Dubrovnik'a favourite tradition raffle (TOMBOLA)
DUBROVNIK'S FAVOURITE TRADITION RAFFLE (TOMBOLA) ON THE AFTERNOON OF ST. BLAISE'S DAY
Once again, in the early afternoon on the day of the Festivity of St. Blaise, a raffle (in Croatian ˝tombola˝) will be played in front of the Sponza Palace, a tradition that according to the Dubrovnik historian Josip Bersa dates back to 1842. A favourite game of the citizens of Dubrovnik, one that attracts standard bearers, ladies and gentlemen, festively dressed people from the Dubrovnik surroundings, Grand Masters of the ceremony, children and all visitors, will take place on the Patron's Day, February 3rd at 4 p.m. So, there will be fun to be had on this year's St. Blaise’s Day as well; the tombola cards are ready, and oranges or eggs are always on hand. The City of Dubrovnik and the Tourist Board invite you to the traditional tombola game, the proceeds of which will go to the Association for Muscular Dystrophy, Cerebral Palsy, and other Persons with Disabilities of Dubrovnik-Neretva County.
Among those people from Dubrovnik endowed with the gift of humour, the tombola raffle on Stradun included ˝hazing˝, or the throwing of bitter oranges and eggs, and this is why the numbers were drawn on the terrace of the Sponza Palace. Luko Paljetak, a poet and a Member of the Academy of Arts and Sciences, reminisces in his verses about the tombola raffle at Sponza, remembering the legendary figure of Frano Miše who, while drawing numbers was exposed to the harassing comments, blows, and laughter of those gathered below on the plaza in front of the Patron's church.
A happy cry of ˝Got it, got it!˝ would always provoke curiosity while the lucky one pushed through the crowd towards Sponza, all the while comparing the numbers drawn (up on the board) with the ones on his card. Potential winners were often disappointed because a wrong number would creep in among the numbers marked on their card and thus the win was lost… The public comments on every number drawn, some voice displeasure while others rejoice, but everyone is in good mood and enjoys themselves. There is good fun to be had on this year's St. Blaise as well; tombola cards are ready, and oranges and eggs are always easy to come by. The City of Dubrovnik and the Tourist Board invite you to the traditional tombola, the entire proceeds of which will go to the Association for Muscular Dystrophy, Cerebral Palsy, and other Persons with Disabilities of Dubrovnik-Neretva County.