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Samobor (Zagreb County, Croatia)

Last modified: 2001-08-10 by dov gutterman
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by Zeljko Heimer , 20 Febuary 1999



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Overview

After hearing about "The Lunar Rebublic of Owalicva" site (located by Dov Gutterman on 20 Febuary 1999, noe defunct), I just wanted to say another thing that came to mind reading the full title of the "Republic". It may be that it is not an "imagination" after all. There is a custom in greater part of christian world of carnevals (well I'm sure not only among christians people take masks for fun, but read on) - and it is not uncommon to proclaim an independent and crazy (lunar!?) state in these days, and finnaly on the last day of the carneval to burn the figure of the "ruler" of that state. There is little doubt that the custom stems from pagan, pre-christian times, but to go into history and symbolic of it would be to much for me. I don't know if Owlicava is one of such, but if it is I would not be surprised if it have a flag and other symbols of statehood.
In a small town near Zagreb a similar custom is used, just ended last Tuesday. The town is called Samobor, and the "Free Republic of Samobor" is proclaimed, the normal municipal functionaries nominally being suspended for the period. I was in Samobor last Sathurday (having great fun), and noticed that there were no usual state and city's flag on the official buildings, but the town was full of the Free Republic flags - these being on various coloured "bedsheets" the symbol of the festival - a magpie (a bird, like a crow, fabled to steal shiny objects, symbolically stand for corupted government). Even the CoA on the municipality building was temporarily changed to a version that show a magpie in place of the usual tower. A passport of the "Free Republic" is issued also (giving you discount at various pubs etc.). Sorry that I don't have images of the flag and coa. I can only offer you the "normal" flag of Samobor, white flag with CoA in the middle. Do you know more of such examples?
Zeljko Heimer, 20 Febuary 1999


Coat of Arms


by Zeljko Heimer

The coat of arms of Samobor is based on the old seal showing a tower between leafed branches. Above is the city name and below year 1242 in which Samobor gained the status of a free and royal city. The flag is white with the coat of arms in the middle.
Zeljko Heimer