Celebrating European Wool Day in the ethno-village at Skradinski buk

Join us at the ethno-village at Skradinski buk on Friday, 9 April 2024, so that we can celebrate European Wool Day together

This is a special day dedicated to promoting the value of European wool and raising awareness of its importance. Organised by the EWE association, this year we are celebrating this important event with the aim of highlighting the numerous benefits and possibilities offered by wool, as well as the importance of its proper processing and use.

More than 100 million sheep graze on European pastures, primarily raised for the production of milk and cheese. Each sheep naturally produces about 1.5 kg of wool annually, which must be sheared in the spring for the welfare of the animals. Unfortunately, part of the European wool ends up being discarded improperly, which is not only a waste of resources, but also represents disrespect for the traditions and value of this material.

As part of the celebration of European Wool Day, we are organising workshops for interested visitors from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. You will have the opportunity to learn more about wool processing and the traditional weaving techniques that existed in the Krka River region until the 1960s. From choosing the fleece to making the yarn itself, this workshop will illuminate the rich heritage of this area and its connection with wool.

In the restored mills on the Skradinski buk waterfall, you will have the opportunity to experience the atmosphere of traditional weaving and see the process of making cloth on the loom. By participating in these activities, you contribute to the preservation of the cultural heritage and support the importance of the sustainable use of wool in modern society.

In the area of the Krka River, until the sixties of the last century, almost every family made cloth from sheep’s wool. An adult sheep would produce 1.5 to 3 kg of fleece. The sheared fleece would first be washed. The dried wool was first combed by hand and then carded on combs. It was then shaped into a hank on a rod with bristles (kudilja), and then spun with the help of a spindle (preslica) and a spindle-whorl. Wool was used in its natural color or dyed with natural colors, and from the 1930s with industrial colors, namely brown, blue, red, or black.

Join us on 9 April, 2024 in the ethno-village at Skradinski buk to celebrate together European wool and its inexhaustible value. Your support in preserving traditions and promoting the sustainable use of wool is extremely important for the future of our community and the environment.

We look forward to seeing you!