Thenational symbols of Croatia are insignia, icons, or cultural expressions that are emblematic, representative, or otherwise characteristic of thestatehood, people,culture andnationalism ofCroatia. They are implemented within the country and abroad as a form of representation for the nation's statehood or its unique cultural aspects.
| National flag |  | Flag of Croatia[1] The flag of Croatia consists of three horizontal stripes of red, white, and blue, with the coat of arms in the centre. It is commonly known astrobojnica ("tricolour" inCroatian) and has been used in different forms since 1848. It combines the colours of historical flags of theKingdom of Croatia (red and white), theKingdom of Slavonia (blue and white), and partiallyKingdom of Dalmatia (blue and yellow). |
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| Coat of arms |  | Coat of arms of Croatia[1] The coat of arms of Croatia consists of one main shield and five smaller shields which are crowning it. The main coat of arms is acheckerboard (chequy) made up out of 13 red and 12 silver (white) fields. It is commonly known asšahovnica ("chessboard" in Croatian) orgrb (literally "coat of arms"). The five smaller shields represent five historical regions of Croatia:Croatia proper,Dubrovnik,Dalmatia,Istria, andSlavonia. |
| National anthem | National anthem of Croatia[1] "Lijepa naša domovino" ("Our Beautiful Homeland") is the national anthem of Croatia. Its opening words, "Lijepa naša" ("Our Beautiful"), are widely used as ametonym for the country. The original lyrics were written and published for the first time under the title "Horvatska domovina" ("Croatian homeland") in 1835.[1] |
 | TheGlagolitic script (Croatian:glagoljica) is the oldest knownSlavicalphabet. In Croatia, Glagolitic inscriptions appear in the 12th-century littoral areas such as Istria,Kvarner, or Dalmatia, but there are also findings fromLika, Slavonia, andNorthern Croatia. The 1483Missale Romanum Glagolitice was the first Croatian printed book.[2]Angular Glagolitic letters ⰘⰓ (Latin:"HR" for"Hrvatska") are featured on the obverse side ofCroatian euro coins. |
 | TheCroatian interlace (Croatian:pleter ortroplet) is a type ofinterlace, most characteristic for its three-ribbon pattern. It is one of the most often used patterns inearly medievalCroatian art, where ornamental strings are sometimes grouped together with animal and herbal figures. The symbol is still used in Croatia today as a symbol of Croatian culture.[3] Croatia also awards a civil and military decoration called theOrder of the Croatian Interlace.[4] |
 | TheCroatian checkerboard or chequy (Croatian:šahovnica) is the national symbol of Croatia and Croats.[5] As in the coat of arms, the red and white squares are arranged evenly, although the order has varied historically.Jerseys andhats using the pattern are widely used by Croatiansports teams andfans. It can be found as a decoration on various touristsouvenirs as well. Croatian euro coins all feature the chequy on their obverse side.[6] |
| Cultural symbol |  | The contemporarynecktie (Croatian:kravata) traces back its origins from thecravat worn byCroatian mercenaries who served inFrance during theThirty Years' War (1618-1648). These mercenaries from theMilitary Frontier, wearing their traditional small, knotted neckerchiefs, aroused the interest ofParisians[7] and soon the fashion spread among the French nobility of the time. The International Necktie Day is celebrated in Croatia on October 18 every year.[8] |
 | TheCroatian needle lace (Croatian:čipka) is a traditional cultural artefact that dates back to the times ofRenaissance. With the years, Croatian needle lace has become notable for its unique patterns and designs. In 2009,UNESCO recognised the lacemaking in Croatia as anIntangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.[9] Most notable centres of lacemaking in Croatia today areLepoglava inHrvatsko Zagorje,Sveta Marija inMeđimurje, and the island ofPag. | |
 | Licitars (Croatian:licitar) are colourfully decoratedgingerbread biscuits made of sweet honey dough that are a part of Croatian cultural heritage. They are also a symbol of the capital city ofZagreb and where they are being used as an ornamental gift, often given at celebrations such as weddings or theValentine's Day. In 2010, UNESCO recognised the gingerbread craft from Northern Croatia as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.[10] | |
| National costume |  | TheCroatian dress (Croatian:hrvatska narodna nošnja) refers to the traditional clothing worn by Croats. Each cultural and geographicalregion of Croatia has its own specific variety of costume that varies in style, material, colour, shape, and form. Many of these regional costumes were influenced by theHungarian,Austrian,Italian, orOttoman presence.[11] Today, the national costumes are most often worn at special events or celebrations. |
