Festivity of Saint Blaise

A warning from the saint

According to legend, in 972 Venetian ships anchored near Gruž and Lokrum on the pretext of taking on supplies, while planning to seize the city. St Blaise appeared to a priest named Stojko as he prayed in the Church of St Stephen and told him to warn the Senate. Dubrovnik prepared its defences, the Venetians withdrew, and the grateful citizens made Blaise their chief patron saint. The festivity has been held since that year by tradition, and it once brought the whole Republic of Dubrovnik into the city: exiles and even offenders were allowed to enter freely for days around the feast. UNESCO inscribed it on its Representative List in 2009.

Doves, banners and throats

On the evening before, the day of Candlemas, as all the church bells ring, white doves are released in front of the cathedral as symbols of peace and St Blaise’s banner is raised on Orlando’s Column. Worshippers gather for a ritual healing of the throat: priests bless the people with two crossed candles, for St Blaise is believed to protect the throat.

On 3 February, parish banner bearers in folk costume stream into the city, and bishops, civic leaders and the people of Dubrovnik follow the saint’s relics in procession along the Stradun and through the streets. One of the festival’s sights is the trombunjeri, men carrying short, wide-mouthed muskets once used to make noise and frighten off the city’s enemies, who fire them before entering the city. Afterwards the banners return to their villages to carry the saint’s blessing to those who could not come.