THE SCENT OF CHRISTMAS AND TRADITION FILLS BANJA LUKA: “ČESNICA” FESTIVAL HELD AT THE MUSEUM OF THE REPUBLIC OF SRPSKA

The Christmas cake festival “Česnica” was held at the Museum of the Republic of Srpska in Banja Luka, bringing together tradition, culture, and the spirit of the holidays.

PHOTO: RTRS

The event was organized by the Office for Cultural Diplomacy from Belgrade and continues to grow as an international manifestation.

This year’s festival includes six countries and fifteen cities, further strengthening its international character. It gathered numerous local associations with the aim of preserving cultural heritage and the tradition of ritual Christmas bread.

Director of the Office for Cultural Diplomacy, Gordana Bekčić, said that ritual Christmas cakes, breads, and česnice of various national communities are prepared by many local women’s associations from Banat and across Vojvodina, Eastern Serbia, Šumadija and the Raška region, as well as the Republic of Srpska.

She noted that the festival is the first event of its kind in the region and has been held for four consecutive years in Serbia and neighboring countries. During December and January, the festival will take place in several cities across the Republic of Srpska, including Banja Luka, Prijedor, Kravica, Bijeljina, and Gacko.

“The festival has outgrown the region and become an international event. This year’s participation is significantly higher, and we have covered the entire Republic of Srpska. After Banja Luka, we are looking forward to Prijedor next week, where an exhibition of Christmas breads will be held,” Bekčić said.

She added that in Serbia the festival will be held in Zrenjanin, Negotin, Gračanica, Kragujevac, Gornji Milanovac, and Belgrade. The event has already taken place in Kumanovo in North Macedonia and Szentendre in Hungary, while next week it will be held in Herceg Novi, with Vienna scheduled to host the festival in January.

The “Česnica” Festival was launched in 2022 and, in just three years, has grown from a local event in Belgrade into a regional and international manifestation. In 2024, the festival was organized in Zrenjanin, Kragujevac, Negotin, Loznica, Banja Luka, and Belgrade, bringing together more than 90 women’s associations that presented traditional Christmas breads and česnice.

The grand finale of the festival is scheduled for January 25 in Gornji Milanovac.