The Ecomuseum-Ecomuseo "Batana" lives for tradition and breathes with it for 365 days, and that was the case at the end of the year, which it ended in the most beautiful way, reviving the authenticity and warmth of Rovinj's family Christmas, with which it entered its twenty-second year of existence.
The third edition of the program "Nadàl in famìa - Božić u obitelji - Natale in famiglia" lasted a full 35 days, and each of them was a good reason for numerous visitors to visit Batana's house and the Big Pier, among whom were mostly the youngest. 

The interior of the Ecomuseum-Ecomuseo "Batana" and the popular Riviera square in front of it, with their magical holiday decorations, became a favorite stage on which events dedicated to Rovinj's Christmas tradition changed from day to day - exhibitions, workshops, lectures, concerts, gastronomic offer, souvenirs and gifts, and numerous events for children, from Biba's children's corner in the museum gallery to the antique carousel that delighted both parents and children with countless free rides.

EXHIBITION, LECTURES AND STORIES ABOUT ROVINJ CHRISTMAS

The traditional exhibition "Nadàl in famìa - Christmas in the Family - Natale in famiglia" brought to the museum walls MANY photographs that Rovinj residents took out of their albums, frames and drawers with love and nostalgia. Those from previous years were joined by some new ones, which shows that the exhibition is becoming increasingly important and dear to the local community. The lecture "Rovinj Christmas Memories" showed that each photograph is a story with numerous, deep emotions, at which, moderated by Alessio Giuricino, the protagonists from the photographs recalled Christmases of long ago in a very emotional conversation.

Ana Santin recalled the warm welcome to the Santin family, forgotten customs from her native Rovinjsko Selo,Virna Dalino Polo revived the holiday days with her family, especially the tradition of making, setting up and decorating large nativity scenes for which, as well as fritulas, her grandmother Anna was famous. Nadia Lazarić talked about Christmases in Rome at her aunt's, which were filled with the spirit of Rovinj, family togetherness and warmth that, despite being separated, remained preserved in her heart and memories. Doriano Quarantotto and Tullio Benussi recalled warm moments in the family, the smells of the kitchen and friends who came every year or the extended family that created memorable moments. The notes from this lecture, but also some other Christmas memories of the members of the Batana family, were turned into stories that the Ecomuseum-Ecomuseo "Batana" in collaboration with Nina Orlović Radić began to collect in order to create a permanent archive of traditional values ​​that exist in the collective memory of the community.

This introduction to the world of memories and reminiscences was beautifully followed by one of the most touching and solemn moments of the program, which united voices and hearts on Christmas Day itself in singing the song “El xe nato el 25 (Verbumcaro)”, a true musical hallmark of Rovinj Christmas. Despite the cold, the people of Rovinj sang the well-known words, while visitors spontaneously joined them using a leaflet prepared by musicologist Alessio Giuricin so that they could follow the words and melody and learn about an important part of Rovinj’s rich musical heritage.

An important part of Rovinj's cultural heritage is the great painter and beloved Rovinj resident Bruno Mascarelli, to whom the third lecture entitled "Christmas in the Sign of Art and Tradition: Bruno Mascarelli's Carousel" was dedicated. Through an interesting dialogue, numerous recollections of the lecturer and the audience, and photographs and recordings of Bruno Mascarelli, Dario Sošić and Tanja Ranić Rovis painted a warm, human portrait of a young student who was brought to Rovinj by colorful life circumstances in 1949, where he grew up as a painter and became a generator of the Rovinj cultural scene, connecting with the community with the strongest bonds of humanity and good intentions.

They particularly touched on Mascarelli's oil on canvas from 1949, "Carousel-La giostra", which is kept in the holdings of the Rovinj City Museum, of which Mascarelli was a co-founder. It was explained in detail why this particular image was the main inspiration for awakening optimism through the "Nadàl in famìa" program and bringing a colorful carousel that brings joy and liveliness to Rovinj, unlike the abandoned Mascarelli's carousel on Valdibora years ago.

