Nerezine/island of Lošinj Nerezine Muaj

Muaj (May) is an old custom marking the arrival of spring, youth and new life. It is celebrated every year on the first Sunday in May. On the Saturday evening before the celebration, young men from Nerezine would meet and decide whose boat they were going to haul out of the sea and bring into the main square, which is called Studenac. This was usually a boat belonging to a father whose daughter was supposed to be the next to get married. They would then also bring a huge oak tree and secretly ‘steal’ pots with flowers from backyards where girls lived and bring them to the square. The oak tree was decorated with kerchiefs and when families went to Mass in the morning, they were surprised by the spectacle of a decorated boat, oak tree and many flower pots on the square. After Mass, there was pipe music and a Nerezine dance called Milo – drago (Darling – sweetheart) was performed. The parents collected the flower pots while the girl’s father, the owner of the boat, would buy drinks for the young men to pay for the return of his boat into the sea.

Try not to miss it! Nerezine - Trg Studenac at 10 o’clock in the morning.

WHERE TO MOOR IN NEREZINE