Suzana FANTOV
On Saturday, 1st February, at the Croatian Community Centre of Geelong, the Croatian Lastovo Society Australia organised their traditional Lastovo ‘Poklad’ Carnival, marking ten years of their existence and preservation of customs, traditions, and culture of their island and ancestors. The beautifully and carefully themed decorated hall of the centre represented everything that generations of native ‘Lastovo people’ preserve, passing their knowledge and rich heritage to their numerous successors, as confirmed by the completely filled hall.
Guests of every age were greeted warmly at the entrance. The welcoming atmosphere was enhanced by home-made ‘prkle’ (traditional fritters), ceremonial drinks for toasting, and the cheerful faces behind colourful masks. The evening came alive with music from the talented Major Minor band, whose repertoire of beloved Dalmatian melodies proved irresistible, drawing everyone to their feet. The ‘Lastovo people’, as they proudly call themselves, demonstrated their remarkable dancing prowess – or ‘balat’ in their dialect – as they twirled and stepped with natural grace across the floor.
While Croatia’s Lastovo Island celebrates its 542nd Lastovo carnival, this society’s 10th anniversary was opened by president Stefanie Fantela with a welcome speech thanking everyone for their support and help in organising:
“Thank you to everyone who taught us about carnival, parents, grandmothers and grandfathers, all Lastovo people who sang, spoke and danced for us – special thanks to those who helped us through these 10 years but are no longer with us.”
Little masqueraders – princesses, superheroes, Harry Potter and other heroes – danced at the beginning of the programme, which was truly special as it carried the originality of tradition passed down to the youngest who ‘seriously’ embrace it. The journey through tradition continued with paired masked dances, sword dances, carnival participants who captivated with their colourfulness and rich traditional clothing, all the way to the ‘dance under the lira’ accompanied by the lira masterfully played by Florio Barbić, a special guest from Lastovo.
A great experience was certainly the lowering of the carnival puppet onto a rock symbolically representing ‘Pokladarova grža’ (the hilltop on Lastovo from where the puppet is lowered). The carnival participants who stretch the rope, with the tireless playing of the lira throughout this custom, was equally exciting for both the youngest and others. The puppet was received at the top of the ‘hill’ by the master of fireworks and his assistants, who attached fireworks that ‘explode’ during the lowering.
The ‘swinging’ is like the ‘finale’ in the whole ritual. The carnival circle, beautiful masks – dressed in fantastic costumes – from original chefs, French girls, witches, stewardesses, Little Red Riding Hoods – skilfully presented their chain dances with handkerchiefs, countless figures of which those with swords were particularly impressive.
The evening itself was preceded by prayer and then a delicious three-course meal with all compliments to the Croatian Centre Geelong kitchen! Sweet ‘prkle’ brought smiles to everyone, and the lucky winners of the raffle had one more reason to be happy! The gala evening continued in an excellent atmosphere – just as it began – with equal joy, pride and ‘song’.