Pupnat on Korčula is the central venue for celebrating Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day, where religious tradition of Our Lady of the Snows, old customs like roasting oxen, and a festive program with a concert by Jole and Maja Šuput come together.
On one of the most important dates in modern Croatian history, August 5, the entire island of Korčula flocks to the small settlement of Pupnat. Fate decided this over 400 years ago and confirmed it 31 years ago, when Croatian forces in Operation Storm liberated Knin and a large part of the occupied territory.
On Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day and the Day of Croatian Defenders, the official and main celebration of the City of Korčula is held precisely in Pupnat, where August 5 marks the Day of the Place, the Day of the VU Kumpanjija, and the feast of Our Lady of the Snows, the heavenly patroness of the place. This small but oldest island settlement, with fewer than 300 residents, responds each year with a rich cultural and entertainment program.
The story begins in the 13th century, when the then Pope Liberius had a vision of Our Lady in a dream, asking him to build churches where snow would fall in midsummer. According to tradition, this happened during the night between August 4 and 5. Although no meteorological records exist, snow reportedly fell in other parts of the Mediterranean, including Vis, Lastovo, Hvar, and even some places in Italy and Spain. The church in Pupnat, built in the 17th century, bears the name of Our Lady of the Snows precisely because of this tradition.
For centuries, the people of Pupnat celebrated their Lady, but on August 5, 1995, the Catholic feast of Our Lady of the Snows gained another powerful significance. That day, Croatian forces liberated Knin as part of Operation Storm, and the date is also marked as the Day of Croatian Defenders. The official celebration of the City of Korčula was fully moved to Pupnat during the mandate of former mayor Andrija Fabris.
For hundreds of years, on this day in Pupnat, "the ox's head was cut off," meaning that, accompanied by a folklore program, the head of a large animal was severed, which fed the entire village. This custom, which in times of hunger ensured a warm meal for everyone, was last performed in 1999, after which it was banned. However, roasting oxen on a spit has been preserved to this day, and this year, oxen will again turn on spits in the center of the village from noon until evening.
The afternoon cultural and artistic program will begin with the ceremonial annual performance of the VU Kumpanjija and their most solemn rendition of the traditional "dance of battles." This chain dance with swords evokes ancient battles and victories of the islanders in defending their homes. The Moreška-Korčula group will also perform the moreška dance, and the audience will be entertained by the local mixed klapa Koštil, which celebrates its tenth anniversary this year.
The central religious event is the holy mass and a solemn procession in the morning hours. The statue of Our Lady of the Snows is traditionally carried out of the church, and, according to old custom, this is done by young girls from Pupnat, dressed in white. After addresses by guests and dignitaries, a pop music concert follows. This year, Jole and Maja Šuput will entertain thousands of people until the early morning hours.
