In this blog of mine, I report to You mostly about the events related to my craft Kalidariart. However, as my activities are very often connected with those of the Order of the Guardians of Zagreb, I decided to include events in my reports, in which I am not a craftsman, but come in the service of the sworn Sisters of the Order of the Guardians of the City of Zagreb, in the function of the Order’s Scribe and Calligraphy Teacher.
So for example, for the already 3rd year in a row, we are part of a wonderful event in the charming town of Čakovec, in the magnificent Regional in Čakovec, where the powerful Croatian Family Zrinski once reigned, called – Zrinijada.
Those of You who don’t visit museums often may have an idea of museums as they were in the old days – as places of pious silence, where exhibits are observed and the loudest sound apart from the guide’s voice is the creaking of the parquet floors in the rooms. However, today’s museums, such as the one I’m writing about, are far from that image. Modern museums are very interactive and interesting places… Much has been improved and modernized, so that after visiting the museum one feels as if You were in an amusement park!
Thanks to the great efforts and commitment of the proactive and forward-looking Director of the Museum, Maša Hrustek Sobočan, and Her team, the Museum has been significantly renovated over the past few years and not only that – turned into one of the most beautiful museums I’ve ever been to – I highly recommend that You reserve Yourself a day for visit to this Wonder of Međimurje!
However, as much as I could go on about the Museum itself, let’s go back to the real reason for this report of mine and that is – Zrinijada itself – It is, a beautiful and joyful all-day event, conceived as a fun competition. It is organized by the equally impressive History Museum from Zagreb, for the students of Croatian elementary schools from the towns connected to the Zrinski Family, in the knowledge of the history of the Zrinski family.
”Competitors from 12 Croatian elementary schools that are the historically connected to Zrinski took part in this year’s competition, which took place for the third year in a row at the Međimurje Museum Čakovec – co-organizer and host museum, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The four-member student teams were prepared and monitored by their mentors and led by the team captains. The teams bravely fought together and tried several challenges. Namely, in order to win in Zrinijada, the teams had to demonstrate knowledge and skills related to the history of the Zrinski family and the time they lived in, as well as resourcefulness and team spirit! The teams had to successfully go through creative and knowledge tasks, a training ground – a timeline, and master new skills – such as swordsmanship, archery, calligraphy and the medieval way of healing, which was helped by the members of the Order of the Guardians of Zagreb, again our guests this year, and at the very at the end of the competition, the final challenge awaited them – the Knight’s Tournament – in which the best from each team had to show how skilled they were and try their luck in the Old Town of Zrinski.” – reported by the Museum’s website, and I borrowed the text.
At the time of corona and the restoration of the Museum, there were fewer of us, but we did not let those obstacles stop us.
Beautiful view from my classroom window, isn’t it? To our mobile field hospital, where training on medieval medicine takes place with a demonstration of replicas of tools and medicines.
After the lectures and basic training in Swordmanship, Archery, Medicine and Calligraphy, a small competition followed. From me, the task was to write the inscription: “Zrinijada 2024” in calligraphy. I had to score the works from 1-12, which was not an easy task at all, I felt like a judge on Supertalent!
As You have read, these young people spent an exciting day full of content and interesting learning – yes, even though they had to study a little, they didn’t complain, they said it was interesting. And I believe them – for the third year already, together with the excellent organizers from both Museums, we, the Custodians, are doing our best to make it as interesting and meaningful as possible for the young people and for them to leave full of beautiful memories.
The Zrinijada is getting bigger and better every year, with more participants each time. If You ask me, I think all schools in Croatia should get involved, not only those that have something to do with Zrinski – who knows, maybe they will in the future?
I highly recommend visiting this castle, all its parts are beautiful.
The Museum of Međimurje Čakovec is part of the “Living Castles” project, intended to revive such historical sites. When You see the wax figures that look like they are alive, in part of the Museum’s permanent exhibition, You will think that You are in Madame Tussauds – oh, it is the true pearl of the Museum! Big respect and congratulations to all deserving people!
And finally – although as performers at the Museum we are always well taken care of, it has already become a tradition of ours that after a job well done, we visit another, soo delicious place that it simply deserves to be mentioned and recommended because everything is sooo good fine and beyond delicious there, and that is the Old Oak Tavern.
Thank You Čakovec, Thank You, Museum/s, thank You Zriniads,
Thank You for reading, thank You all!
