SLOVENIA'S 5 CORE VALUES

According to legend, the church was built by a count who got lost while hunting and asked St Nicholas to show him the way. And on the north side of this church stands a folk crucifix.

Nani Poljanec from Rogaška Slatina is a folk artist. He is the one who commissioned the creation and installation of the folk crucifix on the church. Boč, which is also the site of the unique Easterberry (Pulsatilla grandis), is the symbol of Rogaška Slatina and its highest point. So Nani thought it would be something special if people could gather at a folk crucifix set in the middle of unspoilt nature, both for the blessing of Easter delicacies and for other days of the year.

Nani commissioned a statue of Christ to be made from a lime tree that grew on his farm. As the folk crucifix was worn out after all these years, Poljanec decided to restore it in 2023. The woodworker and carver Marko Kostanjšek, who made it, masterfully restored and restored the image of Christ and the cross.

"I decided to build a folk crucifix in July 2001 during my big project Christ's years as a folk artistin appreciation of my grassroots work in the fields of culture, science, art, museology and everything that makes me happy. My intention was to bring people together every year at this crucifix to bring Easter delicacies to the burnt offering on Holy Saturday. And that came true the very next year. - 2002. I also consider the gathering and the Easter brunch after the rite in the unspoilt nature of our beautiful Boč very important." explained Nani.

The Blessing of the Meals has thus become a tradition that brings people together. This year, it took place on Easter Saturday, 19 April, at 11:00. "My goal is achieved, as more and more people come every year. This year there were around 250 people at the Lenten Vigil and it has become a beautiful tradition. I am happy to bring people together, which is my mission. It is interesting that people come to the Harvest Festival who have not gone to church before for Mass or similar rituals. This event attracts them because it is in nature," added Nani.

In the early years, the blessing was done by Viktor Vratarič, the parish priest from Kostrivnica, but this year, as he was recovering from an operation, he was replaced by parish priest Andrej Zrimšek. He distributed the parables to everyone and the much-awaited chocolate Easter eggs to the children. 

Every year, more and more people attend the blessing of the dishes, and Nani is happy and moved to welcome and greet each one. He is happy to see young families, to shake the hands of the elderly, to relive a story or an event from the past, and he is especially delighted to see that people from further afield also come. 

This year, people from surrounding municipalities such as Rogaška Slatina, Šmarje pri Jelšah, Poljčane, Makole and Maribor have gathered at Boč, but there are also more and more hikers and travellers from other places who spontaneously join the ceremony. 

After all, it is true that people need traditions and customs, especially during the festive season. And there is nothing better than to see a crowd of people in unspoilt nature, recalling memories and traditions, and taking beautiful thoughts out into the world and into their homes.

Amadeja Mlakar, 26. 4. 2025