Primary school

Zemunik

Zemunik Donji Croatia

1. General information

Zemunik is a small village in the Republic of Croatia. The closest city is Zadar which is

15km away. Croatia is a country situated along the Adriatic Sea. The capital city is Zagreb,

and Croatia is divided into 21 counties. Zemunik is in the Zadar County.

In Croatia we speak Croatian language and write Latin script. There are 30 letters in the

Croatian alphabet.

The national flag of Croatia is red, white and blue. There is a coat of arms in the middle. The

coat of arms is a cheesboard consisting of 13 red an 12 white fields popularly called

“šahovnica”. There are also five smaller shields with historical Croatian crowns: the oldest

Croatian coat of arms, the Dubrovnik Republic, Dalmatia, Istria and Slavonia.

This is the coat of arms of Zemunik. The symbol is the fortress that is very important

archaeological site in our region.

The fertile plains where people cultivate vineyards, olives, various fruits and vegetables are of

great importance. People also still breed sheep and poultry.

2. History of Zemunik Elementary School

Our school was built 137 years ago. During the Homeland war, the school was seriously

damaged, but it has been reconstructed.

3. Climate

The Mediterranean climate is characteristic for all the places along the Adriatic sea. It means

that we have hot and dry summers and the winters are mild and hursh.

4. Dalmatian cuisine

The most popular food in Dalmatia are: Dalmatian “pršut” (prosciutto), olive oil and a lot of

Mediterranean spices. In Zemunik and nearby region “peka” is very popular meal. As the

matter of fact it is roat meat with vegetables put in a pot which is placed under the fire.

5. Christmas Decorations made in our school

Our school is very small. It has only 159 pupils, but we made a lot of beautiful Christmas

decorations. All of our Christmas decorations are describing region Dalmatia.

Our youngest students enjoyed making Christmas decorations with their teachers. While they

were making the decorations, they learned about the history of our region and the traditions

during the Christmas time.

The decorations are made for wine bottle caps, which represent Dalmatian vineyards and

wine. These Christmas decorations are colored in same colors as Croatian coat of arms: white

and red.

There isn’t a lot of snow in our region. That is why we never get a chance to make a real

snowman in Dalmatia. But our region is known for it's stone, so we made a snowman out of

stones in transparent Christmas decorations-balls.

These Christmas balls are made in two colors. Blue part represents our Adriatic sea and fish.

White part represents the sky decorated by the stars.

The last set of Christmas decoration are made in colors of Croatian flag, red, white and blue.

Tie is the is the most famous Croatian product, so we placed one on each Christmas ball.

6. Christmas customs in Croatia and Zemunik Donji

Croatian Christmas customs are part of the Croatian tradition. From the very beginning of the

Christian life, Croats accepted Christmas as the most important Christian holiday. In Christian

tradition, Christmas is the day when the birth of Jesus is celebrated. Our region has its own

significant traditions and customs. A month before Christmas is Advent time.

The codfish is prepared in the center of Zemunik Donji for everyone On the Christmas Eve,

because it’s a main dish of the day, as well as “fritule” sweet biscuits characteristic dessert in

Dalmatia. During these days people are decorating Christmas trees along with their families.

Wheat, that was previously planted on St Lucy’s Day, is added as a symbol of fertility and

renewal of life. On the Christmas Eve a Christmas candle is burning all the time.

The tradition is to set an enjoy in the open fire called “Badnjak” on 24th December. That is

usually a grown up's job, but kids also like to help out.

On Christmas morning, the children wake up first to check if Santa Claus ate and drank milk

and cookies that were left on the table in the kitchen or living room. They also check are ther

some gifts underneath the Christmas tree.

Traditionally, the whole family is gathered around the table on Christmas morning, having

breakfast. The rest of the day, they enjoy singing traditional Christmas carols.

In ancient times, the wreath was a symbol of victory. Recently, the custom of making a four-

candle advent wreath was widened, and each candle would burn on Advent Sundays. It is

made up of two fundamental symbols - circle and candle(light). Candlelight signifies the

coming light of Jesus. Advent Candles are originally red and white symiolizing Jesus'

sacrifice and victory. According to one tradition, the first candle was called “Candle

Prophecies”, the second “Betlehem”, the third “Shepherd”, and the last “Candle of Angels”.

