The Sinjska Alka (eng)
On this Sunday, August the 7th, 2016 The 301st Sinjska Alka is being held in the city of Sinj, Croatia. We were there yesterday and we watched the preparations for this event take place. We made a short video. Below you can also find a short history of this event.
The Sinjska Alka is a Croatian knight tournament. The competitors have to hit the center of a metal ring with a 3 meter lance, hung on a line above the track while in full gallop on their horses.
The tournament is held every year on a Sunday in the beginning of August in the city of Sinj. The event commemorates the victory over the Turkish invaders on August 14th, 1715. On that day 700 Croatian warriors from Sinj succeeded in defending the city from an attack by the Turkish otoman Mehmed-paša Čelić whose army numbered an impressive 60.000 soldiers.
The citizens of Sinj believe that the victory was facilitated by The Lady of Sinj, who miraculously saved their city.
On The Assumption of Mary (Velika Gospa) on August 15th, in honor of The Lady of Sinj, a procession is held. During the procession, the Alka competitors pass through the city streets wearing full ceremonial and military attire from the 18th century and carrying the portrait of the Lady of Sinj.
On November 15th, 2010, The Sinjska Alka was entered into the UNESCO Intangible Heritage in Europe.
This is how The Sinjska Alka looks like on the competition day (broadcasted by HRT):
(Text sources: Croatian, English and Polish Wikipedia, translation, changes and text redactions by polish_girl_in_croatia)
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