44. Vinkovacke jeseni did very well. Interest for tradition is not decreasing, in some parts of Croatia we can even find new interest for keeping national heritage alive. Mr. Ivancan presents 45. Vinkovacke jeseni and hopes that comitee will do even better job next year, and collect folklore groups that presents diversity of Croatia even better.
...........................................................................................................................
Best folklore groups on Folklore evenings
Commitee of Vinkovacke jeseni has decided that two folklore groups which participated on 44. Vinkovacke jeseni' Folklore evenings deserve to be called the best. Folklore ensemble "Seljacka sloga" from Nustar that performed traditional custom "dojdole", and folklore group "Seljacka sloga" , perfroming carnival practice, coming from Slakovci.
The thing that made difference between winners and the rest is precisely performed methods of singing, harmoniously wearing of traditional clothes, compatible music ambience and well synchronized performance.
It is good to emphasize that this year's „Folkore nights" gained expected high level, and all folklore groups fulfiled their contribution in all aspects of folklore expression. 2010. is a new chance for many folklore ensembles from County of Vukovar-Srijem to show their improvement. and astonish us
..........................................................................................................................
''We will preserve your customs''
It is a verse from an old Slavonian chant. His value is recognized, and is a part of many songs, it brings in these ''Falls'' a value to the whole manifestation. The purpose of '' Vinkovačkih jeseni'' is to preserve authentic culture and folklore customs., and this year, and it's economical situation are offering a view to that part of our essence. Croatian customs from whole country, and other areas that are populated by Croatians, are finding their place in an event of Ceremonial Opening of this year's ''Jeseni''. It is authorized by a long-standing scenarist Ana Cvenić (this is her 10th scenarium), on the stage, on the dr. Franjo Tuđman's square, will be found, above all, scenes of customs from Slavonija, Baranja and Srijem.
The main theme of the manifestation is love, in al it's beauty and range from courtship under the window, to love-making in the vineyard, visiting young man's family, to see if it's good enough for the girl to marry with him, moreska, traditional dance, presenting love to woman and religion, and, moving maiden stuff to husband's house (one week before wedding).
The second motive is handkerchief. Slavonian girls were stitching handkerchiefs after fourth grade, and giving them to the boys (they may also steal them). That means they're engaged. People from Korcula wipe sweat, and sometimes also blood, after demonstration of warlike custom.
That motives will be enirched with the songs of womens singing group «Nene» from Bosnjaci, and «Izipci» drom Topolje, Rokovci-Andijasevci, Ceric, klapa singing group «Pulen» from Korcula, man singing group «Lipa» from Vinkovci. Besides mentioned groups, on the Opnening ceremony will perform «Berde band», «Prijatelji», «Bosutski becari», «Savski valovi» and Sinisa Miklauzic, also solists Krunoslav Kico Slabinac, Miroslav Zivkovic and Đani Stipanicev. Like every year, the actors will demonstrate all the customs relevant for the manifestation, and this year perform Vjekoslav Jankovic, Mile Ognjenovic, Ana Stanojevic, Sandra Loncaric - Tankosic, Tatjana Bertok - Zupkovic, Darko Milas, Josipa Turi, Marko Sabljakovic, Jasenko Ivanetic and Mata Baboselac-Misin. This year's 44. vinkovacke jeseni will magnify various practices in the best way.
..........................................................................................................................
"Vinkovci's artists" exhibition opening tonight
Art gallery "Slavko Kopac" contributes every year to Vinkovci's art life during Vinkovacke jeseni. Exhibition "Vinkovci's artists", from Vinkovci's art gallery fundus, represents work of artists born in Vinkovci, were significant in Vinkovci's art life, or left a trace in their peregrination through Vinkovci.
The exhibition includes works from period of 1890.-2009. Collection is still expanding with new works by repurchases and donations through latest 60 years. Authors of the exibition emphasize that the main aim is isolate the past considered like someting valuable. 46 authors participate in this exhibition, but quantity of their work is not equally represented. Reasons can be found in quality of the author, significance they have or have had in Croatian art history. You can see works of Slavko Kopac, Vanja Radaus, Ivan Krizanac, Dubravko Matakovic, Stjepan Jozic and Ivan Domac.