The gradual burning of candles is a sign of Christmas's approach.

In our village, the priest goes from door to door use accompanied by ministers to bless homes

and people. For the blessing they prepare a clean room with a cross, a candle, a bowl of holly

water and an olive branch.

Every year, Christmas is organized in our school as well. Each class is involved in this show

with various activities. The school choir sings well-known and traditional Christmas songs.

The event is a joyful, playful and happy meeting for all the members of the school team,

pupils and their families.

7. Croatian myths and traditions

Croatia doesn’t have many legends but it has got traditions. On the St Lucia in every family

the oldest female member of the family plants the seed of wheat. If the wheat grows long and

full of health it means it’s going to be a prosperous year.

Then we have a myth about snow and white Christmas.If it snows on St Lucy’s Day we will

have white Christmas.

There is a superstition in Croatia if you don’t throw the Christmas tree out of your house

before January 6th you will have a bad luck throughout the following year.

Christmas time is special for little children. They walk from door to door with apples in their

arms, collecting coins and stabbing them into apples. According to the myth the child with the

biggest amount of coins will have luck and health for the whole year.

The most famous Christmas legend in Croatia is about St Nicholas. He was a priest who had

the pure heart and lots of sympathy. The legend says how Nicholas helped the old man and

his daughters by leaving the dowry at night as a present. Soon everyone found out what

happened and the legend was born. However there’s a dark side of the story: in the shadow of

St Nicholas there is Krampus – half a demon half a goat, always waiting for opportunity to

seize naughty children and devour them.

8. Croatian Christmas Carols

The most popular Croatian Christmas Carols are:

"U to vrijeme godišta" ("At that time of the year")

"Svim na Zemlji, mir, veselje" ("All on Earth, peace, joy")

"Radujte se narodi" ("Nations rejoice")

"Narodi nam se" ("Born unto us")

"Tri kralja jahahu" ("Three kings were riding")

"Veselje ti navješćujem" ("Joy I preach you")

"O Betleme" ("Oh, Betlehem")

"Oj, pastiri" ("Oy, shepherds")

"Djetešce nam se rodilo" ("A child was born unto us")

" Veseli se Majko Božja" ("Rejoice, Mother of God")

English translation for “Svim na zemlji”

All on Earth, peace, joy

May it be as God wills.

Now the sky is announcing it

And the voice from heaven confirms.

Good mood every soul

Sin should not already taste.

But praise, worship God,

What he sent his son.

Also we have traditional songs (from a folklore society).

Here is one:

Ide Božić i Božićni dani,

Veseli se i ptica na grani.

English translation:

Christmas is coming and joyfull Christmas days,

Joyfull is the bird on the branch as well.

Folklore Ansemble Saint Catherine

KUD Sv. Kata Zemunik

9. Recipe

Walnut loaf - orehnjača is a traditianal Croatian sweet dish.

The cake is made of dough and the walnut filling.

Preparation: 1-2 hours

Baking: 45-50 min

Ingredients for the dough:

75 dag of flour

5 dag of butter

4 egg yolks

3,5 dl of milk

4 dag of yeast

1 dag of vanilla sugar

1 dag of sugar

1 teaspoon of rum

lemon zest

Ingredients for the filling:

40 dag of crushed walnuts

3 dl of milk

4 eggs

10 dag of sugar

1 dag of vanilla sugar

Procedure:

Mix all ingredients for dough together. Put the dough it in a bowl, cover with a dishtowel and

let it rise for an hour. In the meantime grind the nuts for the filling. Add sugar and vanilla

sugar in grind nuts. Stir all together. Then add warm milk. When the mixture is cooled add

the beaten eggs and stir.

Put the baking paper into the baking tray. Roll up the dough and put the filling on it.Roll up

all together in a loaf and put it in a baking tray. Bake it on 180 °C . Enjoy your dessert!

Sretan Božić

Merry Christmas