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DO YOU KNOW WHO THE BIGGEST LIAR IN SRBAC IS?

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.

DO YOU KNOW WHO THE BIGGEST LIAR IN SRBAC IS?

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.