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Association ”Zipka”

In order to preseve the traditions, songs and dances of Kumrovec, a group of enthusiasts, residents of Kumrovec and surrounding villages, the Association thought of establishing an association, that would be aimed at the preservation of intangible cultural heritage of Kumrovec. Such considerations have finally benn realized on November 8, 2002 when Ethno Association Zipka was founded, and on January 14, 2003, was registered at the Croatian Association under registration number 02000647.

Through the establishment of the Ethno Association Zipka, Sutla area got more opportunities for better preservation of tangible heritage.

Zeleni Jura - Zipka

The specificity of the Ethno Association Zipka is fostering the wedding customs of Kumrovec, from the supplication of the bride, engagement, wedding to wedding party, joy and the cakes.

Thanks to the continuous work over the past year, through wedding customs Ethno Association Zipka reconstructed other customs, related to the lifestyle of people of Kumrovec, such as:

  • “Green George” – tours through the village on St. George’s Day, April 23 (at the Ministry of Culture, protected as an intangible cultural heritage) – see St. George’s Day in Kumrovec
  • “Belatva” – cleaning corn
  • “Cehatva” – saving feathers
  • “St. Martin’s Day” – must baptism, November 11

All of these programs are held at the Museum “Staro selo” Kumrovec, whose traditional architecture makes the best possible setting for the revitalization of certain practices.

Also, Ethno Association Zipka participates in performances in other counties and cities of Croatia and abroad, with the aim of presenting and promoting intangible cultural heritage of Kumrovec area and Sutla valley. For example, a guest appearance at the event “Days of Jalzabet”, the promotion of traditional event “Wedding in Zagorje” in terme Tuhelj and Zagreb, as well as in terme Olimije (Slovenia).

Close co-operation of Ethno Association Zipka and Muesm ”Staro selo” Kumrovec, also resulted in performances of Ethno Association Zipka outside the Krapina-Zagorje County. Following the exhibition activities of the Museum ”Staro selo” Kumrovec, the association, through year 2004, toured in the Museum Moslavina in Kutina (Sisak-Moslavina County) and Kozjanski park Podsreda in Podsredi (Slovenia).

In a short period of time, since its establishment in 2002, members of the Ethno Association Zipka not only revitalized somewhat forgotten customs, but also enriched the tourist attractions in the Kumrovec area, through their work, presentation and promotion of intangible cultural heritage of Sutla area, i.e Kumrovec area.

With properly set goals, and that’s the desire to preserve their cultural identity in the globalization process, Ethno Association Zipka works and will continue to work on complementing their program.

Members, thirty of them, meet once a week, on Thursdays from 6:00 PM – 8:00 in winter, i.e 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM in summer.

Every meeting, every test means one step closer to the realization of the plans, and that is, primarily, the reconstruction and revitalization of as many customs of Sutla area as possible.

Dear people of Kumrovec, residents of surrounding neighborhoods, of older and younger ages, boys and girls, come and join in the work of the Ethno Association Zipka, because only together and with your help we’ll save what we have inherited from our ancestors, we’ll be proud with our rich cultural heritage and we’ll present it to the nations of the European community.

Ethno Association Zipka
Cesta Lijepe nase 6a, Kumrovec
Phone: +385 49 553202
E-mail: marija.turkovic@kr.t-com.hr