NUMEROUS ENTERTAINMENT AND EDUCATIONAL CONTENT FOR LOTS OF CHILDREN'S JOY

The horses on the carousel carried numerous children on their backs almost non-stop, enjoying the spin, but also the portions of popcorn that completed the experience, just like the sweet fritulas and holiday cakes from Batana's house and the colorful face painting by Nataša Rotar. The children's attention was drawn to a handmade photo point in the shape of a small batana on which Santa Claus, an elf and a Christmas tree "sailed" to the Big Pier, thanks to the creator Silvija Curto. The batana proudly posed with the faces of young and old, emphasizing its Rovinj name - Nadalìna.The inspiration for this name was the custom by which people named Natale (Christmas) are affectionately called Nadalìn by the people of Rovinj.

Another favorite corner for children was located in the museum gallery, which was imaginatively decorated by Ornella Godena, who created a green grass carpet for children decorated with soft Christmas pillows, a small fireplace, a cute window and a blue sky with a handful of stars, and a screen on which a special animated film was shown all the time. It is a cartoon dubbed into the Rovinj dialect, in which the main role is played by a girl named Bibi, whose cardboard character greeted little visitors every day in the Children's Corner. Over the course of several afternoons, Serena Santin joined them in playing and drawing, lending her voice to the resourceful Bibi, whose permanent mission is to convey the beauty of the Rovinj dialect to the youngest.

The children also enjoyed spending time with St. Nicholas, St. Lucy and Santa Claus, who first surprised them by appearing on the rooftops of Rovinj and then came rushing over on a scooter with sweets. Not only did Nonica Befana socialize with them, also handing out sweets, but she also played old traditional games with the children. She was played by Vukica Palčić, who created an exciting competitive atmosphere with the children in several daytime and evening sessions, reviving old games from her childhood, such as tug-of-war and carrying fishing nets.

CREATIVE WORKSHOPS - HOLIDAY DECORATIONS AND FLAVOURS THE ROVINJ WAY

The youngest also participated with great pleasure in numerous Batana workshops, creating unforgettable moments with the workshop leaders, their old and new friends, and their parents. The tables in front of the museum were colorful with colors and awakened creativity, time flew by with laughter, advice, and lessons in the skills needed to make Christmas decorations, the beauty of which traditionally adorned Rovinj homes. The participants made many beautiful wreaths and colorful Befana stockings with the help of Roberta Silvi Malusà, and Virna Dalino Polo instructed them in the art of harmoniously arranging candles, pine branches, ribbons, balls, and decorations for ikebana, which the participants took home with great pleasure and pride.

Silvia Curto taught them how to make felt Christmas trees, and Romina Giuricin and Alessia Petrović revealed an original way to make large fabric balls. Tanja Ranić Rovis took children and adults into the world of fine arts and calligraphy, so Batana's creative table became a small greeting card factory on two occasions. They were made using acrylic paints that the participants applied using a simple and effective technique, and then over the gently painted pine cones they wrote holiday wishes in the Rovinj dialect, mastering the art of calligraphy. Some were inspired and wrote beautiful greeting cards on the spot, storing in them a part of the cheerful, relaxed atmosphere that softened every heart.

In addition to decorations and greeting cards, the Great Pier also hosted the opportunity to learn the secrets of preparing traditional sweets that taste their sweetest during the holidays. Jasna Bešker and Valentina Malusà showed how to make airy and soft Batana's favorite fritule and Rovinj fioki, a simple and crispy golden dessert, and the most numerous helpers were girls who readily tried their hand at shaping the dough, as well as tasting it. Ester Melchiorre instructed an even larger audience of children in how to make Christmas cookies, and they were especially delighted by the multitude of molds with which the cookies took on cheerful shapes.

For all those who have not tried their hand at the possibilities of their own creativity, the gift corner at the entrance to the museum was a welcome addition, offering numerous Batana souvenirs, small Batana models, colorful sails as magnets or bookmarks, and a selection of handmade jewelry by local artists.

