December 18, 2018 - From Christmas to Christmas, a traditional program organized by the NGO "Karampana" in cooperation with the Kotor Tourist Organization, under the auspices of the Kotor Municipality, begins on 23 December and lasts until January 8, 2019.
The program commences with the concert of the Mandolin Orchestra of the Croatian Civic Society at the Museum Square, scheduled for Sunday, 23 December at 11 am. The same evening is the Great New Year's Concert of the Town Music of Kotor at the Cultural Center "Nikola Đurković" at 7.30 pm.
Karampana, in cooperation with Kotor housewives, in the spirit of the centuries-old ecumenism, this year celebrates Christmas Eve by serving delicious “priganice”- traditional small donuts. On 24 December, Catholics prepare “priganice,” and friends from the Orthodox community share with their guests in front of the central city gate. On the Orthodox Christmas Eve, the roles are replaced. The Riva will smell the same on both days, since the recipes, as well as traditions, among the different confessions in Boka Bay, do not differ a lot.
The New Year's interactive children's workshop Karampana is organized on 26 and 27 December. The youngest citizens of Kotor will make New Year's decorations at the Vida Matjan Music School.
The traditional New Year's concert the "Vida Matjan" Music School will be held on 27 December at 7 pm in the Church of the Holy Spirit in the Old Town of Kotor.
Within the “From Christmas to Christmas” program, 28 December is reserved for the youngest. The New Year’s bazaar starts at 10 am in front of the main city gate. Children from kindergartens and schools will present the works they have prepared with their educators and teachers. In the case of rain, the bazaar location will be the "Kamelija" Shopping Center.
On the same day in the Church of the Holy Spirit at 20:00 the quartet "Lords of the Strings" will perform.
The New Year's Handicraft Bazaar at Riva is scheduled for 29 December at 10 am. The big New Year’s raffle is held the same day in front of the city cafe "Dojmi" at 11 am, and the organizers provided valuable prizes for all participants. The host will be SC Kamelija.
In the evenings, at the Museum Square at 20:00, visitors will be entertained by the vocal group Klapa "Kampanel." An alternative location in case of bad weather conditions will be the Cultural Center "Nikola Đurković" in the same term.
As a part of the “From Christmas to Christmas” program, the central event and the great joy for the youngest audience is undoubtedly the welcome of the Children’s New Year, which will be organized on 30 December beginning at 4 pm on the Arms Square.
Santa Claus and his elves have prepared a variety of surprises, which the youngest must not miss. The students of the Vida Matjan Music School will participate in the reception for the children. They will also have the opportunity to enjoy an interactive show titled "Let's Love - This is the Year of Love."
"Like every year, the unavoidable part of the Children’s New Year's program is the distribution of New Year's packages, which Kotor’s Santa Claus will distribute for all the present children," Karampana.
For children who, due to health problems, cannot attend the reception, NGO Karampana has organized the delivery of the New Year's packages at 12 pm at the Kotor General Hospital. It is a continuation of the "Fairytale for Health" action which started in 2015 as part of the project "From Christmas to Christmas."
The Children’s New Year will be followed by a musical happening entitled "Kotor- City of Good Music." The audience will be entertained by Who See, Niggor & Jelena Kženegra.
"The beginning of the New Year will be marked on January 3, 2019, under the title “Experience the Hundred,” where we will organize a special music program and the New Year's tombola with various prizes," said Karampana.
The Christmas Concert of the Serbian Singing Society "Jedinstvo" is scheduled for the 4 January in the church of St. Nicholas at 6 pm.
"Karampana" invites citizens and guests of Kotor to join the event announced for 5 January. "A humanitarian evening is dedicated to all Kotor originals, and all the proceeds from the sale of sausages and wine will be intended for the purchase of new instruments for Kotor City Music," the organizers said.
As for the Catholic Christmas Eve, Kotor will prepare “priganice” to celebrate the Orthodox Christmas Eve, which will be served in front of the central city gates on January 6 at 10 am.
The sixth “From Christmas to Christmas" manifestation ends on January 8th with the gastronomic specialities of Kotor hosts, which will be presented within the framework of the "Papalada ala maka."
"Thanks to the support we received, without which this project could not be so successful, we owe the first place to Luštica Bay, which already traditionally helps the project “From Christmas to Christmas.” Also, thanks for the support and infrastructure assistance of the Municipality of Kotor, La Mia Casa from Podgorica and our colleagues by enthusiasm - Ocean Lava Montenegro," said Karampan with the invitation to attend the programs and the message “the New Year's Magic can begin."
