Mark Thomas - The editor and big chief of The Dubrovnik Times. Born in the UK he has been living and working in Dubrovnik since 1998, yes he is one of the rare “old hands.” A unique insight into both British and Croatian life and culture, Mark is often known as just “Englez” or Englishman. He is a traveller, a current affairs freak and a huge AFC Wimbledon fan.
Email: mark.thomas@dubrovnik-times.com
From enchanting ice rinks to vibrant Christmas parades, these markets provide the perfect backdrop for a family Christmas getaway. Dubrovnik hosts a Christmas market featuring traditional treats like arancini, quince jelly, and candied almonds.
During Advent, the city offers a variety of holiday activities tailored for children and families, transforming Dubrovnik into a festive wonderland. This has earned Dubrovnik’s Advent a high second place on the list of the best family Christmas destinations, published by the specialized portal European Best Destinations.
Only the French city of Metz surpassed Dubrovnik, with this reasoning:
"Marvel at the ice sculptures in the Frozen Fairyland and then warm your hands with a hot spiced drink or mulled wine."
Dubrovnik’s beloved Moto Santas once again took Stradun by storm, spreading holiday cheer with the roar of their engines. Dressed as Santa Claus, these motorcyclists not only captured attention on their way to Dubrovnik’s historic main street but also brought joy to children with festive gifts in tow.
Despite the chilly north wind, the Moto Santas remained undeterred. Their gleaming motorcycles, adorned with decorations and saddlebags brimming with surprises for the youngest spectators, became a dazzling sight for all.
This heartwarming tradition isn’t just about the spectacle—it carries a purpose. The Moto Santas were on a humanitarian mission this year, contributing to the festive spirit of the Dubrovnik Winter Festival.
Their blend of generosity, festive fun, and roaring engines made for an unforgettable day in Dubrovnik’s winter wonderland.
United Airlines has announced an extended schedule for its popular Newark-to-Dubrovnik route, ensuring flights will run until the end of the 2025 summer season. Originally slated to conclude on September 25, the service will now operate until October 24, responding to strong passenger demand.
Until late September, flights will run daily, before scaling back to four weekly rotations through October. This marks a significant boost for Dubrovnik Airport, which has been lobbying for an extended schedule to meet the rising appetite for transatlantic travel.
Dubrovnik has cemented its appeal among US travelers, bolstered by United’s seasonal service. This year alone, the route handled 29,444 passengers, achieving an impressive average cabin load factor of 89.8%.
The extended service also represents a milestone: in 2025, United will introduce daily flights to Dubrovnik’s Rudjer Bošković Airport for the first time. The airline plans to operate the route with its 231-seat Boeing 767-400 aircraft, offering passengers enhanced comfort and capacity.
United’s decision underscores the growing importance of Dubrovnik as a gateway for American tourists to explore the Adriatic region. The move is expected to provide a welcome boost to the city’s economy, particularly during the shoulder season, as businesses look to sustain momentum beyond the summer peak.
St. Stephen’s Day is a public holiday in Croatia and many other countries, but not everyone knows why it is celebrated, particularly the day after Christmas.
For many people, the day after Christmas is simply another day off, perfect for relaxing in front of the TV and enjoying festive meals with family. However, for the faithful, December 26 holds significant importance, as it honors St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr and one of the seven deacons chosen in the early days of the Church.
In the Catholic Church, the Feast of St. Stephen the Protomartyr is observed on December 26, the day after Christmas. This day celebrates new beginnings, and it is customary to visit relatives, friends, and neighbors to extend Christmas greetings.
In Croatia, as well as in many other countries, this day is a public holiday. It is a day to honor and celebrate the "ordinary" person who died for the great ideals and truth of Jesus Christ. The feast has been officially celebrated since December 26, 380 AD, emphasizing the sacrifice Jesus later made on Calvary for the salvation of humanity.
