Their ringing can be heard far and wide, and their appearance horrifies. Though your legs will tremble with fear, you will not be able to remove your eyes from the carnival kings. Better known as the Halubaj bell ringers, under terrifying animal masks, their magical movements imbued with a long tradition invoke spring, cleansing from sin, but also the victory of good over evil. Declared as an immaterial cultural property of all humanity under the protection of UNESCO, the Halubaj bell-ringers are a top tourist attraction that you should not miss.

A Long Tradition of Halubaj Bell-Ringers

Bell-ringers - 'Zvončari' are an example of the connection between the indigenous and traditional with modern and new. According to the legend, bell ringers existed all the way back to the Middle Ages, but the first written traces date back to 1860 when a group of young men from Marčelj ordered cast bells from Maribor. To distract the witches from their greatest treasure, sheep, the shepherds wore animal skins and put on scary masks and bells as they grazed. We don't know if they've been successful, but over time their goal has changed. 

They were often associated with the magic of fertility and the cult of the dead in the context of the pagan New Year, but today it is an entirely different story. Halubaj bell ringers are a tourist attraction and one of the most popular groups of bell ringers in Europe. Respecting a long tradition, their looks are reminiscent of their ancestors - frightful masks on their faces, sheepskin cloaks on their shoulders, and heavy bells around their waist. Not everyone can be a bell ringer - only the strong and proud ones. The bells are quite heavy, and the three-day bell-ringing walk is almost 60 kilometers. Every year, Halubaj bell-ringers go around Viškovo and surrounding towns to the rhythm of bells to symbolically chase away evil spirits and announce the arrival of spring. Today the Halubaj bell ringers have almost 250 members, successfully nurturing the traditions of their elders.

Their only weapon – the bells!

You would think that you need more than a bell to banish evil spirits and witches away, but this time we will trust the bell ringers; they are experts in this field, though. Their secret is to be as noisy as possible. Lots of shaking, lots of jumping, and lots of singing. It is truly impressive to see this. Frightening yet impressive. The Halubaj bell ringers are respected by the locals too. They usually wait for them while they pass through villages to give them a glass of wine or delicious homemade pastry such as Fritula. In fact, on that day, it is usually a huge party, where everybody is having fun, taking pictures, and making jokes with bell ringers. 

Experience the Magic of the Bells-Ringers

Did we catch your attention? If you want to experience the magic of bell-ringers, you won't find them in Carnival in Venice or in Rio, but in the seaside city of Rijeka in the Kvarner region. In February, Rijeka Carnival starts, and it attracts more than 100,000 spectators and over 10,000 participants. There the bell ringers show off their strength and power. So what are you waiting for? Book your stay in Rijeka, and experience the magic of beasty bell ringers. See you there!