Page 156 - Dark Shades of Istria
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Istrian Memories in the Dark Tourism Context: The Qualitative Analysis
rative events, the analysis commenced with an accurate review of field
notes. In this context, notes were not only re-read from the first page,
but sub-themes were identified, assembled and formed. All activities and
methodological approaches have been implemented in order to obtain
answers to the research questions (rq) defined in sub-chapter 6.5 ‘Dis-
cussion and Chapter Conclusion.’
8.2 Case Study Event 1: Homeland Thanksgiving Day
and Day of Croatian Defenders
In the selection process it was assumed that this public dark commem-
orative event is recognisable on at least the regional level (significance
for tourism) as it is dedicated to the Istrian defenders in the Homeland
War. Moreover, it is one of the main festive national days when dark com-
memorative events also take place in Pula – the administrative centre
and tourist destination – in the peak of the summer season. According
to the official information of the City of Pula (Grad Pula, 2018c; Istarska
županija, 2018), this event with a parade of defenders from the Istrian
County was introduced in 2013.
background of the event
Homeland Thanksgiving Day is a public holiday in Croatia that is cele-
brated annually on 5 August, commemorating the day when the Croatian
Army took the City of Knin in 1995 as part of Operation Storm (Oluja).
With this historic event, the so called Republic of Serbian Krajina was de-
feated, which in practice meant territorial reintegration with the moth-
erland. Much later, the title ‘Day of Croatian Defenders’ was assigned to
the name.⁴ This way, both the current members of the Armed Forces and
the veterans are honoured.
The defenders, heroes and victims from Istria are remembered on this
day as well. As already described, Istrian people did not fight in Istria,
because there were no major military conflicts and no major war damage
there. With such dark commemorative events, the Istrian people express
respect towards the historical events and also some kind of connection
with other parts of Croatia where they fought. Surprisingly, as shown in
Figure 8.1, this event was not promoted in public advertising spaces; the
⁴ See the Act Amending the holidays, memorial days and non-working days (Zakon o izm-
jenama i dopunama Zakona o blagdanima, spomendanima i neradnim danima u Repub-
lici Hrvatskoj, 2008).
156
rative events, the analysis commenced with an accurate review of field
notes. In this context, notes were not only re-read from the first page,
but sub-themes were identified, assembled and formed. All activities and
methodological approaches have been implemented in order to obtain
answers to the research questions (rq) defined in sub-chapter 6.5 ‘Dis-
cussion and Chapter Conclusion.’
8.2 Case Study Event 1: Homeland Thanksgiving Day
and Day of Croatian Defenders
In the selection process it was assumed that this public dark commem-
orative event is recognisable on at least the regional level (significance
for tourism) as it is dedicated to the Istrian defenders in the Homeland
War. Moreover, it is one of the main festive national days when dark com-
memorative events also take place in Pula – the administrative centre
and tourist destination – in the peak of the summer season. According
to the official information of the City of Pula (Grad Pula, 2018c; Istarska
županija, 2018), this event with a parade of defenders from the Istrian
County was introduced in 2013.
background of the event
Homeland Thanksgiving Day is a public holiday in Croatia that is cele-
brated annually on 5 August, commemorating the day when the Croatian
Army took the City of Knin in 1995 as part of Operation Storm (Oluja).
With this historic event, the so called Republic of Serbian Krajina was de-
feated, which in practice meant territorial reintegration with the moth-
erland. Much later, the title ‘Day of Croatian Defenders’ was assigned to
the name.⁴ This way, both the current members of the Armed Forces and
the veterans are honoured.
The defenders, heroes and victims from Istria are remembered on this
day as well. As already described, Istrian people did not fight in Istria,
because there were no major military conflicts and no major war damage
there. With such dark commemorative events, the Istrian people express
respect towards the historical events and also some kind of connection
with other parts of Croatia where they fought. Surprisingly, as shown in
Figure 8.1, this event was not promoted in public advertising spaces; the
⁴ See the Act Amending the holidays, memorial days and non-working days (Zakon o izm-
jenama i dopunama Zakona o blagdanima, spomendanima i neradnim danima u Repub-
lici Hrvatskoj, 2008).
156
