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The Lastovo Carnival The Lastovo Carnival season starts on St Anthony’s Day on 17 January, and lasts until Ash Wednesday. If the carnival group decides so, balo (dance evenings that take place only during the carnival season) can start as early as Epiphany (Three Kings’ Day), but this happens in exceptional cases only. On St Anthony’s Day, regardless of which weekday it is, the first dance evening is held. The Hall Master (kapo sale) welcomes the local people and special guests – the head of the municipality, doctor and priest – and announces the beginning of the carnival festivities. From this evening on, the masked participants (maškare) are allowed to take part in all the carnival events. Candlemas, the lyre and calling “Uvo!” (halekanje) On Candlemas Day on 2 February, the lyre “comes out”. With its distinct, clear and strong sound, it will accompany all the important Carnival moments and activities until Ash Wednesday, when the carnival magic disappears, and the village returns to its quiet everyday routine. The lyre, or lijerica[1],is a stringed instrument played solo that typically accompanies dance and, less often, singing. On the island of Lastovo, the lyre is played only during the Carnival season. On Candlemas Day, several members of the carnival group gather together to call “Uvo!” near a tree in a part of the Lastovo village called Gornja Luka. This characteristic calling of the carnival exclamation “Uvo!” three times in a row is called halekanje. “Uvo!” is a mysterious exclamation whose origin has not yet been explained, and is an integral and obligatory part of the Lastovo Carnival custom. Returning to the Hall after calling “Uvo!”, February 2012 (Photo: Stjepan Tafra) The procession is led by the lyre player, followed by the Hall Master and by carnival group members walking in pairs. The procession then divides into two groups to sing the song A Small Group Went into Battle[2] (Podiglo se malo četovanje). The Hall Master calls out each line of the song, and the two groups repeat it, singing in turns and accompanied by lyre. They sing while walking to their first stop, Gornja Luka, a part of the village where there is a rock to which they will tie a rope (uza) on Shrove Tuesday. The music and singing stops while they walk past Sts Cosmas and Damian Church, where there used to be a cemetery. When they reach Gornja Luka, the procession stops and the two groups call “Uvo!”, first each group alone once, and then together. After that, they go to the house of the Poklad puppet maker, singing along the way. They call “Uvo!” there in the same manner again, after which they return to the Hall. If they finish the song A Small Group Went into Battle, they continue with the song A Green Orange[3] (Zelena naranča). Before entering the Hall, they call “Uvo!” one last time, after which they have dinner and dance. After the calling of “Uvo!”, the lyre is permitted to enter the Hall, and it is an obligation that it be used to accompany all traditional customs until the end of the Carnival. If a dance evening (balo) should fall on Candlemas Day, it is postponed until the following day – St Blaise’s Day. In the past, when there were several carnival groups in the village, the group that had gained the honour of being entrusted with the Poklad puppet organised dinner at the Hall and went out to call “Uvo!”. During the Carnival, the group must go and call “Uvo!” by the tree in Gornja Luka three times: on Candlemas Day, on Carnival Thursday, and on Carnival Sunday. However, “Uvo!” can also be called more often as long as customs are being respected. Audio recording: A Small Group Went into Battle (Podiglo se malo četovanje) Carnival Thursday (“Fat Thursday”) On the last Thursday of the Carnival season, the carnival group that was granted the Poklad puppet goes to call “Uvo!” by the tree in Gornja Luka for the second time. On that day, all the house terraces where the pokladari and pretty masques will dance on Shrove Tuesday must already have been made known. By Carnival Thursday, it is the Hall Master’s duty to have visited all the houses at which the male and female carnival processions will stop to eat, drink, sing and dance, in order to have made all the necessary arrangements with the hosts. Since having carnival participants as guests is a serious obligation that is both physically and financially demanding, the Lastovo Carnival Association is ready to provide hosts with financial assistance. Carnival Sunday (“Fat Sunday”) and the lyre dance A regular dance evening (balo) is the only Carnival event held on the last Saturday of the carnival season, while Carnival Sunday is a big day for Lastovo’s youngest inhabitants. During the afternoon, the children’s carnival is held at the Hall. All the children from the village arrive imaginatively masked, accompanied by their mothers or nursery-school teachers, and occasionally a father or two who record the event with their cameras. They first walk through the village, and then everybody gathers at the Hall where the carnival group provides music. They sing, dance, eat cakes and drink juice until dusk, when everyone goes home. Children’s carnival procession, February 2012 (Photo: Stjepan Tafra) In the evening, there is another dance for adults at the Hall, this time without masks. On this evening, even those who do not belong to the carnival group become aware of what the Hall Master does. After everyone has had their fair share of waltzes, polkas and other dances at the last Sunday dance, the Hall Master and a group of male carnival participants (pokladari) leave at around 11 o’clock to call “Uvo!” for the third time. Upon their return, dancing and fun continue and the Hall Master announces the lyre dance (balo pod liru). Lyre Dance(balo pod liru) The lyre dance is formed of male/female pairs that are linked together with handkerchiefs, moving around an imaginary circle. The dance, as its name suggests, is accompanied by a lyre. Since the lyre is played only during the Carnival season on Lastovo, the lyre dance is an integral part of carnival customs. It is danced spontaneously only at this time of year. Outside of the Lastovo Carnival context, it can only be seen on stage. It is normally danced during dance evenings in the Hall, usually towards the end of the evening or when the Hall Master decides so and announces the dance. Following unwritten rules, the lyre dance has to be danced at least three times in the period between Candlemas Day and Carnival Sunday, but it can also be danced more often. Although certain dance movements resemble those of the Carnival circle dance, the structure of the lyre dance differs from the closing circle dance that is danced together by the pokladari and pretty masques. When the Hall Master has announced the dance, the first pair – a pair of ringleaders – arrives accompanied by the sound