{"product_id":"traditional-souvenir-licitar-licitarsko-srce-wood","title":"Traditional Souvenir Licitar (Licitarsko Srce) Wood","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eLicitar heart\u003c\/strong\u003e is a timeless symbol of Croatian culture — a beautifully crafted, hand‑painted wooden keepsake rooted in centuries of tradition. Adorned with \u003cstrong\u003eintricate folk patterns\u003c\/strong\u003e in vibrant reds, greens, and golds, each piece showcases delicate floral motifs and ornamental details that reflect the artistry of \u003cstrong\u003eauthentic Balkan craftsmanship\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOriginating from \u003cstrong\u003eZagreb’s historic Licitar tradition\u003c\/strong\u003e, this charming heart is more than a decoration; it’s a meaningful cultural emblem passed down through generations of skilled craftspeople. Its warm colours and ornate patterns make it an eye‑catching addition to any home, while its historical significance makes it a cherished collectible for lovers of genuine folk art.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePerfect as a heartfelt gift or a decorative reminder of Eastern European heritage, the Licitar heart connects you to the rich cultural story of Croatia.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Features\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan data-url=\"ca:\/\/s?q=Croatian_folk_art_designs\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\"\u003eHand‑painted folk designs\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e in vibrant traditional colours\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan data-url=\"ca:\/\/s?q=What_is_a_Licitar_heart\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\"\u003eAuthentic Licitar craftsmanship\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e rooted in Zagreb’s cultural heritage\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan data-url=\"ca:\/\/s?q=Wooden_folk_art_traditions\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\"\u003eWooden construction\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e with ornate floral and ornamental details\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIdeal as a \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan data-url=\"ca:\/\/s?q=Traditional_Croatian_gift_ideas\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\"\u003emeaningful gift\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e or decorative keepsake\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA beautiful piece for \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan data-url=\"ca:\/\/s?q=Folk_art_collectibles\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\"\u003ecollectors of folk art\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e and cultural enthusiasts\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is Licitarsko Srce?\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA famous symbol of Croatia, especially so from Zagreb (which actually incorporates them into the tourist logo of the city) and northern Croatia, these are heart-shaped biscuits which are made from gingerbread or honey dough, painted red and decorated with colourful icing, little mirrors and often a little message.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTraditionally, they would be given as gifts to a loved one, although nowadays they are a popular souvenir (but don’t try and eat the souvenir ones!) that come in a range of sizes. The licitarsko srce are similar to the lebkuchen hearts that you find in Germany and Austria, although the red colouring and decoration of the Croatian ones means they are distinct.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis kind of gingerbread making is actually on the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/ich.unesco.org\/en\/RL\/gingerbread-craft-from-northern-croatia-00356\"\u003eUNESCO World Intangible Cultural Heritage list.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is a licitar?\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLicitar is colorfully decorated cake made of honey dough. From the distant past the secrecy of licitar making has been preserved within the family of gingerbread crafts from the central and lowland of Croatia. Although entirely made of edible ingredients, at first it brings joy for eyes and soul. Traditionally it is of bright red color and produced in various shapes and sizes. Small size licitars (heart, cherry, doll, small bird, mushroom, horse-shoe, small wreath, horse) are favorite decoration of Christmas trees in Croatian homes, whereas the large size licitars are created for giving as a gift to the loved ones at special occasions. A young man giving a heart shaped licitars to his girlfriend to express this love and devotion to her is a custom deeply rooted in the Croatian traditional heritage. The St. Valentine’s Day, the largest holiday of those in love, is a special occasion for such sign of attention. This custom has been portrayed in the famous baler “Licitar heart” by Krešimir Baranović performed on stages throughout the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHistory\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe tradition of licitar making dates back to the Middle Ages, especially to the 16th and 17th century when cakes in richly decorated wooden moulds were made in many European convents. In the Easter Alps region, such tradition of cake making soon grew into a craft, which was gradually spreading to the other Central European regions, when it also came to the Pannonian parts of Croatia. In the 18th and 19th Century, in the towns of Zagreb, Karlovac, Koprivnica, Samobor, Varaždin and elsewhere, licitar makers were reputable craftsmen, and their products favorite among members of all social classes. Here, craftsmen were making dough and wax products such as licitars, gingerbread cakes, candles, wax votive gifts and drinks such as “gvirc” and mead. Since their early days, these products have been sold at fairs and parish fairs related to church festivals. Thanks to licitars producers, the stalls with gingerbread and mead products provided picturesqueness and special atmosphere.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Shop n Cro","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51115717263593,"sku":null,"price":9.9,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0809\/8421\/1689\/files\/Traditional_Souvenir_Licitar_Licitarsko_Srce_Wood.png?v=1779561030","url":"https:\/\/croshop.com.au\/products\/traditional-souvenir-licitar-licitarsko-srce-wood","provider":"Shop n Cro","version":"1.0","type":"link"}