Little is known about the life of St. Stephen. However, around 36 AD, due to his open preaching of Jesus’ teachings and his membership in the Christian disciples’ community, he was accused of blasphemy and stoned to death. Before the Sanhedrin, he gave a speech that further provoked the elders of Jerusalem, who then took him outside the city walls to stone him.
The Bible records his last words before his death: “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” St. Stephen is often depicted as a young man dressed in a deacon’s dalmatic, holding a martyr’s palm in one hand and a stone in the other. Today, he is regarded as a symbol of forgiveness and the fight against injustice.
As one of the first deacons, he assisted the apostles and preached the Gospel wherever and whenever he could. For this reason, he is also venerated as the patron saint of deacons, bricklayers, stonemasons, coffin makers, and those suffering from headaches.
In Croatia, this holiday is known as Štefanje, and it is also the name day for all those named Stjepan, Štef, Stipe, Štefica, Štefanija, Stephanie, and similar. His name in Greek means “crown” or “wreath,” so individuals named Krunoslav and Krunoslava also celebrate their name day on this occasion.
In Orthodox churches, St. Stephen’s Day is celebrated on December 27, but since they follow the Julian calendar, this corresponds to January 9 in the Gregorian calendar.
Boxing Day, observed on December 26, originated in the UK and is celebrated in several Commonwealth countries. Its name likely stems from the tradition of giving "Christmas boxes" containing gifts or money to servants, tradespeople, and the less fortunate as a token of gratitude.
Historically, it was a day when wealthy families shared their blessings with those in need. Today, Boxing Day is synonymous with post-Christmas sales, sporting events, and spending time with family. While its charitable roots are less emphasized, the day retains its spirit of giving, making it a meaningful extension of the festive season.
Jadrolinija has signed an agreement with Barska Plovidba to resume connecting the Montenegrin port of Bar with the Italian port of Bari in 2025, using the ferry Dalmacija as part of the international Dubrovnik - Bari route.
Jadrolinija announced that the international line between Bar and Bari will be operated in partnership with Barska Plovidba, which will act as the port agent and handle ticket sales for Jadrolinija's international routes.
They emphasized that the ferry Dalmacija is the flagship of Jadrolinija. Joining the fleet in the spring, it has elevated the Dubrovnik - Bari route to a new level. According to Jadrolinija, Dalmacija is "the largest ship in Jadrolinija's history," creating the conditions necessary to expand the schedule and reconnect the port of Bar. Jadrolinija last connected Bar and Bari in 2022, and the company stated that the route "has consistently shown good results and significant tourism potential."
The ferry Dalmacija has a capacity of 800 passengers and 280 personal vehicles, and it features two restaurants, a bar, an open-deck grill bar, a playroom for children, and arcade games.
The Bar - Bari route will operate during the summer season, from July 1 to August 27, with the possibility of extending into September, pending further negotiations.
“I'm dreaming of a white Christmas, just like the ones I used to know,” yes, it true we used to have plenty of white festive seasons when I was younger and living 2,300 km to the north.
And who knows I might get another white Christmas this year, as by the time you are reading this I will be lost in a London airport. I guess I could have used a Chris Rhea lyric to open, but this time we aren’t driving home for Christmas but flying, thanks to Scrooge Airlines (AKA Ryanair).
Driving home for Christmas - Photo Mark Thomas
Ryanair really reminds me of catching the school bus when I was a child, it does the job but is a little lacking in luxury. More practical than plush. But they are the only one flying to London this Christmas so I shouldn’t really knock them.
So this year it’s turkey and stuffing for me, followed by Christmas pudding and mince pies. To be honest I am not really a great fan of any of this festive food but it’s Christmas so I go with the flow.
There will be only a few presents under the Christmas tree and we’ve all agreed to go down the route of a Secret Santa, although I’m pretty sure it won’t be that secret for long.
I don’t know about you but I believe that presents at Christmas should be reserved only for children. If you want to give to an adult then give to a charity instead, I assure you that they need the money more than your relative needs another bottle of perfume.
