Žudije

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Žudije are the guardians of Christ’s tomb in Dalmatia, Croatia. Their name likely comes from Greek-Roman roots and probably means Jew. A group usually has 12 guardians, led by a commander called Juda, making 13 in total. They wear Roman-style uniforms, but sometimes dress as sailors or in local costumes.

The tradition starts on Holy Thursday. The Žudije approach the altar, guard the tomb, and take turns until the Easter Vigil at midnight (the night between Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday), when bells signal Christ’s resurrection and they fall to the ground.

A Žudija (a member) is typically a young man who has received all the sacraments and serves as a positive example in his town.

The practice was first documented in Metković in the early 1800s, brought there by Ante Gluščević from Loreto, and spread across the Neretva basin and Dalmatia. The first Žudije were founded in 1857 in the Parish of Saint Elias in Metković, making them the oldest group. In 2007 they celebrated 150 years.

Over time, each parish added its own customs, so the traditions vary. One of the oldest groups is from Tisno, and there are also Žudije in Vrlika, where the tradition is kept by Catholics and an Orthodox minority.

The most famous Žudije are from Vodice, where the tradition is a well-known symbol of the town and even attracts tourists. Vodice children in kindergarten also wear Roman uniforms and guard the tomb on Good Friday, then take part in an Easter breakfast organized by the Tourist Board.

To bring groups together, Vodice has hosted gatherings of Dalmatian Žudije since 2001, originally called Susret žudija Dalmacije. As numbers grew, the event was renamed Festival Žudija and now moves to a different parish each year, with Vodice hosting every six years.