Throughout history, people have united for various needs and motives, but it is rare for them to gather to out-lie each other, as is the case with the Association of Liars from Sitneš near Srbac, which has faithfully preserved this tradition for almost eight decades.
This year, around thirty residents of the villages at the
foot of Motajica gathered at their annual assembly to crown the greatest liar
of Srbac, who will proudly hold this title for a whole year. This time, the
honor went to Radovan Rakić from Sitneš, who told an unusual story about how he
enriched the fish stock in the Adriatic Sea while staying in Croatia.
"During the Easter fast, I visited my godparents in
Rijeka with my wife and brought a can of fish and fasting pâté for the trip.
When we arrived, my godfather prepared lamb from Pag for lunch. Since I was
fasting, I opened the can, and two mackerels jumped into the sink. I saw them
wriggling, sprinkled some salt on their tails, and they started swimming and
spawning, soon filling the sink with young mackerel, which I released into the
sea at my godfather's urging," Radovan explained.
He added that he met a fisherman on the shore who spread the
story far and wide, and soon all the boats sounded their horns in his honor.
"I was their guest at fishing nights and was declared an honorary citizen
of Rijeka, receiving the key to the city for improving the fish stock along
this part of the Adriatic coast," Rakić said.
The second place went to the lifetime president of the association, Vid Babić from Sitneš, who recounted how he received honey directly from a bear he encountered at a water source on Motajica.
The third
place was awarded to Samir Kolarić from Srbac, who reminisced about his late
grandmother who used her bent middle finger to lift hens every morning to check
for eggs, only to have an unfortunate run-in with a rooster.
"Many don't believe our stories, but we tell them that
everyone has lied at some point in their lives. It's acceptable as long as it's
good-natured and humorous. Some might be offended to be called a liar, but we
take it as a compliment. Good humor positively affects health, as they say,
laughter is the best medicine," said Vid Babić.
The oldest member of the association, Radivoje Suvajac, who
is 93 years old, has heard many "tall tales" throughout his life.
"I remember as a child, after World War II, a group of merry villagers
started gathering in the village, telling adventures and misadventures we all
knew weren't true, but that didn't matter because they lifted our spirits. They
called themselves 'Andrpovci' and then, exactly 50 years ago, changed the name
to the Association of Liars, adopting a statute and officially listing all the
local liars," Suvajac said.
He added that hundreds of liars have passed through the association,
but in reality, there are many more, hiding "like a snake's legs."
Many could win their competition without contest. "All liars are the same,
only times change. Today, with modern technologies, it's become more
accessible; as soon as you turn on the TV, you hear someone lying. I just can't
say women lie because we men couldn't function without them," Suvajac
mused.
The biggest liar of Srbac was chosen by a three-member
commission, which, over roasted lamb and chicken, listened to all the candidates
and then announced the three "most truthful lies." Besides a symbolic
trophy, the winner traditionally received a crate of beer.