of the lyre. They move around the dance floor in an imaginary circle with a walking step until the other pairs join in. Once all the pairs have joined, the dance begins. Besides the basic step, which is the same as in the pokladari’s circle dance and pretty masques’ circle dance (following the rhythm ta-te ta; right-left-right, while moving forward), the lyre dance movements alternate. Here they are in the order that they are danced and as they are described in the Statute proposal (1999): – each man with each woman – circle dance in couples to the left and to the right – under arms – once – circle dance to the left and to the right – snail formation – once The last, humorous dance movement, which is not specifically mentioned in the Statute proposal, is actually a tag game played by each couple, the so-called laćenje pod liru. Lyre dance, February 2012 (Photo: Stjepan Tafra) First a man chases a woman by running around the other dancers who are standing pressed together densely in the imaginary circle, and then the woman chases the man. When all the pairs have had their turn at the game, they divide into two groups and call “Uvo!”. That marks the end of the lyre dance, but fun and dancing last long into the night. Audio recording: The lyre dance Carnival Monday (“Fat Monday”) At 8 o’clock on Monday morning the final preparations for Shrove Tuesday, when the Carnival reaches its peaks, begin. While women finish their costumes and iron men’s carnival uniforms at home, several male carnival participants (pokladari)wearing everyday clothes, an officer from the pretty masques’ procession (also in his everyday clothes), the lyre player, some children and the Hall Master gather outside the Hall. Shortly after 8 o’clock, the group goes to fetch a donkey. They are accompanied by the lyre, but they do not sing. The men enter a house for a “welcome drink”, and the hostess hands over the donkey along with a hoe on its back, which they will use to dig the soil needed for making the Poklad puppet. Children and visitors interested in the event (photographers, journalists, tourists, researchers) stay in front of the house waiting for the procession to continue. Upon leaving, one child leads the donkey and is followed by the lyre player who continues to play, and – together with the rest of men, but still not singing – they go to get prlina, or the soil for the Poklad’s boots. Going the get prlina for the Poklad puppet’s boots, March 2011 (Photo: Stjepan Tafra) Prlina is dug at a specific location at the end of the village, opposite the cemetery, under a particular olive tree. The pokladari say that the soil at this spot is softer than elsewhere. Digging prlina, March 2011 (Photo: Stjepan Tafra) When they have filled two sacks with soil and loaded the donkey, the procession goes to get the tailor and the material needed for making the puppet. As soon as they have passed the cemetery, the Hall Master indicates to the men in the procession to start the song A Small Group Went into Battle, following the same pattern as the previous day: the Hall Master calls out the first line of the song, and then everyone sings it together. The procession stops in front of the house where they called “Uvo!” the night before, and where all the component parts of the Poklad puppet are kept. Only grown-up men are permitted into the tailor’s house, where they eat and drink. They then leave the house together along with the tailor, who carries two chests containing tools for making the puppet and its clothes. Together with the chests, two large sacks full of straw and a pole on which the puppet will be put are then loaded onto the donkey and taken to the Hall. The donkey carrying tools and equipment for making the Poklad puppet, March 2011 (Photo: Stjepan Tafra) In the meantime, the bomb maker and his assistants have already arrived at the Hall. From the moment the procession enters the Hall until lunch, the lyre players keep taking turns playing. A lyre player, sitting next to the table upon which the Poklad is being made, plays into a microphone and speakers set up in front of the Hall transmit the music to the whole village. Lyre players and the lyre, March 2011 (Photo: Stjepan Tafra) The bomb maker and his assistant make bombs in the Hall by wrapping a specific amount of gunpowder first in aluminium foil, and then in packing paper, together with fuses of different lengths. Making a bomb, February 2012 (Photo: Stjepan Tafra) After that, in front of the Hall, other assistants wrap up a test bomb and connect it to a rope that is stretched between trees to keep it taut. As soon as the test bomb is ready, it is set off in order to check the quality of both the gunpowder and the bomb making. At the same time, the Poklad puppet maker and his two assistants make the Poklad of wheaten and oaten chaff and hard fishing net. Making the Poklad puppet, February 2012 (Photo: Stjepan Tafra) The making of both the Poklad and the bombs has to be finished at the same time, and no later than noon. When the Poklad is dressed, the Hall Master takes it out in front of the Hall. The gathered pokladari call “Uvo!” and another bomb is set off, this time to mark that the making of Poklad has been finished. The Poklad puppet (a detail), February 2010 (Photo: Stjepan Tafra) It is then placed behind a window in the Hall, where it will stay until 1 o’clock in the afternoon on the following day. When this process is over, there is a lunch at the Hall organised for men only, including the members of the carnival group, the priest, the head of the municipality, former pokladari and a few guests. Lunch at the Hall, Fabruary 2012 (Photo: Stjepan Tafra) Egg hunton Carnival Monday Eggs are collected by the so-called ugly masks that, in groups, go through the village in the afternoon hours. They owe their name to the fact that they are dressed in old clothes and their faces are blackened or mottled with lipstick. In contrast to the pretty masques of Shrove Tuesday, the ugly masks of Carnival Monday make a deliberate effort to look ludicrous and ugly. One of the groups of ugly masks is made up of men that will participate in the Carnival as pokladari on the following day. This is the only group that goes through the village accompanied by lyre. Egg hunt, February 2012 (Photo: Stjepan Tafra) In years gone by, this group was made up of members of the carnival group that was entrusted with the Poklad puppet, and it was this group’s duty to collect the eggs. In the past few years, however, there has only been one carnival group of Lastovo pokladari. The ugly masks made up of pokladari are now the only ones whose duty it is to collect eggs, adhering to certain rules; the other groups of ugly masks can, but don’t have to, participate in the collection. The group of pokladari first gathers in the Hall where the Hall Master gives them egg baskets and tells them which songs to sing during