Fasinada

Fasinada

July 22

Fasinada is a commemoration of a miraculous event on the tiny island of Gospa od Skrpjela (Our Lady of the Chisels) off Montenegro (formerly in Yugoslavia). The island, according to the story, was once nothing more than a rock. One stormy night, a shipwrecked sailor clung to the rock and vowed that if he survived he would build a church to the Virgin Mary. He did survive, and sailors dumped stones there until an island was formed; in the 17th century a church was built on the pile of rocks. The festival includes a procession to the island of boats decorated with garlands of flowers and loaded with rocks. The rocks are piled up to reinforce the shores of the island, and then the participants enjoy folk dancing and country sports and games.

CONTACTS:
Embassy of Serbia and Montenegro
2134 Kalorama Rd. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008
202-332-0333; fax: 202-332-3933
www.serbiaembusa.org

Celebration day: Jul 22