Croatian holiday words and phrases

Christmas is a big deal in Croatia. The Christmas season starts with Sveti Nikola (Saint Nicholas) on December 6 and runs through January 6, when the country celebrates Sveta tri kralja (Epiphany). During this time, there are lots of Christmas traditions, memorial days, and of course, lunches.
To help you get through the holiday season like a local, we’ve prepared a glossary of Croatian holiday words and phrases that will take you all the way to the new year. Learn how to invite a friend to Christmas lunch and also how to admit that you’re hungover on New Year’s Day.
In this post, we cover:
Let’s learn…
Croatian holiday words and phrases
Croatian Christmas holidays words
Word: advent
Meaning: advent
Word: Badnjak
Meaning: Christmas Eve
Word: Bogojavljenje, Sveta tri kralja
Meaning: Epiphany
Word: Božić
Meaning: Christmas
Word: čestitati
Meaning: to congratulate
Word: čestitka
Meaning: greeting card
Word: doček
Meaning: waiting for the New Year
Word: godišnji (odmor)
Meaning: holiday, vacation
Word: inje
Meaning: frost
Word: kamin
Meaning: fireplace
Word: klizanje (na ledu)
Meaning: ice skating
Word: led
Meaning: ice
Word: pokloni
Meaning: gifts
Word: Polnoćka
Meaning: Christmas Eve Mass
Word: praznici
Meaning: holidays
Word: prskalice, krijesnice
Meaning: sprinkles
Word: sanjkanje
Meaning: sledding
Word: Silvestrovo
Meaning: New Year’s Eve
Word: skijanje
Meaning: skiing
Word: slaviti
Meaning: celebrating
Word: snijeg
Meaning: snow
Word: snjegović
Meaning: snowman
Word: sob
Meaning: reindeer
Word: Štefanje, Sveti Stjepan
Meaning: Saint Stephen’s Day
Word: vatromet
Meaning: fireworks
Croatian Christmas holidays phrases
Phrase: adventski vijenac
Meaning: advent wreath
Phrase: božićna čestitka
Meaning: Christmas card
Phrase: božićna jelka, božićno drvce, bor
Meaning: Christmas tree
Phrase: božićne pjesme
Meaning: Christmas carols
Phrase: božićni ručak
Meaning: Christmas lunch
Phrase: božićni ukrasi
Meaning: Christmas decorations/ornaments
Phrase: božićna zvijezda
Meaning: star of Bethlehem
Phrase: božićna zvijezda, poinzetija (plant)
Meaning: poinsettia
Phrase: božićne kuglice
Meaning: Christmas ball ornaments
Phrase: božićne žaruljice
Meaning: Christmas lights
Phrase: božićna pšenica
Meaning: Christmas wheat (sown as a Christmas tradition)
Phrase: Djed Božićnjak
Meaning: Santa Claus
Phrase: Hoćeš li doći na Božićni ručak kod mene?
Meaning: Will you come to Christmas lunch at my house?
Phrase: Kako dočekate ponoć, takva će vam biti cijela godina.
Meaning: How you spend New Year’s Eve will mark your entire next year.
Phrase: kititi božićno drvce, kititi bor
Meaning: to decorate a Christmas tree
Phrase: kuhano vino
Meaning: mulled wine
Phrase: Nova godina
Meaning: New Year
Phrase: Gdje ćeš na doček Nove Godine?
Meaning: Where are you spending New Year’s Eve?
Phrase: Ideš li na godišnji (odmor)?
Meaning: Are you going on a holiday/vacation?
Phrase: Kad ideš na godišnji (odmor)?
Meaning: When are you going on holiday/vacation?
Phrase: Mamurna/mamuran sam.
Meaning: I’m hungover.
Phrase: na godišnji (odmor)
Meaning: on holiday, on vacation
Phrase: pada snijeg
Meaning: it is snowing
Phrase: snježne pahuljice
Meaning: snowflakes
Phrase: Sretan Božić!
Meaning: Merry Christmas!
Phrase: Sretna Nova godina!
Meaning: Happy New Year!
Phrase: Sretni blagdani!
Meaning: Happy holidays!
Phrase: Sve najbolje!
Meaning: All the best!
Phrase: svijeća
Meaning: candle
Phrase: Što ćeš raditi na Božić?
Meaning: What will you do on Christmas?
Phrase: Što ćemo raditi na Staru godinu?
Meaning: What are we doing on New Year’s Eve?
Phrase: Što ćeš raditi na Staru godinu?
Meaning: What will you do on New Year’s Eve?
Phrase: Treba mi godišnji (odmor).
Meaning: I need a holiday/a vacation.
Phrase: Ugodni blagdani!
Meaning: (Have a) pleasant holiday!
Phrase: Uživaj na odmoru!
Meaning: Enjoy the holidays!
View our other holiday posts
- All Saints Day
- Anti-Fascist Struggle Day
- Assumption of Mary
- Corpus Christi
- Day of Remembrance of Missing Persons in the Croatian War of Independence
- Day of Remembering the Victims of the Croatia War of Independence and the Day of Remembering the Victims of Vukovar and Škabrnja
- Epiphany
- Easter
- Labor Day (International Worker’s Day)
- St. Stephen’s Day
- Statehood Day
- Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day
Please note: Information provided by Expat in Croatia is only for the purposes of guidance. It does not constitute legal or financial advice in any form. Croatian laws and bureaucratic rules often change, and each personal case is individual, so different rules may apply. For legal advice, contact us to consult with a licensed Croatian lawyer. For financial advice, contact us to consult with a licensed Croatian tax advisor or accountant.