their tour through the village. They walk the same route that the pokladari will walk on Tuesday, and the whole group also enters the houses that the pokladari will visit on the following day. They stop to call “Uvo!” on the terraces where the pokladari will dance. There they eat and drink, sing a song, and move on. Two or three members of the group are the egg collectors and they run from house to house, introducing themselves with the password lyre. The hosts give them eggs, and they quickly go on, visiting in this manner all the houses in the village. They put the eggs in the baskets that the Hall Master has prepared for them. Ugly masks collect eggs in houses, March 2011 (Photo: Stjepan Tafra) Eggs are collected until the evening bell sounds in the church. When the bells sounds, the group goes to the Hall, leaves the baskets full of eggs and goes home. Another group of ugly masks consists of masked young people, both boys and girls, who go through the village accompanied by an accordion (or some other instrument) to collect eggs. Nursery-school children are accompanied by their teachers, and primary-school children are accompanied by a guitar player. Egg hunt, March 2011 (Photo: Stjepan Tafra) Before entering houses, these groups sing: “Egg, madam, egg, madam, please give us an egg.” None of the masked groups should start collecting eggs before the main group – the one accompanied by lyre – does so, and none of the groups should walk in front of this group. If the lyre is in a house, another group waits until it leaves before entering. When the evening bell sounds in the church, the egg hunt is finished and the masks go home. On Ash Wednesday evening, in the Hall, they prepare and eat the eggs they have collected together, paying for them in order to collect money to cover the costs of the Carnival. Egg hunt, March 2011 (Photo: Stjepan Tafra) Shrove Tuesday This is a day when few of Lastovo’s inhabitants go to work. The church bell sounds at 11 o’clock instead of noon, signalling that it is lunchtime. At 8 o’clock in the morning, the Hall Master, a lyre player and several male carnival participants (pokladari) gather in the Hall. Accompanied by the sound of the lyre, they go to collect the rope (uza) at the house where it has been kept the whole year. The rope will be used later that day for lowering the Poklad puppet from the top to the bottom of the village. Carrying the rope, March 2011 (Photo: Stjepan Tafra) The rope is then carried to Novi Put (the road that leads to the centre of the village and is situated at the level that is halfway between the top of the hill above the village and the bottom of the village). There the rope is soaped so that the Poklad will slide down it easily. The lyre is played constantly. Soaping the rope, February 2012 (Photo: Stjepan Tafra) One end of the rope is carried to the top of Pokladareva Grža (Carnival Hill), and the other is lowered to Gornja Luka at the bottom of the village. As soon as the rope is stretched out taut, the crowd calls “Uvo!” and a bomb is set off, signalling that the rope is ready for lowering the Poklad puppet. Tying the rope at the bottom of the village, March 2011 (Photo: Stjepan Tafra) At the same time, old chests are opened in houses all around the village of Lastovo, and the carefully kept uniforms worn by pokladari are taken out. Women help men to dress. A pokladar getting dressed, March 2011 (Photo: Vedrana Jerić Miloš) Women that will take part in the pretty masques’ procession get dressed only after all the men have finished dressing. The procession consists of pairs of women, usually friends or cousins, who are dressed identically. Each pair designs and makes their own costumes, which are normally worn only once – on Shrove Tuesday. Some of the costumes include popular cartoon animal characters, sirens, fairies, queens, Romany women, clowns or unspecified, but always very colourful, masks. The women start creating masks as early as the Christmas season, going to the city of Split to buy fabrics and other materials. All pretty masques, regardless of their costume, have to wear masks over their eyes during the whole procession. A pair of pretty masques, February 2012 (Photo: Stjepan Tafra) The event’s rules of conduct have been clearly defined. There are always two processions going through the village: the male carnival participants’ procession and the pretty masques’ procession. The male participants’ procession, which is made up of men from Lastovo solely, is the first and main procession and considered to be the backbone of the Carnival. The procession of male carnival participants (pokladari), February 2012 (Photo: Stjepan Tafra) Another procession, made up of pretty masques, has rarely been mentioned in literature, despite its impressiveness. It is made up of women. Around ten men or so, dressed as officers, accompany the pretty masques on their way through the village, maintaining order and supervising the procession. The pretty masques’ procession, March 2011 (Photo: Stjepan Tafra) A third, smaller group, the so-called ugly masks, sometimes joins the carnival events as well. It consists of young men dressed as doctors that go through the village with the pokladari and pretty masques in turn, making jokes and amusing the audience and the procession participants. The pretty masques start gathering in front of the former cinema at around 9 o’clock in the morning. The pokladari gather in front of the Hall somewhat later, after noon. They always stand in line in the procession, two by two. The partner that arrives first at the gathering spot keeps the pair’s place in the carnival line. The same goes for pretty masques; they stand in line in the order they arrive. There is one exception to this rule; senior pokladari and pretty masques are always allowed to stand at the head of the line, since it is difficult to dance the final circle dance if you are standing at the end of the procession. The ringleaders, the Hall Master and the lyre player are the last to arrive. The pokladari in front of the Hall, March 2011 (Photo: Stjepan Tafra) At 1 o’clock in the afternoon, after 25 to 30 pairs of pokladari have gathered in front of the Hall, the Hall Master indicates the start of the procession through the village. First comes the flag bearer carrying the Croatian flag, followed by the donkey carrying the Poklad puppet and children dressed in the same uniform as the pokladari. Children lead the donkey, March 2011 (Photo: Stjepan Tafra) Then come the lyre player, the Hall Master, the pair of ringleaders and the rest of the procession in the order they have arrived at the Hall. There are also children that walk at the end of the procession. Accompanied by the sound of lyre, but not singing yet, the procession goes to the house of the Head of Municipality to ask for permission to lower the Poklad puppet on the rope from the top to the bottom of the