But since the house hasn't been occupied for three months, it's cold inside! A fire is good for the soul too.
When Joyce and I drove to Stari Grad to pick up groceries, our hearts and souls were greeted by this pretty sight, as well as a surprise.
We got there just in time for this!
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| They are symbolically burning "Carneval" |
Neither of us remembered that today was Shrove Tuesday (Fat Tuesday, Pancake Tuesday, Mardi Gras), the celebration before the fasting season for Lent, an observance in the Christian liturgical calendar that begins on Ash Wednesday
In Croatia it is called "Carnival", with locals here dressing up and wearing costumes to celebrate today before the period of Lent begins.
Here on Hvar there are processions, bands, costumes and parties on this day - which we happened on to when we arrived into Stari Grad!
It's quite a community event, with people out and about all afternoon in their costumes.
In the evening we stopped into a local restaurant to grab a bite of dinner before heading home.
We'd been sitting there for just a few minutes when suddenly a loud horn began to blow, and everyone got up to go outside...so of course we did too!
Making their way around the harbor, a large procession of white robed people passed by. When we tried to get an explanation they could only tell us that it had something to do with chasing the spirits away in preparation for Lent.
In all honesty, it was a little bit spooky! But tradition is tradition, and I'm sure this one has been going on for a long time.
It was nice to go outside to the square afterward, having returned to its usually quiet and sleep self!
So glad we got to experience all of that today, but mostly that we're here together being refreshed and nourished in body and soul by the Lord!
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