Croatian Christmas celebration in New York: Culture, cuisine, and community spirit

(Photo: Private album)

The Croatian Christmas celebration in New York unfolded over several days, commencing on Thursday, December 14th. 

Hosted by the Theater Company KOLARIN from Dubrovnik, the event took place at the Dubrovnik Restaurant in New Rochelle, NY, owned by Željko Tomić from Lopud, and managed by Matija Žarak, who warmly welcomed the guests.

The festivities continued on Saturday, December 16th, at the Croatian Center in Manhattan with the play “Mare Fjočica” and the traditional Dubrovnik Christmas carols performed by the members of the KOLARIN Theater Group. 

The evening culminated in a concert of Christmas songs featuring Croatian singers living in America, including Zvonimir Antolos and Marko Pačić, Klapa Astoria, Augustin Sumatra, Goran Popović, and Gina Picinić. 

The concert concluded with the Croatian anthem, passionately sung by all attendees, and Ane Mljećka reciting Gundulić’s Hymn to Freedom, a tradition at every festival she organizes.

(Photo: Private album)

Father Nikola Pašalić, the pastor of the Croatian Parish, blessed the dinner and expressed gratitude for the fantastic organization of the festival, emphasizing the sense of unity it fostered. 

The evening included traditional Croatian dances, particularly the LINĐO, performed by Katarina and Petar Crnogorac, joined by members of KOLARIN, some of whom had danced in the LINĐO Folklore Society.

Guests enjoyed a feast of Croatian specialties prepared for Christmas, including a variety of rakijas, mantala, kotonjata, dried figs, salty sardines, cheese, homemade prosciutto, sausages from Dario’s Meats – Erceg family, Bosnian cevapi from Adriatic Meat Market, Dubrovnik green menestra, Slavonian and Herzegovinian sarma, čobanac, Lika-style hunter’s stew, Istrian gnocchi, and fuži, the best Dalmatian cod in America, sauerkraut from Lafortune, black risotto, and octopus and cuttlefish salad from the Dubrovnik Restaurant, Zagreb-style turkey with mlinci and French salad, tripe, roasts, and various homemade desserts. 

(Photo: Private album)

Croatian wines from WINESA Sam Ramić Family Wines, Tomić Family Wine, Croatian Premium Wine Imports, Sarajevo beer, and BLATINA Wines of Illyria were also served.

A lottery with gifts donated by sponsors from America and Croatia took place, with the proceeds contributing to the completion of the Croatian National Home in New Jersey. Details about the donors can be found in the magazine prepared for this purpose by the festival organizers.

(Photo: Private album)

The Croatian Christmas Festival in New York concluded on Sunday, December 17th, with a children’s play, “JEŽEVA KUĆICA,” performed by the KOLARIN Theater Group for Croatian children at the Croatian Catholic Mission after the Holy Mass at the Most Precious Blood Church in Astoria, followed by a communal lunch with Christmas carols at the Istrian Social Club Rudar, sponsored by Željko Sardelić from Korčula.

The organizers, Croatian Women NY/NJ, expressed their gratitude in a memorial book prepared for the festival. They welcomed everyone to the Croatian Christmas Festival in New York City, emphasizing the goal of showcasing customs from all regions of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina through song, dance, gastronomy, Croatian wines, and promoting the celebration of Croatian culture in their new homeland, America.

(Photo: Private album)

The festival featured the award-winning play “Mare Fjočica” by the KOLARIN Theater Group from Dubrovnik, followed by the Dubrovnik carol, traditional Croatian Christmas songs, and a variety of delicious food and wines from different regions of Croatia.

The organizers thanked the KOLARIN Theater Group, musicians, sponsors, volunteers, and everyone who supported the idea, making the festival a success. They hope it becomes a traditional Croatian Christmas Festival in NYC.