village (this is called culjanje), and then burn it. The Head of the Municipality, the Hall Master and pokladari, March 2011 (Photo: Stjepan Tafra) The Head of the Municipality gives his permission in a short speech and shakes hands with the Hall Master. The ringleader then gives the command: “Dismissed!” and the most festive and important part of the carnival custom can start. The pokladari, led by the ringleaders, dance a short version of their circle dance and move on to the priest’s house, this time singing as well, since they have permission from the Head of the Municipality. The Hall Master counting male carnival participants, March 2011 (Photo: Stjepan Tafra) In the meantime, around 40 pairs of pretty masques have gathered as well. At about the same time as the pokladari withdraw to the Hall to listen to the Hall Master’s final address, the pretty masques enter the cinema hall where, away from the public eye, their leader greets them with a speech that focuses on desirable conduct during the procession. The pretty masques’ procession consists of pairs of identically dressed masks that stand in a line in the order they arrived at the gathering place. At the head of the procession there is a boy dressed as an officer, carrying the national flag. He is followed by a lyre player wearing a pokladar uniform, and by officers dressed in black and white who are not actually part of the procession, but who walk alongside and around it for supervision. When the male participants’ procession has left the Municipality building, the pretty masques’ procession arrives. They greet the Head of the Municipality and dance their own circle dance for the first time that day. The pretty masques’ circle dance, February 2012 (Photo: Stjepan Tafra) At the same time, the pokladari are at the priest’s house, where they receive his blessing to continue with the carnival events. The ringleader takes the pokladari to the first of the house terraces that have been previously agreed upon, and decides how many pairs are going to dance the short version of the male participants’ circle dance. The male participants’ circle dance is a chain sword dance that is danced in its entirety by the natives of Lastovo dressed as pokladari on Shrove Tuesday only. Some of the circle dance figures are performed at terraces during the procession through the village. The number of pairs dancing depends on the size of the terrace. Besides the ringleaders, who are indispensable on this day since they are responsible for the circle dance’s success, a different set of couples dances on each terrace. The first ringleader decides on the spot which figures will be danced on any given terrace. While five to six couples dance, the other twenty or so couples watch, or they treat themselves to drinks, cold appetisers and cakes. Audio recording: Male participants’ circle dance Once the dancing is finished and the obligatory “Uvo!” has been called, the lyre player, the Hall Master, the ringleaders and all the pokladari that have danced on the terrace enter the house. The host welcomes the guests, and offers them food and drink. After they have spent a short time feasting and socialising, the procession leaves the house and moves on. The pokladari in a house, February 2010 (Photo: Stjepan Tafra) Lagging behind the pokladari, the pretty masques go through the village as well, careful to obey the rule that the two processions should not meet. They visit the same houses as the pokladari have (these visits have been arranged with the hosts beforehand), but the pretty masques are always at least one house behind them. On each terrace, the ringleaders start the circle dance with a few pairs from the procession. At the Head of the Municipality’s and at the priest’s houses, officers lead the pretty masques’ circle dance. They perform a few dance figures that are very similar to those danced by the pokladari, the only difference being that the pretty masques use handkerchiefs instead of swords. They call their circle dance simply “our ‘kolo’”. Although the basic, very simple dancing step is the same as in the male circle dance, the pretty masques do it in a much more relaxed and easy-going manner, which characterises their circle dance in general. The simplicity of the dance steps allows for endless repetition, which in turn makes it all look more like a gallop than a dance. The procession through the village continues until 2:30 in the afternoon, by which time the donkey carrying the Poklad puppet must be at the bottom of the village, in Gornja Luka, which is the destination for the puppet after it is lowered on the rope. All of this is taken care of by the Hall Master. The Poklad puppet is then taken off of the donkey, and the carrier, who has been chosen by the Hall Master, carries it on his shoulders to Pokladareva Grža (Carnival Hill), the hilltop that is the starting point from where the puppet is lowered. While the Poklad puppet is being taken up the hill, the pokladari, led by the man who is in charge of the rope, stretch the rope out. The lyre is played tirelessly all this time. On the hilltop, the Poklad puppet is met by the bomb master and his assistants. Fastening the rakla (the construction that supports the Poklad puppet) to the rope, March 2011 (Photo: Stjepan Tafra) They fasten the Poklad puppet to the rope, together with the bombs that will detonate on the way down. At 3 o’clock sharp, the Poklad puppet is ready to be lowered on the rope. A view of Lastovo and the Poklad puppet on the rope, March 2011 (Photo: Stjepan Tafra) As the Poklad puppet is being lowered down the rope (culjanje), which constitutes one of the most important moments of the ritual, the pretty masques stop at the last terrace before Gornja Luka and wait for the pokladari to continue with their procession. Lowering the Poklad puppet (culjanje), February 2009 (Photo: Stjepan Tafra) The Poklad is lowered on the rope three times, accompanied by the explosions of the bombs hanging from it. Lowering the Poklad puppet (culjanje), March 2011 (Photo: Vedrana Jerić Miloš) Five gunpowder bombs fastened to its feet are set off on its way down the first time, seven bombs the second time, and nine bombs the third time. The rope is then taken down and carried to the place where it will be kept until the next year’s events. Lowering the Poklad puppet, February 2009 (Photo: Stjepan Tafra) The Poklad puppet is put on the donkey once again. After the Poklad puppet’s three trips down the rope, which have been witnessed by the pokladari and the gathered audience, the pokladari perform their circle dance. This time all of them dance and they perform all the figures, after which they are photographed before going on with their procession through the village. The pokladari‘s circle dance, March 2011 (Photo: Vedrana Jerić Miloš) Only then do the pretty masques arrive, after having watched the lowering of the Poklad