Christmas in Croatia

How Croatia celebrates Christmas

Croatia is a mainly Catholic country, and Božić is above all a family and church festival. Its customs mix church ritual with old rural traditions: Christmas wheat growing on the table, a log burning on the hearth, straw under the table and a fast before the feast. Many of these customs vary between the inland north and the Adriatic coast, from the turkey and mlinci of Zagorje to the salt cod of Dalmatia.

The Christmas tree, now found in almost every home, is a newer arrival from the mid-19th century and is usually decorated on Christmas Eve, with a nativity scene (jaslice) placed beneath it or in another place of honour.

Advent in Zagreb and Advent wreaths

Advent is marked at home by the Advent wreath (adventski vijenac), with one more candle lit each Sunday. In the cities it is the season of Christmas lights and markets.

Advent in Zagreb (Advent u Zagrebu) has become one of Europe's best-known Christmas events. It was voted the best Christmas market in Europe in the European Best Destinations online vote three years in a row, in 2016, 2017 and 2018. Its programme spreads through the city centre, and an ice rink on King Tomislav Square has been among its attractions. The Zagreb Tourist Board's official Advent site lists the 2026–27 edition from Saturday, 28 November 2026 to Thursday, 7 January 2027.

Sveti Nikola and Krampus: 6 December

On the evening of 5 December, cleaned boots are left on the windowsill for Sveti Nikola, St Nicholas, who fills them overnight with sweets, fruit and small presents for those who have behaved well. In many places he is accompanied by Krampus, a horned, frightening helper who, according to tradition, leaves a rod for the badly behaved.

Sveta Lucija and the Christmas wheat

On 13 December, St Lucy's Day (Sveta Lucija), many Croatian families sow Christmas wheat (božićna pšenica) in a shallow bowl of water. By Christmas it has grown into a dense green tuft. It is trimmed and tied with a ribbon in red, white and blue, the colours of the Croatian flag, and a candle, or sometimes an apple, is placed in the middle. The wheat then decorates the Christmas table, and the candle in it stands for the birth of Christ.

Badnjak: Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is Badnjak; Badnji dan is the day and Badnja večer the evening. The name comes from an old Slavic word for being awake, recalling the vigil kept on this night while waiting for the birth of Christ. Homes are cleaned and decorated with greenery such as holly, ivy and evergreen branches, and chores are finished before the church bells ring in the evening.

The Badnjak log

The badnjak is also the log burned on Christmas Eve, Croatia's equivalent of the yule log. Traditionally the father of the family cut it before dawn on 24 December, usually from an oak, or from beech, olive or maple where oak was scarce, praying as he went. It was left on the porch until evening and then carried in and blessed: in Dalmatia it is sprinkled with wine and grain, in Dubrovnik with corn and wine, and elsewhere with wheat and holy water. The family took turns keeping it alight all night and into Christmas Day, and its ashes were sometimes scattered on the fields for a good harvest.

Straw, fasting and salt cod

The head of the family brings in a bundle of straw, which is spread under the table in memory of the manger. Christmas Eve is a fasting day, so supper is meatless and simple, traditionally bakalar, dried salt cod, served with salad or cabbage. Dried fruit, honey and nuts, mainly walnuts and almonds, are kept in the house for the whole season. Late in the evening, many families go to midnight Mass, polnoćka.

Božić and Sveti Stjepan

Božić, Christmas Day, 25 December, is a public holiday centred on church and a long family lunch, traditionally prepared by the woman of the house. Depending on the region, it may include turkey with mlinci, roast pork or lamb, sarma (sauerkraut rolls), stuffed peppers, pita and fresh bread, followed by fritule, kroštule, strudel, walnut and poppy-seed rolls and other cakes.

Djed Božićnjak, "Grandfather Christmas", brings the presents. He took the place of Djed Mraz, Grandfather Frost, the gift-bringer promoted in socialist Yugoslavia, after Croatia became independent.

Sveti Stjepan, St Stephen's Day, 26 December, is a second public holiday, kept for visiting relatives and friends.

Licitar hearts

The licitar is one of Croatia's best-known Christmas symbols: a biscuit of sweet honey dough, brightly coloured and decorated with a swirling outline, small flowers and sometimes a little mirror. Licitar hearts are sold at Christmas markets and hung on Christmas trees. The gingerbread craft of northern Croatia was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010.

Christmas around Croatia

In 2025–26, Rijeka Advent ran from 29 November to 11 January. When the season ends, Rijeka turns to its carnival, held between late January and early March, during which the mayor hands the symbolic key of the city to the carnival master, Meštar Toni.

Traditional Croatian Christmas food

New Year and Epiphany

New Year's Eve is a night of parties and fireworks. Sarma is a traditional New Year's Eve dish, and in Dubrovnik the Stradun, the main street of the walled old town, is the regular setting for the city's New Year's Eve celebrations. 1 January, Nova godina, is a public holiday. For greetings to send to Croatian friends at midnight, see these free Nova godina cards and New Year wishes, which include Happy New Year 2027 cards, status images and ready-to-send messages.

The season ends on 6 January, Sveta tri kralja, the feast of the Three Kings (Epiphany), which is also a public holiday. In some regions the remains of the Badnjak log were traditionally relit on Epiphany.

Croatian Christmas season dates 2026

Christmas in Croatia: frequently asked questions

Christmas in nearby countries