The maturing of the Borinci plantation orchard is completely woven into the manifestation of the Vinkovac autumns. With the first fruits of jonathan, ajdared and delicacies, the event grew, and the apple, the main product of Vinkovac fruit growers, spilled almost as a symbol on all programs and became a trademark of the autumn festivities.
Excerpt from the first monograph Vinkovački jeseni 1966-1985
And it was the apple, the inspiration of the founders Vinkovci autumns, it returns and rounds The 60th edition of the event will take place from September 12th to 21st. Back in 1966, a few enthusiasts, lovers of the Slavonian plain and everything that makes it our proud and defiant Šokac region, decided to give their city and their Slavonia, their Srijem the greatest stage of folklore creativity, then still only in Slavonia, and then Baranja.
The Vinkovački jeseni stage became an increasingly important representation of folk creativity and Croatian identity, and its founders, from the very beginning, aspired to today's national and international recognition. the most important Croatian traditional events.
With these words, the scriptwriter and director of the Opening Ceremony Marko Sabljakovic begins the explanation of this year's theme, “Autumn, a blushing apple.” Our Autumns, he says, exude not only the blush of cheerful girls, the throaty songs of young men, but also the love forever woven into the heart of the Slavonian plain – in Vinkovci.
– Why the apple as the central motif with the noun autumn and the adjective 'ruddy'? Precisely because the apple is a symbol and a feature of the beginnings of the Vinkovci Autumn Festival in the 1960s on a well-known plantation called Borinci, located right next to the town on Bosut. The apple is woven into the most recognizable symbol of the Vinkovci Autumn Festival today – their authentic and unique coat of arms by Jozo Mataković, a Vinkovci academic painter and set designer. The first years of the largest Folklore Festival of Slavonia, and later of Baranja, were tied to the apple that the most beautiful girl, beauty, winner of the folk costume show, most often the Youth and Beauty of Slavonia event in Stari Mikanovci, would pick at Borinci. Borinci would then come alive with a ceremony in honor of the beginning of the apple harvest and the September festivities known as the Vinkovci Autumn Festival, Sabljaković said at the first session Organizing Committee.
"Kato, you got the reddest apple from the orchard! He stared at you! ...Not from our area, and not even far away! Even in Vinkovci's autumn, you would never have met him! Don't be shy, go play with him!"
It is known that in Slavonia, the apple has always been a sign of giving, a symbol of love and life, so the dramatic text of the Opening Ceremony will stage the beginning of Vinkovci Autumns as a dramatic story imbued with action, the center of which is the character of a young girl, Šokica-Slavonka, to whom the apple will symbolically bring a handful of joy into her life.
The destinies of young men and women as rosy as Borinac apples will remind us of the beginnings of our greatest manifestation, of all those events that gave us a unique manifestation of celebrating folklore, song, dance, Šokac speech, folk customs and, above all, the most beautiful folk costume.
"Let the autumn ruddy apple remind us of the beauty of life with the central motif as a symbol and sign of giving, life and love - our Vinkovci ruddy apple, our recognizability and identity of traditional life", the author underlined.
"Think brothers, that mud is being trampled,
from Vinkovci to Borinci!
And when there on the asphalt without any trouble
"So pick, which apples do you want?"
President of the Organizing Committee and Ivan Bosančić, mayor of Vinkovci says that today, in addition to the theme, the people of Vinkovci also got the theme of anticipation for September and our Autumn. – I am sure that this year will also enchant many who love traditional culture, that it will once again create a time in which we celebrate friendship, promote our traditional culture and Vinkovci as its capital. You are all welcome, come and experience our hospitality and our gastronomy, September has long been reserved for Vinkovci because that is when we become the center of the world, invites the mayor to the oldest settlement in Europe.
Vinkovci Autumns promote not only their city but also the entire Vukovar-Srijem County. Franjo Orešković, deputy county prefect who also serves as county prefect, pointed out that they have always been a combination of history, tradition, culture, customs, but also the beauty and love of our people. – And what is always, among other things, The most beautiful thing to see is our youth, which is proof that tradition will never die out, he concluded.
Deputy mayor of Vinkovac Josip Romic It took us back a little in time and reminded us how our grandparents measured the year by the Vinkovci autumns, the time before and the time after.
– I have no doubt that the anniversary edition will shine in its most beautiful splendor. Especially since an excellent creative team is working on it, which has proven its worth in the previous years. I am most pleased with the work of our cultural and artistic societies, especially with our children who, during the Children's Vinkovci Autumn, show all the richness of our heritage, through the beauty of songs, folk customs and costumes. After that comes the "big part" when Croatia comes to our city, where we pride ourselves on traditional customs, Romic said.
And the Head of the Administrative Department for Culture and Tourism, Marija Liščić Drmić, confirmed that we are in for an edition that will surpass all previous ones. Never more fun, never bigger, never more beautiful, this Autumn will be everyone's pride and joy. "I hope for nice weather so that we can host everyone who loves Vinkovci Autumn, who loves to show off their costumes, their love for culture, tradition and history. These are the days we live for, love and cherish," concluded the head Liščić Drmić.
"While the apple tree was in bloom,
I was a hero in a distant world!
Golden autumn, apples are for picking,
"Me and the lamb are preparing the wedding!"