from the sidelines. When the pokladari have finished their circle dance, the pretty masks perform theirs. It has half as many figures as the male version, since it is impossible to perform certain figures without swords. After having danced and being photographed, they too continue with their procession through the village, again following the path of the pokladari, but somewhat behind. When they have visited all the houses in which they have been expected and it is around 6 o’clock in the afternoon, the pokladari arrive at Dolac Square, where the festivities reach their peak. Dolac Square, February 2012 (Photo: Stjepan Tafra) Dolac Square is located between the village’s primary school and the parish church. On Shrove Tuesday evening, between 300 and 500 people gather there. The flag bearer with the flag and the donkey with the Poklad stand to the side. The lyre player takes his position in front of the church, and the central part of the square is occupied by the pokladari. This time, too, the pretty masques stay behind at the last house, waiting for their turn to appear at Dolac. In the middle of the square, around fifty male carnival participants start dancing their circle dance at the ringleader’s signal. On this day only, pokladari in their uniforms perform the entire male circle dance, which is to say all of its ten dance figures and their repetitions. The ringleader decides on the order in which the figures are repeated, depending on his dancing ability and mood. The pokladari dance their circle dance at Dolac, March 2011 (Photo: Stjepan Tafra) As the pokladari dance their circle dance at Dolac, the pretty masques are nearing the end of their procession through the village. The last terrace on which they dance overlooks Dolac Square. When the pokladari have repeated certain figures a few times, and the Poklad puppet has been taken away so that its clothes can be taken off before it is burned, the pretty masques start heading for the square, but – as they themselves say – they are “late as always”. So the pokladari dance their circle dance alone, doing multiple repetitions until the arrival of the pretty masques. The Hall Master preparing the Poklad puppet to be burned, February 2012 (Photo: Stjepan Tafra) Once the pretty masques have arrived to Dolac Square, the pokladari – without stopping their own dance – make room for the pretty masques’ circle dance. For a while, they dance their respective dances alongside one another, but the pokladari do not perform all the figures of their dance anymore, only the simpler ones. After a few repetitions of certain figures, amale ringleader indicates that the two circle dances should merge into one and the male and female masks mix with one another. However, the pair of male ringleaders always stays together. Other participants are arranged behind them as follows: first one of the officers, then the first female ringleader, and finally each pokladar followed by one pretty masque. At that moment, there are around 100 or more performers at Dolac, dancing together in a big kolo. They repeat simple figures perpetually, almost running, which results in a nearly trance-like experience for the dancers. Although the dancers are reaching their limits, as it has been a very intensive and demanding day for all of them, no one gives up – they have been waiting for this moment all year. No one gets ill on the following day, although most of the pretty masques have been dressed rather scantily, and the temperature in February can get quite low (around 0°C). The atmosphere reaches its peak when the undressed Poklad is put on a pole, paraffin is poured over it and it is burned. The Hall Master goes around Dolac with the burning puppet at the end of the pole until he arrives to the centre of the square, where he holds the puppet up until it burns completely. The Poklad on fire surrounded by pokladari and pretty masques, February 2012 (Photo: Stjepan Tafra) All the pokladari and pretty masques then gather together, singing and rejoicing until the church bells ring, indicating that the festivities have ended. The Poklad on fire surrounded by pokladari and pretty masques, February 2012 (Photo: Stjepan Tafra) Pokladari gather around the donkey and return it to its owner, accompanied by the lyre. They then see the lyre player off to his house and finally go back to their own homes, to rest and have supper. The pretty masques also go home to warm up a bit and have some rest, since the evening is not over yet; after supper, the whole village gathers again at the Hall for a dance that will last until dawn. This is how that eventful Tuesday ends, a day filled with song and dance – the most important day of the year for the inhabitants of Lastovo. The burned-up Poklad, February 2012 (Photo: Stjepan Tafra) Ash Wednesday On Wednesday morning Lastovo is particularly peaceful. As early as 4.30 a.m., most of those who returned to the island or arrived there for the first time to take part in or to observe the Carnival events – high school and university students, the Lastovo natives who work in Split, Zagreb or abroad, soldiers, researchers and tourists – are already on the ferry back to Split. If they can afford it, the employed inhabitants of Lastovo take a day off from work and sleep through most of the morning. In the evening, the carnival group organises a final gathering at the Hall. Everybody who took part in dance evenings and carnival events is invited to contribute to help cover the financial costs of the Carnival. The carnival group members offer their guests small deep-fried doughnuts called prkle and hard-boiled eggs, the same eggs that the ugly masks collected on Carnival Monday. The Hall is then closed and everyone goes home. Ash Wednesday, Antun Tonino Karlović, February 2013 (Photo: Stjepan Tafra) Archival photographs The Poklad puppet in the window, 1960 (Photo: Ivan Ivančan, from the photography collection of the Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Research – IEFR) Carnival customs: egg hunt, 1960 (Photo: Ivan Ivančan, from the photography collection of the IEFR) A group of masks led by a lyre player, 1959 (Photo: Ivan Ivančan, from the photography collection of the IEFR) Dancing the circle dance around the burning Poklad puppet, February 1970 (Photo: Ivan Ivančan, from the photography collection of the IEFR) Male circle dance, February 1970 (Photo: Ivan Ivančan, from the photography collection of the IEFR) Male circle dance, February 1970 (Photo: Ivan Ivančan, from the photography collection of the IEFR) Male circle dance, February 1970 (Photo: Ivan Ivančan, from the photography collection of the IEFR) Male circle dance, February 1970 (Photo: Ivan Ivančan, from the photography collection of the IEFR) The male circle dance ringleaders (Photo: Ivan Ivančan, from the photography collection of the IEFR) Pretty masques, February 1970 (Photo: Ivan Ivančan, from the