| National sport |  | TheSinjska alka is an equestrian competition that has been held in the Croatian town ofSinj on every first Sunday in August since 1715 and commemorates a Croatian–Venetian victory in theOttoman–Venetian war.[12] At the competition, horsemen riding at full gallop aim their lance at a hanging metal ring (alka), and are awarded points according to which sector of the ring they are able to pierce. In 2010, UNESCO recognised the alka as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.[13] |
| National instrument |  | Tamburica is the national string instrument of Croatia. It derives its name and some characteristics from thePersiantanbur, but it also resembles themandolin andguitar in the sense that its strings areplucked and often paired. The frets may be moveable to allow the playing of variousmodes. The variety of tamburica shapes known today were developed at the end of the 19th century, and the instrument is often associated with the region of Slavonia.[14] |
.jpg) | TheVaraždin Castle (Croatian:Stari grad Varaždin) is located inVaraždin, a city in Northern Croatia that became the national administrative centre for a brief period in the 18th century.[15] The castle is an example of medieval defensive architecture whose construction began in the 14th century, and in the following century the rounded towers, typical forGothic architecture in Croatia, were added. The Varaždin Castle and its layout were featured on the reverse side of the 5 kuna banknote.[16] |
 | ThePula Arena (Croatian:Pulska Arena) is aRoman amphitheatre located inPula, a city in Istria, western Croatia. It is the only remaining Roman amphitheatre to have four side towers entirely preserved. It was constructed between the years 27 BC and 68 AD, and is among the world's six largest surviving Roman arenas.[17] The Pula Arena was featured on the reverse side of the 10 kuna banknote along with the layout of the town ofMotovun.[18] |
 | TheEltz Manor (Croatian:Dvorac Eltz) is aBaroque-era palace inVukovar, a city in the Slavonian subregion ofSyrmia in eastern Croatia. The manor suffered substantial damages and destruction in 1991 during theCroatian War of Independence, but it was completely restored to its pre-war appearance and today it houses the Vukovar City Museum.[19] The Eltz Manor was featured on the reverse side of the 20 kuna banknote along with theVučedol dove figure.[20] |
.jpg) | TheDubrovnik Old town (Croatian:Stari grad Dubrovnik) forms the medieval core of the city ofDubrovnik in Dalmatia, southern Croatia, which was added to the UNESCOWorld Heritage Site list in 1979.[21] Between the 14th and 19th centuries, it was the centre of the maritime Republic of Ragusa and became a cradle of theCroatian literature. The Dubrovnik Old Town was featured on the reverse side of the 50 kuna banknote along with theRector's Palace.[22] |
 | TheRijeka Cathedral, also known as the St. Vitus Cathedral (Croatian:Katedrala Svetog Vida) is aRoman Catholic cathedral in the city ofRijeka, western Croatia. In the Middle Ages, the Church ofSt. Vitus was a small and one-sided,Romanesque church dedicated to the patron saint and protector of the city. The structure is arotunda, which is unusual for this part of Europe. The Rijeka Cathedral and its layout were featured on the reverse side of the 100 kuna banknote.[23] |
 | ThePalace of Slavonian General Command (Croatian:Palača Slavonske Generalkomande) is a building of the formerGeneralate for theSlavonian Military Frontier located inOsijek, a city in Slavonia, eastern Croatia. Today it is a seat of theUniversity of Osijek rectorate and is one of the symbols of the city. The Palace of the Slavonian General Command was featured on the reverse side of the 200 kuna banknote along withTvrđa, the city's citadel where it stands.[24] |
 | TheDiocletian's Palace (Croatian:Dioklecijanova palača) is an ancient palace built for theRoman emperorDiocletian at the end of the third century AD,[25] and whose remains today form a central part of the city ofSplit in Dalmatia, southern Croatia. It was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 1979. The Diocletian's Palace was featured on the reverse side of the 500 kuna banknote along with the motif of a Croatian ruler from the 11th century.[26] |
 | TheZagreb Cathedral (Croatian:Zagrebačka katedrala) is a Roman Catholic cathedral located in Zagreb, the capital city in central Croatia. The cathedral has a distinctneo-Gothic appearance and is registered as a cultural good due to its architectural value.[27] Its prominent spires are considered to be landmarks as they are visible from most parts of the city. The Zagreb Cathedral was featured on the reverse side of the 1000 kuna banknote along with the statue ofKing Tomislav.[28] |
