Tombula as part of the festivity of Saint Blaise
On the eve of the Festivity of St. Blaise, the traditional game of Tombula (or ˝bingo˝), a favourite game of all generations, brings together young and old, numbers are circled, and oranges fly through the air.
It is all entertaining and in good fun and meant for charity. This year, the proceeds of the Tombula are intended for the Down Syndrome Association of Dubrovnik-Neretva County. Join us – purchase tombula cards at the Tourist Information Centre (TIC) at Pile from 1 to 3 February or on Stradun the day of, just before the Tombula game begins!
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 the Down Syndrome Association of Dubrovnik-Neretva County.