Opening will be tonight, September 10. at 8pm, in "Slavko Kopac" art gallery.
.............................................................................................................................
120 exhibitors on Autumn handicrafts and economy fair
This year's Autumn handicrafts fair, as part of Vinkovacke jeseni, will gather over 120 exhibitors from Croatia and neighbour countries. This event is prior intented for craftsmen of Vinkovci and County of Vukovar-Srijem, but its potential is recognised by many other institutions and economists from Croatia and abroad. Mayor Mladen Karlic emphasized that this event wants to provide cooperation and partnership among enterpreneurs, as well as presenting of their products.
.............................................................................................................................
Bojan Jambrosic in Vinkovci
Bojan Jambrosic, young Croatian pop star is coming to Vinkovci. Bojan will spend a few hours at INFO bench of PRESS center of Vinkovacke jeseni, on Saturday 5, at 11.30am. It's a great opportunity for young fans to meet their favourite singer, take photograph or get autograph. That will be only introduction to the concert he'll have on Sunday, September 6., at 13.00, after Childrens Vinkovacke jeseni.
............................................................................................................................
Traditional handcrafts fair will gather the largest number of exibitors
The park on the Ban Sokcevic's square is a place for the traditional handcrafts fair, during September 4.-13. 50 benches will be situated in the center of the park, and through the pedestrian zone. Handcrafts, hand made wooden traditional products, pictured bottles and bulbs, diverse handworks, slippers, food - homemade buns and jams, leather bags and diverse traditional products. Craftsmen come from Vinkovci, Vrbanja, Slavonsko Brod, Zupanja, Dakovo, Bošnjak, Ivankovo, Sikirevci, Slakovci, Donji Miholjac, Osijek.
...........................................................................................................................
The Cermonial parade on the move
On Sunday, September 13., all the participants will take part in The ceremonial parade from the town's market of Vinkovci. It will begin at 9.30am and they will move through Kralj Zvonimir's street, to the recently restored pedestrian zone. At that point, horse riders and horse carriagesre going in their own direction, and pedestrians are headed to the Ban Sokcevic's square where they meet again. 2500 participants of the Ceremonial Parade will walk through pedestrian zone, and horse riders are going into Istria street, than into Ban Jelacic's street, and finnaly, together with the all participants, heading to the gala stage on the Dr. Franjo Tudman's square. The new thing this year is that, all the participants will come to the support court of CFC Cibalia. There will be short program, and, hopefully, good weather and everything will be just perfect.
.............................................................................................................................
Vinkovacke jeseni on TV
Vinkovacka televizija will broadcast daily program of Folklore evenings the next day at 4.00pm. Furthermore, all the information programme will track current events, and every evening at 9pm will be daily show "Vinkovci su milo janje moje", that will give notice of guests, programs and their particularities. It is very important to emphasize that information programme of Croatian television will also present daily events of this year's Jeseni, also the The opening ceremony of 44. Vinkovacke jeseni, at 21pm, on the second programme. Saturday, September 12. is reserved for the direct broadcast of National folklore festival, on the Plus programme of Croatian television, at 8pm. On Sunday, September 13., at 10am, all the viewers can watch the Ceremonial parade, bradcasted on the First programme.
...........................................................................................................................
Folklore evenings will get together over 60 folk ensembles
Folklore evenings, as every year, present annual work and traditional creation of folk ensembles from County of Vukovar-Srijem. 57 ensembles will take part in 6 folklore evenings, 7 more town's ensembles, and folklore group of Bubamara association. This year the most of ensembles will show traditional customs of the community they live in. Town's ensembles will show their remarkable choreographys, and lead us through other customs and folklores of Croatia. The program will last during September 4.-9., on Vinkovacke jeseni's square, beggining at 7,30pm, with exceptions on Saturday, at 8pm and Wednesday, at 7pm. As every year, the committee of prof. Zdenka Ivankovic (judging singing performance), mr. sci. Ljubica Gligorevic (ethnology), prof. Smail Gagic (music performance), Aleksandar Novic (dancing part of the performance) will judge every performance- They will pronounce the most successful groups of County of Vukovar-Srijem. This year's hosts are Milka Vida and Zvonimir Petricevic, as well as Marijana Ban and Zeljko Komljenovic. If it is impossible for you to watch the live program, Vinkovacka televizija will broadcast whole show the next day at 4.05pm, and Saturdays program at 2pm.