photography collection of the IEFR) The male carnival participants (pokladari) Petar (Ivan) Šarić Bibo and Frano (Antun) Šarić Kuna (1946) The pokladari holding the rope Pretty masques, 1960 Egg hunt, 1973 Egg hunt, 1961 The pokladari, 1920 Generals, the pokladari and pretty masques, 1972 Egg hunt – a group with the accordion player Antun Jurica, M.D. Pretty masques, 1972 The pokladari, 1968 Pretty masques, 1972 The pokladari, masks and a general, 1962 Going to get prlina (the soil for the Poklad’s boots), 1960 The pokladari, pretty masques and generals, 1962 Pretty masques, 1962 Pretty masques, 1951 Pretty masques, 1960 The pokladari, 1927 The pokladari and pretty masques, 1952 The pokladari, 1968 The pokladari, 1962 Little pokladari, 1962 Pretty masques and children, 1965 Katic Kuzma Greh and Ivcevic Ivan Rido, 1943 The pokladari, 1960 The pokladari, 1964 A black general and a ringleader Doctors and pokladari, 1962 Pretty masques and pokladari Pretty masques and pokladari From: The Lastovo Canival: an Ethnochoreological Study, by Iva Niemčić, PhD – Zagreb, 2011 Preuzeto iz: The Lastovo Carnival: an Ethnochoreological Study, Iva Niemčić, PhD – Siječanj Veljača
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Lastovski poklad Kandalora, lira i halekanje Na blagdan Kandalore, 2. veljače „izlazi“ lira te svojim specifičnim, prodornim zvukom prati sve važne trenutke i radnje lastovskog poklada do Čiste srijede kada pokladne čarolije nestane, a cijelo selo utihne i vrati se svojoj svakodnevici. Lira ili lijerica1 je solističko gudačko glazbalo koje uglavnom prati ples, a rjeđe pjevanje. Na otoku Lastovu lira se svira isključivo u pokladno vrijeme. Toga dana okupi se nekoliko članova pokladarsko društva i „idu na halekanje pod kostanju“ (mjesto u selu – stablo na Gornjoj luci). Halekanje je karakteristično uzvikivanje pokladnog uzvika „Uvo!“, tri puta za redom. „Uvo!“ je tajanstven uzvik kojem nitko ne zna objasniti značenje, ali je sastavni i neizostavni dio lastovskog pokladnog zbivanja. Povorku predvodi sanatur s lirom, prati ga kapo sale, pa članovi društva u parovima. Povorka se dijeli u dvije skupine za pjevanje pjesme Podiglo se malo četovanje2, kapo izgovara svaki sljedeći stih pjesme, a dvije skupine naizmjence pjevaju uz pratnju lire. Pjevajući idu prvo do Gornje luke (mjesto u selu) do kamena gdje će na Pokladni utorak vezati uzu. Prolazeći pokraj Crkve Sv. Kuzme i Damjana, lira prestaje svirati i pjesma utihne jer je nekada na tome mjestu bilo groblje. Po dolasku na Gornju luku povorka se zaustavlja i uz pratnju lire prvo jedna grupa viče „Uvo!“, zatim druga, pa obje zajedno. Potom nastavljajući pjesmu idu do kuće meštra od Poklada (čovjeka koji izrađuje pokladnog lutka) gdje se zaustavljaju i na isti način halekaju te nastavljaju svoj povratak u salu. Ako se otpjeva pjesma Podiglo se malo četovanje, nastavlja se pjesmom Zelena naranča. Prije ulaska u salu još jednom zahalekaju, a potom slijedi zajednička večera i zabava. Nakon halekanja lira smije doći u salu i obavezna je pratiti sve reprezentativne sastavnice običaja do kraja pokladnih zbivanja. Ako blagdan Kandalore pada na dane bala, tada se ono pomiče na sljedeći dan, blagdan Sv. Vlaha. Ranije dok je bilo više društava u selu, društvo koje je dobilo čast i povjerenje za izradu Poklada taj je dan pripremalo večeru u sali i išlo zahalekat. Za vrijeme pokladnih zbivanja, društvo je obavezno tri puta ići halekat: na Kandaloru, na Pretili četvrtak i u Pretilu nedjelju. Broj halekanja može biti i veći, vodeći naravno računa o poštivanju običaja. Audio zapis: Podiglo se malo četovanje Pretili četvrtak Zadnji četvrtak u pokladama društvo pokladara zaduženo za izradu lutka Poklada i culjanje ide drugi put zahalekat Pod kostanju. Od toga dana moraju se znati svi sulari (terase) na kojim će pokladari i lijepe maškare balat na pokladni utorak. Kapo sale do Pretilog četvrtka ima obvezu obići sve kuće koje će u utorak primiti i ugostiti obje povorke (pokladare i lijepe maškare) i s domaćinima dogovoriti suradnju. Budući da je primanje i ugošćivanje tolikog broja ljudi ozbiljna obveza koja od domaćina iziskuje fizički i financijski napor, Udruga “Lastovski Poklad” spremna je i financijski pripomoći. Pretila nedjelja i balo pod liru Zadnju pokladnu subotu organizira se samo uobičajeno balo, dok je Pretila nedjelja veliki dan za najmlađe Lastovce. U popodnevnim satima u sali je maskenbal za djecu. Skupe se sva djeca iz sela, maštovito maskirana, u društvu svojih majki ili odgojiteljica iz vrtića i s pokojim ocem koji cijeli događaj snima kamerom. Prvo uz pjesmu obilaze selo, a potom se svi okupe u sali gdje pokladarsko društvo organizira glazbu, pa se uz ples, kolače i sok zabavljaju do sumraka kada svatko odlazi svojoj kući. Navečer je u sali ponovo ples za odrasle, ali ovaj put bez maski. Te večeri uloga kapo salea postaje vidljiva i onima koji nisu članovi pokladarskog društva. Kad su se svi već dobro naplesali valcera, dvokoraka i polki na zadnjem nedjeljnom balu, kapo sale sa skupinom muškaraca pokladara oko 23 sata kreće na treće obavezno halekanje. Po njihovom povratku ples i zabava se nastavljaju i kapo sale najavljuje balo pod liru. Balo pod liru Balo pod liru je ples muško-ženskih parova po zamišljenoj kružnici, povezanih rupčićima koji se, kako mu samo ime kaže, izvodi uz pratnju lire. Budući da lira na Lastovu svira samo u vrijeme poklada, balo pod liru je sastavni dio pokladnih običaja. Bala se spontano jedino u to doba godine, a izvan konteksta lastovskog poklada može se vidjeti samo na pozornici. Bala se obično na balima u sali, najčešće pred sam kraj večeri ili kad kapo odluči i najavi. Prema nepisanim pravilima balo pod liru mora se balat najmanje tri puta u razdoblju od Kandalore do Pretile nedjelje, a može i više puta. Iako su pojedine figure slične figurama pokladarskoga kola, balo pod liru se svojom strukturom razlikuje od završnoga miješanog kola pokladara i lijepih maškara. Kapo sale najavljuje balo pa uz zvuke lire dolazi prvi par, par kolovođa i hodajućim korakom se kreće plesnim prostorom po zamišljenoj kružnici dok se svi ostali parovi ne pridruže. Kad se u promenadu uključe svi parovi, počinje balo. Uz osnovni korak koji je jednak koraku pokladarskoga kola i kola lijepih maškara (u ritmu ta-te ta; desna-lijeva desna uz kretanje prema naprijed) izmjenjuju se figure bala. Nabrojat ću ih redoslijedom kojim se izvode i prema nazivima po kojima ih Lastovci razlikuju, kao što je zapisano u Prijedlogu statuta (1999): – svaki muškarac sa svakom ženom – hitanje u kolo na lijevu i na desnu – soto jedan put – hitanje u kolo na lijevu i na desnu – kolovođa u spož jedan put. Posljednja šaljiva figura koja nije posebno izdvojena u Prijedlogu statuta (1999) zapravo je igra lovice svakog para, tzv. laćenje pod liru. Prvo momak hvata djevojku trčeći okolo svih ostalih plesača/ica gusto zbijenih na zamišljenoj kružnici, pa djevojka hvata momka. Kad se izredaju svi parovi u toj igri lovice podijele se u dvije grupe i viču „Uvo!