Rapska Fjera
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Rab Fjera is a Historical reenactment celebrations lasting for 3 days during Dies Natalis of St. Christopher ( patron saint) on island Rab Croatia. Fjera ( fair) includes the Medieval festival of crafts and customs and Archers' crossbow tournament. It is held on the streets of the oldest part in town Rab. Visitors can enjoy 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.
Fjera has been modeled after the holidays ( tempus feriarum 14 ct.) in past but has been shortened to only 3 days celebration in comparison to a whole week Fjera in the Middle Ages. The celebrations were held in honor of King Louis the Great ( Louis I of Hungary )who liberated Rab commune from Serenissima and lasted for a whole week around the holy days of St. Jacob, St. Anne and St. Christopher, culminating with the knight's tournament. In those times Rab truly became Happy town or Felix Arba ( roman honorary title given to deserving municipium ).
Nowadays during these 3 days ( 25, 25th & 27th July) people dress up in costumes and have open air workshops of the medieval life... The streets are run over with ladies, gentleness, medieval guards with prisoners. The main feature is of course the crossbow arbalest archers tournament. First tournament was held in 1364. where the winner would compete for the rich prize; a house or gold to live on for a whole year. The festival culminates with the parade and the crossbow archers tournament on the St. Christopher's square and with the cannon fireworks.
Participants: - variouse Rab groups - Castell Montegiardino group - San Marino balestrieri - town Königsbrunn, Germany - Šibenik hawkers
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