From gastronomy to tradition and culture, the Spačva Forest is a home to various events that celebrate local customs and specialties and attract visitors from all over. The Otočka kulenijada (the Kulenijada of Otok), Zlatne grive (the Golden Manes), Pokladno jahanje (the Carnival Horseback Riding), Filipovčice (the St. Philip’s Girls), and the Dani Vanje Dracha (the Vanja Drach Days) are just some of the events that represent the wealth of Slavonian heritage through entertainment, education and competitions, proving that tradition and hospitality are deeply rooted in the heart of this region.
Kulenijada is an event that brings together the best producers of kulen, a traditional Slavonian specialty, and where every year we find out whose kulen is the best. The Kulenijada of Otok is one of the longest running (the second oldest in Croatia) and the most famous kulenijadas in the country, which has been held for more than two decades. Producers of authentic Slavonian kulen present their products there, the quality of kulen is evaluated, and awards and prizes awarded to the best producers. Visitors who come to Otok during the Kulenijada, which is most often in June, can taste the best Slavonian kulen and enjoy a fantastic gastronomic specialty.
The “Golden Mane” equestrian event is educational as well as competitive and attracts more and more lovers of these noble animals every year. “Golden manes” are held every year as part of “Otočko proljeće”, organized by the Horse Breeding Association “Otok” with the aim of promoting horse breeding, breeding and preservation of breeds, and the promotion of equestrian sports. Spectators are particularly interested in the horse show, where members of the Association exhibit their horses, and the traditional Potkovijada (Game of Horseshoes), but for many the most interesting is the competitive nature of the event. The spectators’ interest in galloping and dressage events is immense, while the excitement is palpable during the two-horse chariot racing, and precision and speed racing.
The Carnival Horseback Riding is part of the traditional cultural heritage of the plain region, and its roots date back to the time of the Military Frontier, from 1743 to 1873 when border guards on the Sava River guarded the border from the Turks, but also recruited young men from the villages into the army. For Carnival celebrations (usually in February) in Slavonia, Baranja and Srijem, men in traditional clothes ride decorated horses through the town streets and municipalities, greeting the crowd. People wait for them in front of their houses and offer them food and drinks. It is a special experience to hear the stomp of hooves and watch the proud and magnificent procession – a permanent reminder of this region’s defence against the Ottomans.
On May 2, on the eve of the holiday of St. Philip and St. Jacob, the annual Filipovčice from Komletinci spring procession takes place. According to tradition, young girls ready for marriage walk barefoot, dressed in white folk clothes, with long ribbons tied from the neck down. In their hands they carry common hornbeam branches that their boyfriends or fathers have given them. Until the middle of the 20th century, young girls from the village took part in the procession, while today the tradition of the procession is revived by the folk ensemble. This beautiful spring custom has been preserved only in Komletinci and you cannot see it anywhere else in Slavonia.
Dani Vanje Dracha is an international theatre festival that has been going on for more than 40 years (it began in 1955). Since 2019, it bears the name of Vanja Drach, a native of Bošnjaci and the bard of Croatian theatre. Acting groups from Croatia and the neighbouring countries participate in the Dani Vanje Dracha, and the festival lasts for a month. Performances are held on weekends (Saturday and Sunday) in the Dom kulture (the House of Culture) in Bošnjaci. The Dani Vanje Dracha is unique because in each play a prize is awarded for the best performance.