“. Time završava balo pod liru, a zabava i ples se nastavljaju do duboko u noć. Audio zapis: Balo pod liru Pretili ponedjeljak U ponedjeljak već u 8 sati ujutro počinju završne pripreme za vrhunac pokladnih zbivanja u utorak. Dok žene po kućama završavaju svoje kostime i glačaju pokladarske uniforme, ispred sale se okuplja nekoliko pokladara odjevenih u svakodnevnu odjeću, oficir iz povorke lijepih maškara također u civilu, sanatur – svirač lire, djeca i kapo sale. Malo iza 8 sati svi okupljeni prvo kreću po tovara bez pjesme, ali uz zvuke lire. Muškarci ulaze u kuću „na čašicu dobrodošlice“ pa im domaćica predaje tovara s motikom na leđima kojom će kopat zemlju potrebnu za izradu lutka Poklada. Djeca i pratitelji zbivanja (fotografi, novinari, turisti, istraživači) ostaju ispred kuće čekajući nastavak ophoda. Jedno dijete vodi tovara, za njima ide sanatur, lira i dalje svira, i zajedno s ostatkom povorke muškaraca, i dalje bez pjesme, odlaze po prlinu – zemlju za Pokladove čizme. Prlina se kopa na točno određenom mjestu, u dnu sela nasuprot groblja ispod jedne masline. Baš na tom mjestu zemlja je najmekša kako kažu pokladari. Potom ostali pomoćnici ispred dvorane barut u papiru omataju špagom koja je razapeta između stabala da bi bila dobro zategnuta. Čim je prva probna bomba gotova, opali se ispred dvorane da se provjeri kvaliteta baruta i kakvoća izrade. Kupljenje jaja na pretili ponedjeljak Jaja skupljaju tzv. grube maškare koje u nekoliko skupina u popodnevnim satima obilaze selo. Zamaškarani su grubo, odnosno odjeveni su u neku staru odjeću, a lica su im zacrnjena ili išarana ružem za usne. Grube maškare za razliku od sutrašnjih lijepih, nastoje izgledati smiješno i ružno. Nekolicina sutrašnjih pokladara čini jednu od skupina grubih maškara koja jedina obilazi selo uz pratnju lire. Pokladni utorak Taj dan u godini malo tko radi. Crkveni sat umjesto u podne zvoni u 11 sati i to je Lastovcima znak za ručak. U 8 sati ujutro u sali se skupljaju kapo sale, svirač lire i nekoliko pokladara. Uz zvuke lire oni odlaze po uzu (konop po kojem se spušta pokladna lutka s vrha brda u dno sela) kod domaćina koji je čuva cijelu godinu. Uzu zatim nose do Novog puta (cesta koja vodi u centar sela, a nadmorska visina joj je na pola puta između vrha brda iznad sela i dna sela) gdje je, i dalje uz zvuke lire, mažu sapunom kako bi pokladna lutka – Poklad lakše klizio niz nju. Jedan kraj nose na Pokladovu gržu (vrh brda), a drugi spuštaju na Gornju luku (dno sela gdje se spušta pokladna lutka). Čim se uza razapne viče se tri puta: “Uvo!” i eksplodira jedna bomba. U isto vrijeme po kućama se otvaraju stare škrinje i vade se brižno spremljene uniforme pokladara. Žene pomažu muškarcima u odijevanju. Tek kad su muškarci odjeveni dolaze na red i žene koje sudjeluju u povorci lijepih maškara. U povorci su po dvije žene u paru, često prijateljice ili rođakinje, jednako odjevene. Svaki par smišlja i šije kostim koji se u pravilu odijeva samo jedanput, na pokladni utorak. Kostimiraju se npr. u životinjske likove iz crtanih filmova, morske sirene, dobre vile, kraljice, Ciganke, klaune ili su pak maske neodređene, šarene i vrlo slikovite. Kreiraju se već od Božića, a materijal se nabavlja u Splitu. Sve lijepe maškare, bez obzira što predstavljaju, moraju cijelim ophodom nositi krinke na očima. Pravila ponašanja su točno određena. Uvijek postoje dvije povorke, muški pokladari i ženske lijepe maškare, koje obilaze selo. Prva i glavna povorka, koja se smatra nositeljem cijele svečanosti, jest povorka pokladara koju čine isključivo muškarci Lastovci. Drugu povorku, povorku lijepih maškara, unatoč svojoj dojmljivosti rijetko spominjanu u literaturi, čine žene. Desetak muškaraca odjevenih u oficire čuva red i nadgleda lijepe maškare obilazeći s njima selo. Ponekad se pojavljuje i treća, manja grupa – tzv. grube maškare. To su momci odjeveni u liječnike koji obilazile selo naizmjence s pokladarima, pa s lijepim maškarama, te zbijaju šale i uveseljavaju publiku i sve sudionike ophoda. Skupljanje lijepih maškara počinje već oko 9 sati ispred bivše kino dvorane. Pokladari se skupljaju ispred sale, ali nešto kasnije, iza podneva. U povorci uvijek stoje u parovima, a pravilo je da barem jedan iz para dođe ranije i čuva red. To isto vrijedi i za lijepe maškare. Dakle, redoslijedom kojim dolaze stoje u povorci. Iznimka je da se na početak puštaju stariji pokladari i starije žene jer je na kraju povorke teško plesati završno kolo. Zadnji dolaze kolovođe, kapo sale i sanatur. U jedan sat iza podneva kapo sale daje znak pokladarima, kojih se skupilo između 25 i 30 parova, te povorka kreće u ophod selom. Na čelu povorke je barjaktar s državnom zastavom, pa magarac s lutkom Pokladom kojeg prate djeca odjevena u uniforme kao i pokladari. Za njima ide svirač lire, kapo sale, pa par kolovođa i zatim cijela povorka redoslijedom kojim su pristizali pred salu. Na samom kraju su ponovo djeca. Bez pjesme, ali uz sviranje lire odlaze do načelnika općine tražiti dopuštenje za culjanje (spuštanje lutke niz konop s vrha brda do dna sela) i paljenje lutke Poklada. Načelnik uz nekoliko prigodnih riječi odobrava zatraženo, rukuje se s kapom, kolovođa zapovijeda: „Otpust!“ i tada počinje najsvečaniji i najvažniji dio običaja. Svi pokladari vođeni kolovođama otplešu skraćenu varijantu pokladarskog kola i krenu dalje prema župnom uredu, sada i uz pjesmu jer su dobili dozvolu od načelnika. Lijepih maškara se skupi oko četrdesetak parova. Otprilike istovremeno kad se pokladari povlače u salu saslušati završni govor kapa i lijepe maškare odlaze u kino dvoranu, odmičući se od očiju javnosti gdje im predvodnica kola održi pozdravni govor u kojem je naglasak na poželjnom ponašanju tijekom ophoda. U povorci stoje po dvije jednako odjevene maškare redoslijedom kojim su stizale na mjesto okupljanja. Na čelu povorke je dječak odjeven u oficirsku uniformu koji nosi barjak s državnom zastavom. Za njim ide svirač lire odjeven u uniformu pokladara pa bijeli i crni oficiri koji zapravo i nisu u povorci nego je tijekom cijelog ophoda obilaze i nadgledaju. Po odlasku povorke pokladara, pred zgradu općine dolazi povorka lijepih maškara. Pozdrave načelnika općine i prvi puta toga dana otplešu svoje kolo. Istovremeno su pokladari kod svećenika koji im daje blagoslov za nastavak pokladnih zbivanja. Kolovođa vodi pokladare na prvi sular i određuje koliko će parova plesati skraćeno pokladarsko kolo. Pokladarsko kolo je lančani ples s mačevima koji u cijelosti izvode Lastovci odjeveni u pokladare samo na Pokladni utorak. Pojedine figure iz kola izvode se na unaprijed dogovorenim sularima u ophodu selom. Broj parova koji plešu kolo ovisi o veličini terase. Uz kolovođe koji su nezamjenjivi tog utorka jer imaju glavnu riječ i odgovorni su za uspjeh kola, na svakoj slijedećoj terasi plešu slijedećih nekoliko parova iz povorke. Plešu se smo neke od figura koje određuje prvi kolovođa u tom trenutku. Dok pet – šest parova pleše, ostalih dvadesetak ih gleda ili se već časte pićem, hladnim narescima i kolačima. Audio zapis: Pokladarsko kolo Nakon otplesanog kola i neizbježnog povika „Uvo!