Not to mention the tradition of pretending to love your presents. Nothing beats that awkward moment when you unwrap socks with Santa hats on them and have to muster the enthusiasm of someone opening a winning lottery ticket. “Oh, wow! Just what I needed!” you exclaim, while mentally filing them under "emergency dusting cloths."
I tell you the one thing that I won’t miss about Christmas in Dubrovnik, those bloody fireworks. Christmas for our pets is a nightmare. “I thought they were banned,” said my wife. “They were, but making a law and enforcing it are two completely different things,” I replied. “But you don’t have to be Sherlock Holmes to catch them, they are firecrackers!” she answered.
She had a point.
Firecrackers are openly on sale in many stores and presumably parents are giving their children money to buy them. There is a lot of stupid going on in that last sentence! How long will be before there is a Tik Tok Challenge involving fireworks that children will sheep-like follow just to get likes. Again we will read about a child who has been blinded or suffered third-degree burns.
If you are a store owner selling firecrackers to children, you are an utter moron.
Thankfully I will have a break from the festive madness this year. There’s something uniquely comforting about Christmas Day in England. For one day, the usual clamour of daily life seems to take a collective pause, and the country, bustling and chaotic 364 days a year, is wrapped in an unusual stillness.
Even the constant hum of motorway traffic fades to a whisper, the hustle of shops and cafés is silenced, and for once, the relentless pace of modern life slows to something resembling serenity.
Yet, Christmas Day isn’t without its complexities. For some, it’s a stark reminder of loss or loneliness, a day when the world seems to magnify absences. The pressure to meet the ideals of a “perfect Christmas” can cast a long shadow, and the day’s stillness, for some, brings not peace but a deafening silence. Remember, above all, that Christmas is a time to think of others and to put others first. So, as I swap the mild winters of Dubrovnik for the frosty charm of England, I’m reminded that Christmas isn’t a place or even a specific meal—it’s a feeling.
It’s the cosy comfort of a shared laugh, the cheesy carols everyone pretends to hate, and the moment of quiet reflection when the chaos settles. Even with all its clichés, chaos, and inevitable calorie overload, Christmas Day in England has a charm that’s hard to beat. It’s not about perfection or Instagram-worthy moments; it’s about shared experiences, laughter, and maybe a little too much brandy in the custard.
So wherever you are this festive season, whether in England, Croatia, or somewhere in between, I hope you find joy in the little moments, the unexpected laughs, and the people around you. I wish you all a very merry and peaceful Christmas. Cheers!
I wish you all a very merry and peaceful Christmas.
Read more Englishman in Dubrovnik…well, if you really want to
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About the author
Mark Thomas (aka Englez u Dubrovniku) is the editor of The Dubrovnik Times. He was born and educated in the UK and moved to live in Dubrovnik in 1998. He works across a whole range of media, from a daily radio show to TV and in print. Thomas is fluent in Croatian and this column is available in Croatia on the website – Dubrovnik Vjesnik
Croatian Ivan Jurić, 49, has been appointed manager of Southampton after parting ways with Roma. He signed an 18-month contract, taking over from Russell Martin, who was dismissed following a 5-0 defeat to Tottenham.
Southampton, recently promoted to the Premier League, sits at the bottom of the table with five points and has not won a match since November 2. The squad is valued at €306 million.
“I’m very pleased. This is a big challenge, but I’m optimistic because I see a team that can improve. It’s important to connect with the fans right away. I want an aggressive team, and I believe Southampton supporters will appreciate that. I want us to play more aggressively and apply more pressing. We’ll need to quickly change the mentality because that’s my football philosophy,” Jurić said after signing the contract.
Jurić could make his debut on Sunday against Fulham, provided his work permit is approved, with a match against West Ham to follow.
