RAB
MEDIEVAL
FEST
Recently festivities during
Dies
Natalis have been broadened to include the Medieval festival of crafts
and customs. This open air festival is held on the streets of the
oldest part in town - Kaldanac, where besides islanders participate also
the friend from Montegardino - Republica di San Marino.
Visitors can enjoy ( and
participate) in traditional crafts; pottery, painting, fishing, coinage,
stitching, basket weaving, carpentry, sculpting or learn the secrets of
trade from the florists, honey makers, herbalists or even from the cross-bow
archers who are happy to explain the technique and the history of the crossbow.
In gallery PIK one can see the traditional medieval household; women rippling
wool, weaving, grain grinding, bread making and hear traditional gang song.
The streets are run over with ladies, gentleness, medieval guards with
prisoners and the festival culminates with tournament and the fireworks
on the last evening.
Present day Fjera has been
modeled after the historical holidays, but has been shortened to only 3
days celebration in comparison to a whole week Fjera in the middle ages.
Rab's Fjera started only 4 years ago (2002) after a decade of work of Rab's
Crossbow society. During these 3 days
( 25, 25th & 27th July) people dress up in costumes and have open air
workshops of the "medieval life"...
Visitors can see traditional
crafts; pottery, painting, fishing, coinage, stitching, basket weaving,
carpentry, sculpting or learn the secrets
of trade from the florists, honey makers, herbalists or even from the cross-bow
archers who will explain the technique and the
history of the crossbow. In a small gallery just off the square on the
Upper street one can see the traditional island household from the past;
women rippling wool, weaving, grain grinding, bread making and hear traditional
gang song. If you never heard those, you
might get hypnotised... Bellow the town is held a fisherman's and pirates
party and at the same time the streets are run over with
ladies, gentleness, medieval guards with prisoners, knights...The festival
culminates with the parade and the crossbow archers tournament on the St.
Christopher's square and the fireworks.
Festival as such is still
in experimental phase. Participants are people of Rab and their friends
from abroad: Koenigsbrun and Republic of San Marino: Rab's friendship
towns. Two knights
and a lady with their performance from Koenigsbrun and of course, the whole
troup from Rep. di San Marino and Monte Giardino // archers, flagsmen,
gents, craftsmen, musicians toghether with the folks and gents from
Rab, make an impressive event. Guests
are also welcome to dress up and join.