| National drink |  | Thewine (Croatian:vino) has a long history in Croatia as it dates back to theAncient Greek settlers and theirwine production on the Dalmatian islands. Like otherold world wine producers, many traditional grape varieties still survive in Croatia. Modern wine-production methods are common in larger wineries andEU-style wine regulations.[29] Some of the best known Croatian wine varieties areteran,graševina,plavac,dingač, andmalvazija. |
| National cuisine |  | Croatian cuisine is known as the cuisine of regions due to its heterogeneity, since every region of Croatia has its own distinct culinary traditions.Continental parts of the country are defined by recipes from theSlavic cuisine as well as theHungarian,Austrian, andTurkish influences, while thecoastal parts are characterised by contancts with theItalian cuisine.[30] Some of the best known Croatian foods and dishes areštrukli,brudet,pašticada,orehnjača, andkulen. |
| National personification | .jpg) | Mother Croatia (Croatian:Mati Hrvatska) is the national personification of Croatia. The nation has historically been portrayed as amotherland, and it is often personified through a female figure that evokes the traditional woman's role nurturer and protector.[31] During theIllyrian movement of the 19th century, prominent writers and intellectuals used the figure of Mother Croatia to represent Croatian statehood and independence.[32] |
| National animal | .jpg) | TheEuropean pine marten (Martes martes; Croatian:kuna zlatica) is a species ofmustelid that is a semi-official national animal of Croatia.[33] It has a symbolic meaning, since marten pelts (marturina) were collected as tax byearly Slavs, and because it appears prominently in theCroatian heraldry - this includes the national flag and the coat of arms, as well as historic and local emblems.[34][35][36]Banovac coins also included a marten figure, and it is a namesake ofkuna, the former Croatian currency where it appeared on all obverse coin sides. The European pine marten is featured on the reverse side of the Croatian 1euro coin.[37] |
 | TheAtlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus; Croatian:tunj oratlantska plavoperajna tuna) is a species oftuna native toAtlantic Ocean and theMediterranean Sea. Besides their high commercial value as food, the big size, speed, and power they display as predators has attracted the admiration of fishermen, writers, and scientists. In the Croatian part of theAdriatic, tuna is farmed and exported in large quantities.[38] The Atlantic bluefin tuna was featured on the reverse side of the 2 kuna coin.[39] | |
.jpg) | Thecommon nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos; Croatian:slavuj) is a species of smallpasserine bird known for its beautiful song.[40] Only males can sing, and their powerful and melodic sound has inspired pieces of poetry, opera, fairy tales, and books.[41] It is an insectivorous migratory bird that breeds in large parts ofEurope, and it is common all over Croatia during spring and summer. The common nightingale was featured on the reverse side of the 1 kuna coin.[42] | |
| National flower |  | TheCroatian iris (Iris croatica; Croatian:perunika) is a beardedrhizomatous species ofiris with branched stems and dark violet flowers that is endemic to temperate parts of Central Croatia and neighbouringSlovenia. It is on the Croatian list of strictly protected plants,[43] and is unofficially known as the national flower.[44] Within Croatia, it is found in areas likeŽumberak Mountains andMedvednica. Its name in Croatian stems from that ofPerun, the god of thunder inSlavic mythology. |
| National tree | .jpg) | Thepedunculate oak (Quercus robur; Croatian:hrast lužnjak) is a species of flowering plant in thebeech and oak family. It is a large tree, native to lowland temperate regions ofEurasia. 40,000 hectares of oak forests cover theSpačva basin in eastern Croatia[45] and the tree is widely present in nationaltoponymy, as well as the lyrics to the national anthem where it represents strength and resilience. Additionally, the pedunculate oak branch was featured on the reverse side of the 5lipa coin.[46] |
 | Theolive (Olea europaea; Croatian:maslina) is a species of plant in theolive family. It is a small tree or a shrub that is native to theMediterranean basin. Olive groves are widely cultivated in coastal parts and on islands of Croatia where they are used in the production of qualityolive oil. A 1,600-year-old olive tree in theBrijuni National Park[47] that still gives annual fruit is the oldest one in Croatia. Additionally, the olive branch was featured on the reverse side of the 20 lipa coin.[48] | |
| National dog breed |  | TheDalmatian (Croatian:dalmatinac ordalmatiner) is abreed of dog with a white coat marked with dark-coloured spots. Originally bred as ahunting dog,[49] it was also used as acarriage dog in its early days, while today it is a popular pet. The origins of this breed can be traced back to present-day Croatia and its region of Dalmatia, from which it bears its name.[50] Other Croatian dog breeds include theTornjak,Posavac Hound, and theCroatian Sheepdog, among others. |