Petrovo – 10 days of city celebration in the heart of Moslavina

Kutina, a city located at the foot of Moslavina and in the arms of Lonjsko Polje, only about 70 kilometers from Zagreb, is the place where I grew up. I spent years and years walking its streets, and the older I get, the more I see how much it changes every day. Its history dates back to antiquity when the Romans lived on its land and nearby, and it was first officially mentioned in 1258 in the charter of the Hungarian-Croatian king Bela IV when Kutina was called Kotynnam. It was also mentioned a little later as a settlement, trade center, and seat of the nahiya under various other names.

It was also ruled by counts such as the Erdody family and the Sečen family, and later Johan Grisul Tolsoj, Slavko Bettlheim, Ignac Steiner, and the Ausch brothers arrived.

Petrovo, Photo: Adria.fun

Over the centuries, it developed more and more, and one of its main features, apart from the best škrlet wine, is the Church of St. Mary of the Snow, built in 1729, with an interesting legend attached to it. It says that it was created when Count Erdody’s son went hunting on summer days when a boar wounded him. When the count realized he was not coming home, he ordered the peasants to search for him. The Virgin Mary took pity on them and snow fell one morning on the hill where the church is today. Everyone immediately ran up the hill in shock and there, apart from the snow, they found the body of the count’s son. On this occasion, the count made a grave in the same place, where his son’s body was found, and decided to build today’s church.

Church of St. Mary of the Snow in the distance, Kutina, Photo: Adria.fun

Of course, in addition to the beautiful baroque church, there are also the Moslavina porches, the so-called čardacs, where people used to live in the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as the castles of the Erdody counts, and the consistent tradition of growing grapes.

All this history and cultural heritage of the city that does not stand still has been turned into a real celebration, the celebration of the day of the city, which we Kutinians call Petrovo – Kutina’s celebration.

Petrovo, Photo: Adria.fun

It’s a celebration that starts at the very end of June, and with the help of the city of Kutina and the city’s Tourist Board, a 10-day program was prepared this year that I simply had to explore. What better opportunity to learn more about your area than firsthand? I chose a couple of things that I thought would help me in this.

Kutina is also a city of sportsmen, football players, handball players, Paralympians, and basketball players, so the first thing that caught my eye was Hakl na Tomislavu, already a traditional basketball tournament that takes place on the basketball court of the Kutina Sports Center. Although there were different tournaments during all 10 days, such as those in tennis, football, beach volleyball, and even bowling, this event really made an effort.

Both young and old competed, and the favorite teams were cheered on with music, graffiti drawing, and various refreshments. It is an event in the program that you must not miss next year either.

Many girls couldn’t resist seeing the boys running around the field, and I, now almost a married woman, found my solace among the little ones who in race 5 for Petrovo left sweat and tears, and in return, they received immense support by their parents, and from the organization a beautiful medal. Even the tears didn’t last long…

5 for Petrovo, Petrovo, Photo: Adria.fun

After I peeked into the sports corner, it was also time to visit the Moslavina Gallery and Museum, which had their doors open during the weekend, June 28-29. Straight from the singing square, I headed first towards the gallery, where these days you could see a very interesting exhibition of the Canadian painter and artist Michael Close, whose collection called “Faces” truly amazed me.

Using a combined technique, this artist, whose painting life is connected with Croatia, has shown the expressions of human faces through his 41 works.

Exhibition by Michael Close, Gallery of the Moslavina Museum, Petrovo, Photo: Adria.fun

After the exhibition, it was time to open the history book of both Moslavina and the city of Kutina. In the Museum of Moslavina, which I once visited as a child in elementary school, you can really find anything.

I was greeted at the door by the manager of the museum, who immediately invited me and my mother to help ourselves with coffee as we toured the museum exhibit, which is located in the former castle of the Erdody family.

Today, the setting consists of the prehistoric part, the time of the Romans and their legacies, collections from the Middle Ages from cities such as Garić, the original door of the White Church and the tombstone of Sofia Kaštelanović, all the way to traditional values ​​and legacies from the 19th and 20th centuries.

Museum of Moslavina, Kutina, Photo: Adria.fun

As a great history lover, I spent the most time in the prehistoric part, which always fascinates me the most… most likely because such history is truly unknown to us, so it is worth understanding as much as possible. In addition to prehistory, my eye also caught traditional costumes, which are still worn in this city and promoted at folklorist shows.

While we were at the very end of the sightseeing, a murmur from the distance started to be heard in the town square, which marked the time for me to check what was happening there. On the way, I stopped by to get some great ice cream from our city pastry shop and a cold drink, and in front of the stage we were greeted by the performances of the dance group M18, majorettes from Kutina, and the City Orchestra “Krešimir”.

In the previous days, which unfortunately I had to skip due to other obligations, a performance by the pensioners’ choir took place, the Moslavina kolo was danced, and tambourines played.

Majorette performance, Petrovo, Photo: Adria.fun

On the main town square, on the last weekend of the program, all visitors were awaited by a catering offer, a presentation of old crafts, and a fair of handicrafts and local products was held, and of course, only the best Moslavina wine was served.

For the youngest, there was also a children’s amusement park, and for lovers of sun and relaxation, a small corner for enjoyment.

The program would not be complete without various concerts, so on Friday, June 28, a performance was held by the Tambura group Ambar and the legendary Jole, and on Saturday, June 29, the party continued with the SuperCover Band and Nina Badrić.

It was an occasion where both young and old socialized, saw many familiar and unknown faces, learned something new, and all to celebrate the day of our city in the heart of Moslavina.

See you next year, right?

This publication was co-financed by the Fund for the Promotion of Pluralism and Diversity of Electronic Media.