Online dating has utterly changed the way in which we go about the courting process in order to find a suitable match that we might end up staying with for a significant amount of our lives. Moreover, it has opened up new ways that we can choose to date, whether that be searching for a quick hookup or attempting to find other divorcees who are carving companionship more than ever after a nasty breakup. However, one thing that remains true, regardless of the outcome you're looking for, is that men tend to be slightly more clueless in navigating the world of online dating than women. Obviously, there are exceptions, and the difference is not as massive as many will have you believe, but the fact is that men have a slightly higher propensity to come across as arrogant, rude, and more willing to bend the truth to ensure their egos are sufficiently massaged. In this post, we are going to help those men among you who are unsure how to play the online dating game correctly by proffering a few crucial tips that ought to land you more high-quality matches that should hopefully end up with you in a relationship with someone who shares your interests and is happy to be with you.
Image source: https://unsplash.com/
In many cases, this tip is relevant for all genders as it merely involves making sure you select an app that suits the very sort of dating you're going for. Because a dating website isn't a monolithic idea, there are numerous different types that cater to almost anything that you could imagine. From those offering a quick date to those appealing to the people who prefer to take things a little more slowly, you have the choice in how you can date, and the site you choose will dictate the sort of outcome you receive. By doing a bit of due diligence before pouring your heart into a profile that will never get seen or pestering other women for a hookup on a site that mainly focuses on long-term potential, you will save yourself a lot of time and a decent dollop of embarrassment.
After ensuring that you have selected a website or application that caters to your requirements vis-a-vis dating, we can move on to the male-specific tips that will help you find love based on who you are as a person. The first of which is to learn how to craft the perfect profile that includes just enough information to showcase who you are as a person, to leave enough room to elicit follow-up questions from those who like the look of you and want to find out more. The idea here is not to splurge out anything and everything about yourself but to pick a few points that showcase who you are, what you're seeking, and what you enjoy. Your profile is often the first thing that a prospective match will look at, and making it too long or coming across as overly arrogant will scupper your chances of finding true love. Moreover, it will indicate to others what you expect from any potential relationship. It is that latter point that is so crucial, as it helps viewers get an overall view of who you are and determine if they deem yourself as a compatible match and want to continue to dig a little deeper.
Image source: https://unsplash.com
If you are in a certain age bracket and are still using a photo that you took from a decade ago that you think shines you in a good light, you might want to ditch it and choose another one. If your profile says you are in your late forties, you had better believe that most people will see right through your attempt at passing off an old football photo from your college days! Instead, choose one that is up-to-date and flattering in an honest way (e.g., by using natural light and showing you dressed in nice clothing). You should also ensure that you use an image that only contains you rather than a group, as it can be confusing, and many potential suitors will pass you up as they won't be able to pick you out from the others. Making this effort will garner more views and improve your chances of getting lots of great matches to follow up with.
Confidence is often considered to be a highly sexy trait in men, but when it spills over into arrogance, this sexiness can quickly turn sour and leave a bad taste in other people. So the question for most is, how can you come across as confident without ending up looking like a bad Andrew Tate knock-off? The answer lies in being respectful and happy in your own body. You can list your interests down and never attempt to lie about who you are in order to score a match. To put it in other words, it's not about bragging about yourself, but instead being happy in your own body and owning who you are as a person.
Image source: https://unsplash.com/photos
The internet has made it easy for people to be rude without facing any consequences for their actions, and this, in turn, has normalized this type of interaction. Nevertheless, you can buck this trend and ensure that in every interaction you have with someone else, you choose to take the route of respect, even when you are declining a possible match. You have the option here to become a true gentleman, and doing so can really shine through to others how you are as a person and help you generate a more confident personality that is highly appealing to most people.
If you have spent a decent amount of time perfecting your profile, taking an image that is both up-to-date and flattering, and coming across as confident, you should begin receiving messages from those interested in taking things further. When this occurs, you need to be ready to respond with your own questions and answers that are thoughtful enough to keep things moving along.
Online dating is thankfully no longer the kind of taboo that it was only a decade or so ago. However, many men are still unable to treat it like the separate entity that it is and will bring across many undesirable traits they might have already used and failed with in real life. By using these tips, you ought to be better placed to find whatever kind of love you're seeking.