Shepherd Mraz cheers the children of the Imotski Krajina: No matter how Rudolph the reindeer, my assistant is your horse Grom

It is not difficult to visit preschool institutions, social gatherings, where he happily assumes the role of the children’s favorite saint.

– Yes, I love it, I love children, especially when they approach me without fear. Believe me, sometimes they forget about gifts. One little girl who was sitting on my lap these days shyly touched my chin, pulled it slightly, and then more. in the next moment she shouted loudly to her mother: ‘But mom, she’s real’and then she hugged me tightly. Those are moments of happiness, when you know how happy you made someone. However, meetings in institutions for children with special needs are special to me. There is such a one in Imotska Krajina, “Slava Raškaj”where I come every year, give gifts and spend time playing and talking. For me, these children are something special, to put a smile on their face is, believe me, a blessing – Čedo tells us.

These days he was also busy with the živ nursery, those in PasserbyPodstrani, where he assumed the role of a shepherd, while his assistants were his own Maybe, Gala – I took Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, Lie, Lusi to Nana. It is difficult to “catch” him these days so that he would take some time to talk because these days he is also busy visiting homes for the elderly and infirm, where he beautifies the users with haircuts, haircuts and shaving for free.

Last Sunday in this year Čedo is primarily with his treasure, which is in the first place for him because he is olderć for years one of the last Zabiokov shepherds. Just a cold storm that blew in on Sunday morning The crustaceans with a view of Biokovo and Sv. Jura, stone houses, mostly with closed sheds, because the old have died and the young have moved out, disturbs the peace, but it evokes the idyll of some long ago years and winters when the Zabiokov gorges were narrow and the song of the shepherds echoed. Today Čedo and his wife Lily with only a few inhabitants of Krstatic, they maintain the tradition and grow treasures. Čeda ž’s life path has always been and remains interesting. As a young man he went to Australiaafter some time he settled in Canada. He learned the master trade of hairdressing while his customers were famous Canadian hockey players. The lights of the big city and life abroad were not a solution for Ed, so in the 90s of the last century he decided to return.

– Nowhere is as beautiful as at home, at your hearth. That’s why I would like to tell all the young people who have decided or will decide to live in these rural places to cherish their customs, their traditions, which are priceless heritage treasures – says Čedo as he tightens his reins. Thunder.

– I got him 17 years ago as a little foal. My house was never without a horse. It has been a tradition in my family for more than 150 years. My Pradid Markan he had horses, my did Jakovmine ćaća Jakov and now, here, me. When I got it, I immediately saw what the word was. about a special horse. His look, the shine in his eyes like thunder was enough for me to give him this name. He is more than a horse to me. He is my friend, collaborator, in a word, everything – he said proudly while Grom raised his head, his mane being lightly carried by the Biokovo breeze.

For summer, moreć of forgotten threshing events in Guvna, Grom remains the only horse with which Čedo tears the tradition from oblivion. With Čeda, who has successfully proven himself as an actor several times, since “Kings of Croatia” and other documentaries, and Grom had his roles. The first time was in the documentary film “Republic of Dubrovnik”, then in the documentary about Sinjska alka.

– On him was the image of Our Lady from Rama to Sinj, he also acted in a film about the Klish uskoki. For St. Nikola is always by my side and now you tell me how I should not love him, and first of all respect this noble animal – continues Čedo while caressing the head of his Grom. Remembering him back in 2012.

– That year he attacked heavy snowthe debris was larger than three meters. Our villages remained cut off in the snow, and in them old and infirm, without basic provisions. I remember that only me and my Grom could deliver bread, milk and medicine. We made our way through snow-covered debris to distant houses and carried groceries. And it wasn’t difficult for me because I was aware of the conditions they were in – continues his interesting life story, a man with a gray beard like Saint Nicholas, Santa Clausthe shepherds who visited Jesus in the stable, to the apostle Andrew, who was with Jesus at the Last Supper, because he has been participating in the staging of the Passion of the Lord in Imotski for 28 years.

Looking at his peculiar physical appearance, all those roles that this simple man with a big heart takes on to make others happy pass through his mind. As long as he is able, as he notes, he will be happy to respond to calls for the common good. Because as I said, there is no greater happiness than to put a smile on the face of a loved one, the needy, the old and the infirm. His donkeys, especially the pet Nena, seem to confirm this with their glances towards the owner, while they rest peacefully in the fresh air after the tiring roles assigned to them by their father. In the end, when you add up and subtract all the roles, there is only one main one left, just a man who crosses the roads and streets of Zabiokov with his treasure 365 days a year.