The most important date on the calendar in Dubrovnik is fast approaching, the Festivities of St. Blaise the patron saint of the city. The 3rd of February is marked every year as the day of St. Blaise and at the same time the Day of the City of Dubrovnik.

In September 2009 the Festivities of St. Blaise in Dubrovnik were included in the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The main events kick-off the day before, on the 2nd of February, with the releasing of white doves in the Old City in front of the St. Blaise Church. And the following day the whole city is awoken by the sound of the church bells and the echoes of muskets as the so called “wake-up call” takes place at 6:00 a.m. in the Old City harbour.

The patron saint of Dubrovnik, St. Blaise - Photo Canva 

Here is the full program of events for the 2023 Festivities of St. Blaise in Dubrovnik

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2

8:00 a.m. Tribute to the defenders of the City of Dubrovnik

Organizer: City of Dubrovnik

Memorial in the Boninovo cemetery

10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. - Bitter Orange Day - in front of the Sponza Palace - Organizer: Association DEŠA - Dubrovnik

10:00 a.m. Memorial to Mr. Josip Pupator and his contribution to the celebration of St. Blaise in New York – in Gradska Kavana

11:00 a.m. Formal session of the City Council City of Dubrovnik – Marin Drzic theatre

11:00 a.m. "Wine Festival" – Gradska Kavana - Organizer: Economic and Craft Chamber of Dubrovnik and Dubrovnik - Neretva County, Festa Dubrovnik

2:45 p.m. – Dubrovnik Brass Band Parade – Stradun - Performance of the marching band and a performance with the Cathedral choir

3:00 p.m. – Banners of St. Blaise in front of the St. Blaise Church

3:30 p.m. - Opening ceremony of the Festivities of St. Blaise - in front of the St. Blaise Church

5:30 p.m. - Solemn Mass and concert - Cathedral

8:00 p.m. - Candlemas dinner - Revelin Fortress

Dubrovnik honours the patron saint - Photo CROPIX

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3

6:00 a.m. - Wake-up call – Old City harbour - Ringing of the city bells and the Dubrovnik Musket-bearing Guard of Honour

7:00 a.m. - Eucharistic celebration – St. Blaise Church

7:00 a.m. - Wake-up call – Dubrovnik Brass Band – Stradun

7:30 a.m. - Dubrovnik Musket-bearing Guard of Honour, music and flag bearers

10:00 a.m. - Solemn Mass and then the St. Blaise procession - Old City - Procession to be led by Msgr. Tomo Vukšić

1:00 p.m. – Special buffet in honour of St. Blaise – Luža - (traditional meat macaroni, donut and a glass of wine)

3:30 p.m. - Flag bearers salute - in front of the Cathedral

4:00 p.m. – Tombola – in front of Sponza Palace

6:00 p.m. - Eucharistic celebration – St. Blaise Church

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4

6:00 p.m. Stage storytelling "The Book of St. Blaise” – Lazareti - Organizer: Student theatre LERO

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5

8:00 a.m. - Gathering of flags and pilgrims in front of the St. Blaise Church before heading towards to Gorica

9:00 a.m. - Celebration of St. Blaise on Gorica with a Mass

11:00 a.m. - Welcoming the flags at Pile Gate into Dubrovnik accompanied by the Dubrovnik Brass Band

12:00 a.m. - Return of the flag bearers to the City and the end of the Festivities of St. Blaise in front of the St. Blaise Church

RELATED - Five things you didn’t know about St. Blaise - check it out HERE