Picokijada ( Croatian: ) is a traditional cultural-tourist manifestation that has been held since 1968 at the end of June in the town of

Đurđevac Đurđevac is a town in the Koprivnica-Križevci County in Croatia. According to the 2011 census, there are a total of 8,264 inhabitants in the municipality, in the following settlements: * Budrovac, population 373 * Čepelovac, population 3 ...

in northern

Croatia , image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg , anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland") , image_map = , map_caption = , capit ...

. The event festivities last three days, with the main event being the ''Legenda o picokima'' ("Legend of the Rooster"), a remembrance of the defense of the town Đurđevac from the

Ottoman Turks The Ottoman Turks ( tr, Osmanlı Türkleri), were the Turkic founding and sociopolitically the most dominant ethnic group of the Ottoman Empire ( 1299/1302–1922). Reliable information about the early history of Ottoman Turks remains scarce, ...

. The ''Legenda o picokima'' is set in the time of the attack of the Ottoman forces on the Old town Đurđevac. After the army of Ulama-beg encountered unexpected resistance and failed to take Đurđevac fortress, he decided to enact a long siege, with the goal of starving the army people that hid inside.

Origins

According to oral tradition, in the 16th century the Ottomans army laid siege on the town and eventually surrounded of the fortress. Eventually no food source was left save for one small

rooster The chicken (''Gallus gallus domesticus'') is a domesticated junglefowl species, with attributes of wild species such as the grey and the Ceylon junglefowl that are originally from Southeastern Asia. Rooster or cock is a term for an adult m ...

(''picok''). Since it was not enough to feed the people, an old woman suggested that the captain fire the rooster from the cannon and into the Ottoman camp, which he did. After the rooster attack, Ulama-beg surmised that if the town could shoot a source of food, they must have plenty of supplies. He thus ended the siege and left the battlefield, but not before cursing the people of Đurđevac as ''Picoki'' or "roosters".

Modern

The story was first written down in 1898 by Tomo Jalžabetić while describing the customs and traditions of Đurđevac. Yearly celebrations have taken place since 1968 with the festivals becoming a large tourist attraction for the region of

Podravina ''Podravina'' (in Croatian) or ''Podravje'' (in Slovenian) are Slavic names for the Drava river basin in Croatia and Slovenia. History Between 1929 and 1941 a province of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia known as the '' Drava Banovina'' (Drava province ...

. Many local townspeople take part in acting and producing the play, with local groups and school-children contributing to the festivities. Since 2006, the event has been under the protection of the Republic of Croatia Ministry of Culture as an

intangible cultural heritage An intangible cultural heritage (ICH) is a practice, representation, expression, knowledge, or skill considered by UNESCO to be part of a place's cultural heritage. Buildings, historic places, monuments, and artifacts are cultural property. Int ...

of Republic of Croatia. A large stage production is put on every year in front of the Đurđevac fortress, depicting the siege along with the rooster's role, culminating with the memorable curse by Ulama-beg to the town: ''A vi tamo, pernati junaci, što picekima bojeve bijete, ime PICOKA dovijeka nosili! PICOKIMA vas djeca zvala, a unuci vaši ostat će PICOKI!'' (”And you there, feathered heroes, that fight battles with roosters, shall always carry the name roosters! Your children shall call you roosters, and your grandchildren will stay roosters!”)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Picokijada - Legenda o picokima Entertainment events in Croatia Recurring events established in 1968 Đurđevac Summer events in Croatia Culture of Croatia Tourist attractions in Koprivnica-Križevci County

Origins

Modern

See also

References