The burning and skipping of “Lazarica” ​​remained only in Banat. It was cheerful and homely in the home of the Zaric family in Kikinda, when the whole alley was roaring with children’s noise, while the fire lit up Njegoseva Street.

Uncle Radovan Zaric (84) remembers that both old and young gathered at the crossroads of the streets, the so-called “horns”. This day used to have a special charm, not only for the youngest.

VN Lazarice

– My heart is always full when I see that this old custom has remained to this day and that makes children happy. I learned from my parents and so it extended and passed from generation to generation. When I was a guy, lighting a “lazarica” ​​was a special experience. I play the accordion, we play and sing, 30 boys and girls, mothers or grandmothers get together. It was different, we hung out more. If a guy “cast an eye” on a girl, he could have approached her for “Lazarica” ​​and reached her more easily. We jumped over the fire, even if we lit up a little, to prove ourselves to the girls.

VN

From the dry stalks of corn and branches, fires were lit and jumped over the alleys of Kikinda, Mokrin, Bashaid, Sajan, Idjoš, Ostojić, Sanad, Srpski Krstur …

-Men are in charge of preparing firewood, and women are in charge of everything else. For years, I knead bakery rolls, popcorn, serve drinks, and this day is a special charm for children. They are most happy – says Olgica Zaric (74).

GP Olgica Zaric

Before the fire starts, the children announce themselves with so-called “rattlesnakes”, ringing bells and hitting sherpas, thus hinting at the lighting of the “lazarica”.

– “Klepetuša” serves to drive away evil witches and ghosts from the house and to bring happiness and joy into the home during the year – explains Radovan’s and Olgica’s grandson Mane Mandić.

There is a widespread belief among the people that the one who manages to jump over the flame of “Lazarica” ​​”cleanses” himself from sins.

– This interesting custom has one more goal: to leave the homes after the winter “sleep” and gather before the holiday and sowing, and talk about current issues from everyday life – explains theologian Dusko Jancic.

The lighting of the “Lazarica” ​​fire lost its popularity during the communist rule, but the older ones remember that a fire broke out in the alleys of Kikinda on the eve of Lazar’s Saturday in all social systems.

– Even in the time of communism, we looked through our fingers on this day – says Radovan Zaric.

GP Radovan Zaric

However, last year, due to the epidemic situation, there were no gatherings on the streets for “Lazarica”. Despite that, the custom that children are most happy about was held in some yards of the hosts, because, as the residents in the north of Banat say, the tradition must not be interrupted.

Follow us on social media

In Zagreb, after the victories over the teams of Mladost and Jug, Rdnički reached a historic success. When you left for Zagreb, could you expect two victories over strong teams and winning the trophy of the Regional League champions?

“I can’t say that this success was expected, but the whole team believed in it. The finals of the regional league were preceded by a cup game where we had an extremely strong opponent and that helped us realize that we are worth a little more than we are in that At the moment, they thought that we could fight for the highest trophies, “said Stefan Todorovski.

At what point did you realize you could be a champion? Is it in the semifinals, when you made a big turnaround, or in the finals, when almost every one of your attacks was a goal?

“I think that moment was before that semifinal match, because we entered it all with the belief that the time had come for us to do it, to beat Mladost, for the moment to prove ourselves. It was the right moment for a Serbian club shows that it can do what we have not been able to do in previous years, “said Stefan Brankovic.

The director of the Radnički Water Polo Club, Jugoslav Vasović, pointed out that this is the second trophy in club sports in terms of value, right after the Champions League. How did Kragujevac accept the fact that it has water polo champions?

“This is a really great success, and I must repeat that we are not yet aware of what we have done. I agree with our director, and this is a great success for Kragujevac and the whole of Serbia. We have growing support from the city in our work and I hope that it will stay that way, “Todorovski stated.

In the further conversation, Radnički’s water polo players talked about the club’s further ambitions after the victory over Partizan in the domestic championship, as well as about participation in the work of the national team.

They especially pointed out that winning this trophy has a great impact on the popularization of water polo and confirmed the information that Kragujevac will also have a women’s water polo team.

They expressed hope and expectations that winning the trophy will additionally motivate children and youth to play this sport.