The Bells Return as Hvar Celebrates Easter in Bright Sunshine

After two days of silence, the church bells return to the island of Hvar.

The local community came out in force in trademark sunshine on Europe's sunniest island on March 27, 2016, as Hvar celebrated the important Catholic feast of Easter, one of the highlights of the annual calendar.

While Hvar is famous as Croatia's premier tourist island, it has a strong religious tradition, nowhere more so than in TCN's headquarters of Jelsa, where Easter takes on a special significance with the annual Za Krizen Easter Procession through the night on Maunday Thursday, a 22km procession which takes nine hours, arriving back in Jelsa at 07:00 on Good Friday (see previous report here, and video of the final moments below).

The church bells, which ring hourly for the entire year, then fall silent on Good Friday and Easter Saturday, before returning in force on Easter Sunday, as extended families come together to celebrate. Sunday Mass is alway packed, and the congregation then retires to the main square for morning coffee and conversation (see video below), before heading home for a traditional lamb lunch. 

Happy Easter from the TCN team.