Majevica

The first Sunday in May is called Majevica after the local name for the lilac flower, which blooms at this time of the year. In the past, this was the day of the last spring dance, followed by a busy period of work in the fields. In the past, young women would wait eagerly for this day, as the night before young men would bring flowers to the window of the house in which the girl they liked lived. They would also place a young May tree (usually juniper, fir or laurel) or a blossoming ash or cherry branch on the chimney or another high place next to her house such as a mulberry or walnut tree.

There is also a traditional song about this custom that goes:

Majevica, lovely Sunday,

You’ll bring flowers to my window,

Or a mulberry beneath it.

To commemorate this custom, Viškovo Tourist Board initiated the Majevica spring event dedicated to preserving local traditions, cultural and historical heritage, and the cuisine and old customs of the Halubje area. It takes place on the first Sunday in May. The symbol of this event is the lilac flower, known locally as the majevica. In addition to the revitalization of the former way of life through ancient games, recitations, and a fair of local and eco products, special emphasis is placed on the creation of gastronomic experiences and the presentation and preparation of traditional local food that links with the Mediterranean diet of the hinterland, which is part of UNESCO’s intangible heritage—the Mediterranean diet—on the Croatian Adriatic, its coast, islands, and part of the hinterland.