Malik Tintilinić, Domaći, Palunko, Kosjenka, Regoč, Potjeh and Stribor are the characters from the works by Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić, a famous Croatian writer.

Those characters are known to every Croatian child, and now they've come back to their hometown of Slavonski Brod. Both the young and the old in the town are happy to see them walking around Slavonski Brod as a part of the event "The Advent of Long Ago" (the title of the event is a play of words based on the short story collection by Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić).

The town of Slavonski Brod created a whole new experience of Advent for their visitors but also for the people of the town, based on the fairy tale world from the writer's imagination. Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić wrote some of her best works while living in Slavonski Brod, and the town's main square is named after her. The hologram light spectacle on the water wall of the canal by the fortress of Slavonski Brod provides the unforgettable experience of the Ivana's world of fairy tales. Numerous decorations all over the town invite you to take a photo with a favourite character of Ivana's.  

On the main square you can find a large pop-up book of "Tales of Long Ago", where the visitors can find the Stribor's Forest, dance with the Grandma and the Brownies, spend time with Quest, Maruna and Ljutiša and take a photo with the bride Neva by her mill (please, if you have no idea what we're talking about, check out this treasure I just found while researching the translations for this article: the .pdf of the English translation of the Tales of Long Ago! I know what I'm gonna be doing on a first winter evening in Zagreb, reading the tales I've read many times, but in English.)

The locations are not accidental, as the legend says that the Brownies jumped in front of Ivana and her children, lead by Wee Tinkilinkie in their family home by the promenade, and the fortress where a lot of events for children are taking place must be the same fortress Reygoch saved.

Numerous workshops with original names are prepared for various generations of visitors: Hlapić's red boots, Frozen Tinkilinkies, Stribor's Wheat and many others. There are two skating rinks in the town, in the fortress and at the main square, and many concerts will be organized in this period.

Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić is one of the most famous Croatian writers, repeatedly nominated for Nobel prize in literature. She lived in Slavonski Brod, where the Tales of Long Ago were written while Ivana took care of her seven children. Published in Croatian in 1916, they saw their first English translation in 1922 in New York (accessible through the link above), and in the next ten years, they were translated to Swedish, Czech, Danish, Russian, German and Slovakian language.

To commemorate the memory of our world-famous author, Slavonski Brod started the project of the reconstruction of Ivana's family's house, with the intent to turn it into the Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić Interpretation centre. In order to create that world of magic and fantasy in the centre of town, they're working with Helena Bulaja Madunić, who made Ivana's tales famous around the world (again). In 2002, she and a team of international artists created one of the first animated interactive digital works of art in the world „Croatian Tales of Long  Ago“. The project won numerous awards and can be accessed at http://priceizdavnine.net/. The town of Slavonski Brod plans to remember the most famous Croatian children's author Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić in the future to a greater degree, creating the recognizable, innovative and valuable items of cultural heritage, which can become a worthy tourist attraction.

A week before the festivities known as Advent 2019 in Zagreb officially start on November 30th, tportal brings you the ultimate guide to all of the locations and events you can look forward to seeing in Zagreb.

We've also already written about the biggest tourist event of the year in Zagreb, but today Iva Butković Tešija writes a more detailed article for tportal. The lighting of the first Advent light will happen next Sunday, with two separate opening ceremonies taking place on Zrinjevac and King Tomislav's square, and for over a month after that (until January 7th 2020) a lot will be prepared for the tourists and the people of Zagreb. The theme of this year will be The Nutcracker, and you'll be able to enjoy various content with that theme at 16 different locations:

• The Ice Park at King Tomislav Square, with an open-air ice-skating rink with additional stuff, such as food and drink stands (as you certainly need some mulled wine after skating),
• Fuliranje on Strossmayer Square will offer great food and creative drinks, as well as a lot of dancing with over a dozen live performances (including the New Year's party),
• On Zrinjevac this year you'll be able to find many Croatian artists, offering their artwork and unique decorations, and traditional food offered on the stands (including stuff like krpice sa zeljem, which is something each Croatian would have a strong opinion on, and you should try if you've never had it),
• European Square is the place to be if you feel young: concerts, exhibitions, stuff the kids like these days is what you'll find here,
• Christmas Fairytale at the eastern side of the Ban Jelačić Square will be the central point for taking photos and selfies,
• the rest of the Ban Jelačić Square will host the booths by the craftspeople of Zagreb, selling the decorations and souvenirs they've created for this opportunity,
• Oktogon passage is a novelty in this year's Advent, as it will host several large Nutcracker sculptures where you'll be able to take your photos,
• Croatian National Theatre will offer holiday-appropriate shows during the period (including the often-mentioned Nutcracker ballet, which will be performed almost every other night during December), but there will be Advent around the Theatre building,
• Grič Tunnel has proved to be a hit before, so this year it will be decorated with the Nutcracker theme as well,
• Tuškanac will host the movie Advent, where the forest of Tuškanac will be bonded with the movie theatre in a magical world with holiday movies shown there each day,
• Strossmayer Promenade is the most romantic part of Zagreb, and will be decorated with colourful and joyful lights as a backdrop for the wonderful evening in two,
• Caffe de Matoš, also in the Upper town, brings you the feel of a bar in the Zagreb of old,
• Baš Naš Advent in Klovićevi dvori and the plateau Gradec next to the museum will be a gourmet festival, offering the finest cuisine to their visitors, along with 24 concerts (schedule here, in .pdf),
• Maksimir Park will host a family-oriented Advent 2019 for the first time this year, right next to the entrance into the park there will be colourful workshops, concerts, installations, mostly to entertain the children, and the Zagreb Zoo will see the so-called Polar Advent with light installations to highlight its architecture,
• Vila Prekrižje will open its doors to the visitors during Advent, with numerous concerts held at the wonderful ambient on an amazing building,
• the location where it all started years ago, the street of the centre of downtown Zagreb, Bogovićeva, Gajeva, Cvjetni trg, Varšavska, will again see a lot of different foods and drinks, as well as souvenirs and decorations.

There will be, as usual, something for everyone in Zagreb during December. You can find more information, including a map of all of the Advent 2019 events on http://www.adventzagreb.hr/?lang=en.