Poklod – Custom, Satire, and Community Identity

Poklad, or in the Vis dialect, Poklod, is one of the most recognizable calendar customs of the island of Vis. It takes place between Epiphany and the beginning of Lent, and its roots lie in ancient rituals that symbolically bid farewell to winter, warded off misfortune, and marked the transition to a new period of the year.

The central moment of the carnival customs is Mardi Gras, the last day before Lent, when masked parades, public displays of customs, and community gatherings take place. At the end of the day, a carnival effigy is burned, symbolically taking on all the bad from the past year so that the community can begin a new cycle.

In the Vis Poklod, a particularly important role is played by Vrabac – a rhymed satire traditionally performed in the local dialect. Through humor, irony, and authentic Vis speech, events, relationships, and phenomena from the past year are commented upon, making Vrabac a form of social critique as well as collective memory.

Poklod is therefore not just a performance or a one-day entertainment. It is an expression of local identity, community, and the continuity of customs passed down from generation to generation. Numerous individuals, families, associations, sponsors, and the local community participate in it, and its greatest value lies precisely in this collective contribution.

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