.............................................................................................................................
Jumbo poster for 44. Vinkovacke jeseni is finished
New posters for Vinkovacke jeseni will be exposed these days all over Croatia. This years manifestation is under highly protection of premier Jadranka Kosor. Motto of Vinkovci's event is "We will protect your customs", and these customs from all over Croatia you may see in the week September 4.-13. The main donor is Hrvatska postanska banka, and media sponsor is Vecernji list.
.............................................................................................................................
Schedule of 44. Vinkovacke jeseni
This year's Vinkovacke jeseni will maintain in September 4.-13. Traditional folklore evenings will be September 4.-9. in Karlovacka pivovara's tent on Vinkovacke jeseni's square. This year children folklore groups' performances will not antecede performances of adult groups. There will be 58 floklore groups, and September 9. we will have an oportunity to see performances of folklore groups from County of Vukovar-Srijem, and FS show of members from association of people with disablement, Bubamara. To maintain the spirit of this years motto of Vinkovacke jeseni, the main theme of all performances will be old customs, emphasized the organiser, Aleksandar Novic. Children vinkovacke jeseni will be held in September 5. and 6., and we'll see performances of 13 groups, and in the ceremonal parade, on September 6., 50 groups will walk through Vinkovci's streets. This year's guest is also Mladen Kusec, and workshops for children will be organised in the tent. Participants and guests may enjoy in the performance of Bojan Jambrosic, famous croatian pop singer. National folklore festival will hold in September 12. and 13., and this year's program be specially interesting because of participation of historical command of Korcula and Bokelian marine. The memorial parade will be on September 13. in 10 a.m. Detaild program you can find in "Program" category.
.............................................................................................................................
The participants of XLIV. Vinkovacke jeseni
Participating groups of this year's manifestation are known. From County of Bjelovar-Bilogora comes folk ensemble "Sloga-đurđic" from Đurđic. County of Slavonski Brod-Posavina will be represented by folk ensemble from Velika Kopanica. Istrian County will be represented by folklore group "Pazin" form Pazin. From County of Karlovac comes FE "Vrhovac" from Ozalj, while womens association "Koprivnicki bregi" comes from County of Koprivnica-Krizevci. County of Međimurje will be represented by folk ensemble "Zasadbreg" from Lopatinac, and County of Pozega-Slavonia folk ensemble from Pozega. From County of Sisak-Moslavina comes "Potocanka" from Potok, and County of Split-Dalmatia will be represented by FE "Milan Begovic" from Vrlika. Folk ensemble "Branimir" form Benkovac represents Couty of Zadar-Knin and "Siljakovina" from Siljakovina represents County of Zagreb. Participants from foregin countries are Croatian folk ensemble "Studencica" from Studenac and "Svi sveti" from Siroki brijeg, BiH.
............................................................................................................................
The festival offers a unique display of autochtonous people's culture fostering the rich cultural heritage in a special way by making people come closer together by speaking the universal language of dance and music. It has thus contributed largely to saving ancient customs from oblivion, and collected and maintained invaluable story-telling tradition (story-telling evenings of «Sokacki divani»).
Among other traditional shows there is the children's «Vinkovacke jeseni» show, followed by a variety of venues, such as etnographic, artisans', tourist and business presentations, concerts, scientific round tables, brandy fair and the top quality kulen contest.
«VINKOVACKE JESENI» has succeeded in evoking the past in its original form, in relating it to the present, and equally, in showing the way to the youth population by involving them in a large number of folklore ensembles. This trend has especially blossomed since Croatia gained independence
after Homeland War. The festival's coat of arms was designed by painter JOZA MATAKOVIC.