“, u kuću ulazi svirač lire, pa kapo sale, kolovođe, a nakon njih svi ostali pokladari koji su plesali na toj terasi. Domaćin ih ugosti, a nakon kratkog čašćenja i druženja, ophod se nastavlja. Zaostajući za povorkom pokladara, lijepe maškare obilaze selo, uz strogo pravilo da se te dvije povorke ne smiju sresti. Lijepe maškare uvijek kasne za pokladarima barem za jednu kuću, a obilaze iste, unaprijed dogovorene kuće u kojima su bili i pokladari. Na svakoj terasi predvodnice kola povedu kolo s nekoliko parova iz povorke. Kod načelnika i kod svećenika kolo lijepih maškara vode oficiri. Otplešu nekoliko figura vrlo sličnih figurama iz pokladarskog kola samo što ne plešu s mačevima već s rupčićima. One svoje kolo jednostavno zovu naše kolo. Iako je osnovni korak jednak i vrlo jednostavan, u lijepih maškara je puno opuštenije i ležernije izveden, kao i cijelo kolo. Jednostavnost koraka dopušta bezbroj ponavljanja što na kraju više nalikuje trku negoli plesu. Ophod selom nastavlja se sve do 14 i 30 sati kada tovar s lutkom Pokladom mora biti u dnu sela – na Gornjoj luci kao donjoj točci za spuštanje, a o tome vodi brigu prvenstveno kapo sale. Poklada skidaju s tovara, a nosač kojega je odredio kapo sale, ga nosi na ramenima na Pokladarovu gržu – vrh brda odnosno gornju točku odakle se spušta. Dok se Poklad na ramenima pokladara uspinje uz brdo, pokladari prilaze uzi pod vodstvom čovjeka koji je zadužen za uzu i otelavaju je (napinju). Lira cijelo vrijeme neumorno svira. Na Pokladarevoj grži Poklada dočekuje meštar od bombi i njegovi pomoćnici. Stavljaju Poklada na uzu i o njega objese bombe koje pri spuštanju eksplodiraju. Poklad je točno u tri sata popodne spreman za culjanje. Za vrijeme culjanja Poklada, jednog od značajnijih trenutaka u cijelom ritualu, lijepe maškare se zaustavljaju u zadnjoj kući prije Gornje luke i tu čekaju da pokladari krenu dalje u ophod selom. Poklad se culja niz uzu tri puta uz pucanje bombi koje vise na njemu. Prvi puta pukne pet, drugi puta sedam, a zadnji puta devet bombi. Nakon toga skida se uza i nosi se na svoje mjesto gdje čeka slijedeće culjanje dogodine. Poklada se ponovo stavlja na magarca. Nakon sva tri spuštanja lutke čemu su prisustvovali pokladari i publika koja prati cijeli događaj, pleše se pokladarsko kolo. Ovaj put plešu svi pokladari i izvode sve figure, potom se fotografiraju i kreću dalje u ophod selom. Tek tada stižu vesele lijepe maškare koje su iz prikrajka pratile culjanje. Poslije pokladara i one sve zajedno otplešu svoje kolo. Njihovo kolo, dakle lančani ples s maramicama, ima u pola manje figura od pokladarskog jer je nemoguće pojedine figure izvesti bez mačeva. Nakon kola i fotografiranja one također nastavljaju ophod selom ponovo prateći pokladare. Kad su obišli sve kuće u kojima su bili najavljeni, pokladari oko 18 sati dolaze na Dolac gdje cijela svečanost doseže svoj vrhunac. Dolac je prostor između osnovne škole i crkve na kojem se skupi od 300 do 500 ljudi. Barjaktar sa zastavom i magarac s Pokladom stoje sa strane. Svirač lire odlazi na svoje mjesto ispod crkve, a sredinu Dolca zauzimaju pokladari. Lijepe maškare i ovaj puta zaostaju u zadnjoj kući i čekaju na svoj dolazak na Dolac. Pedesetak pokladara zauzima sredinu Dolca i na znak kolovođe počinju balat pokladarsko kolo. Jedino taj dan u godini, dakle na Pokladni utorak, pokladari u svojim uniformama na Dolcu izvedu cijelo pokladarsko kolo sa svih 10 figura i njihovim ponavljanjima. Redoslijed ponavljanja pojedinih figura ovisi isključivo o prvom kolovođi, njegovim plesačkim sposobnostima i raspoloženju. Dok pokladari plešu svoje kolo na Dolcu, lijepe maškare privode svoj ophod selom kraju. Sa zadnje terase na kojoj plešu, puca pogled na Dolac i kada su pokladari već nekoliko puta ponovili pojedine figure, a Poklada su odnijeli na svlačenje prije paljenja, lijepe maškare kreću prema njima, ali kako same kažu “uvijek kasne”. Dakle, pokladari sami plešu svoje kolo s mnogobrojnim ponavljanjima dok ne dođu lijepe maškare. Dolaskom ženskih lijepih maškara na Dolac, pokladari ne prestaju plesati, nego im samo naprave mjesta za njihovo kolo. Usporedo plešu svaki svoje kolo, no pokladari više ne izvode sve figure već samo one jednostavnije. Nakon nekoliko ponavljanja kolovođa pokladara daje znak da se ta dva kola stope u jedno, međusobno se pomiješaju. Par pokladarskih kolovođa se ipak nikad ne razdvaja. Za njima slijedi oficir, pa prva žena kolovođa maškara i dalje iza svakog pokladara ide jedna lijepa maškara. U tom se trenutku na Dolcu nalazi stotinjak pa i više izvođača koji plešu svi zajedno u jednom velikom kolu. Beskrajnim ponavljanjima jednostavnih figura u gotovo trčećem plesnom koraku kao da svi padaju u trans. Iako na izmaku snaga, jer je cijeli utorak protekao u vrlo intenzivnim zbivanjima, nitko ne odustaje. Cijelu godinu svi žive upravo za taj trenutak i sutradan nitko nije bolestan, premda je većina lijepih maškara vrlo oskudno odjevena, a ipak je riječ o veljači i ponekad vrlo niskim temperaturama (oko 0° C). Atmosfera doseže svoj vrhunac kada se svučeni lutak Poklad nataknut na štap i poliven petrolejem zapali. Kapo sale s gorućom lutkom obilazi Dolac, dolazi do sredine i tu ga drži dok ne izgori do kraja. Skupe se svi pokladari i sve lijepe maškare pjevajući i veseleći se dok se zvona crkve ne oglase. To je znak da je sve gotovo. Pokladari se okupljaju oko magarca i uz pratnju lire, ali bez pjesme vraćaju magarca njegovom gospodaru. Zatim isprate svirača lire te i sami odlaze svaki svojoj kući odmoriti se i večerati. Lijepe maškare također odlaze svojim kućama malo se ugrijati i odmoriti jer se poslije večere opet cijelo selo okuplja u sali na plesu do zore. Time završava taj burni, raspjevani i rasplesani utorak, Lastovcima najvažniji dan u godini. Čista srijeda U srijedu ujutro Lastovo je posebno mirno. Većina sudionika, učenici srednjih škola, studenti, Lastovci koji rade u Splitu, Zagrebu ili izvan Hrvatske, vojnici, istraživači i turisti, koji su se vratili ili došli na otok zbog pokladnog zbivanja već su u pola pet ujutro na trajektu za Split. Svi zaposleni Lastovci koji to mogu uzimaju slobodan dan i uglavnom prespavaju jutro. Navečer u sali pokladarsko društvo organizira završno okupljanje. Pozvani su svi koji su sudjelovali u plesnim večerima i u pokladnim zbivanjima da svojim novčanim prilozima potpomognu u pokrivanju troškova. Članovi društva pripreme prkle i skuhaju jaja koja su grube maškare prikupile u Pretili ponedjeljak da time počaste sve sudionike. Potom se sala zatvara i svatko odlazi svojoj kući. Arhivske fotografije Preuzeto iz: Lastovski poklad: plesno-etnološka studija, dr. sc. Iva Niemčić – Zagreb, 2011. Veljača