TRADITION PRESENTED THROUGH SONG AT NUMEROUS CONCERTS

The view of the open sea and the evergreen vegetation of the island of St. Catherine from the Veliki molo, the smell of mulled wine, Carletto, Bombardino, fritule and hot chocolate, the offer of old-fashioned candies and lollipops and holiday cakes in the Sweet Corner, the twinkling of lights on numerous decorated pine trees embellished with wooden ornaments - all this was the ideal setting for numerous concerts that represented Rovinj, its Christmas tradition through music, but also delighted the audience with beloved domestic and foreign songs that encouraged many to dance or sing along. The bands Le Cronache, Le Nuove Quattro Colonne, Trio and Duo "Viecia Ruveîgno", Luciano Dandolo and Duo Brass, made sure that the mornings and evenings on the Veliki molo were an unforgettable experience of Rovinj's Advent, while the opening was made more festive with their voices by SAC-KUD "Marco Garbin" / CI-ZT "Pino Budicin".

SNOWY NIGHT OF COMMUNITY AND TRADITIONAL RAFFLE AT THE MUSEUM

For the third "Nadàl in famìa" we really made an effort to improve every segment of the program. We designed warm, intimate corners and numerous contents for all generations, each of which told the story of our holiday tradition in its own way, and the success of the program and the reactions of visitors exceeded our expectations. Just like the number of children's letters to Santa Claus, which showed us that we achieved the main goal and attracted to our museum those for whom we primarily preserve the Rovinj heritage, the youngest. Every member of the small but hardworking Batana team welcomed visitors with a smile and helpfulness, trying to make their visit pleasant, fun, relaxed and to put it in a drawer that says - beautiful memories.

The program was demanding, both because of its duration and diversity, and sometimes because of the weather conditions, but the satisfaction on the faces of our Rovinj residents and dear visitors from all over proved to us that it is worth investing effort in a quality presentation of tradition. The feeling of remembering the unity of ancestors melts hearts even in this modern time, so people connect faster and easier in such a magical, relaxing environment where no one is in a hurry, nor is time. We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the members of the Batana family who, with their work, have made it possible for visitors to enjoy every day in and outside our museum, including: Alessio Sponza, Antonio Marangon, Antonio Popović, Daniela Čekić, Dario Poretti, Dolores Smoljan, Doriano Quarantotto, Enio Sošić, Eufemia Benussi Krelja, Igor Frković, Jasna Bešker, Katia Dellabernardina Simmelink, Lara Venier, Leandro Malusà, Leana Buršić Križić, Lilian Bornand, Luka Škabić, Maja Toplak Farago, Martina Aničić Robak, Ornella Godena, Roberta Silvi Malusà, Roberto Zaharija, Romina Giuricin Hođić, Silvano Zilli, Silvija Jacić Valentina Malusà.

Finally, I would like to highlight two moments that most powerfully and sincerely demonstrated the true value of this year's program, a value that will continue to develop and enrich in the years to come. The joint singing of the song "El xe nato el 25 (Verbumcaro)" on Christmas Day itself was completely spontaneous, deeply emotional, and connected everyone present in a way that is rarely experienced. It was a moment of togetherness that touched hearts and that will, we believe, become a tradition as strong and recognizable as the winter swimming of brave swimmers on that day. Another unforgettable moment was given to us by the snow. Its snowflakes enchanted our beautiful city and, instead of the Great Pier, took us to the warmth of the museum, where our traditional Rovinj tombola was held. Although small in space, that evening, filled with play, laughter, the joy of winning prizes, the smell of cookies and a song by the band Le Cronache, accompanied by Befana, the Ecomuseum “Batana” became as big as our hearts were, in harmony, closeness and togetherness.

With sincere gratitude and a shared brunch, we closed a very intense and eventful year and, full of faith and hope, we toasted to the new year 2026. A year in which the Ecomuseum–Ecomuseo, through important anniversaries and new projects, will make a strong step forward, continuing to bring even greater value to our community and to all who want to get to know the true, living and authentic Rovinj," said director Nives Giuricin.