The Worship of St. Anthony of Padua in Croatian Church-folk Heritage

Sa？etak In Croatian catholic spirituality, alongside Jesus Christ and Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Anthony of Padua is most present. The worship of St. Anthony of Padua in Croatian church-folk heritage is reflected in fastening, novenas, vows, bonfires; aspersion of houses, cattle, courtyards, gardens, fields; pilgrimages, processions, folk customs and celebrations; churches, votive chapels and other votive sacral objects dedicated to St. Anthony. Prayers and recommendations of the faithful to St. Anthony of Padua are numerous. However, there is not a lot written about St. Anthony of Padua in Croatian scientific literature. Therefore, this paper cites and multidisciplinary interprets about forty contemporary original field recordings which were made from 1997 to 2018 in Republic of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Pre-Christian elements are observed in some of the customs that follow the Feast of St. Anthony. Such are, for example, customs that are preserved in Krivi Put in Gospi？’s hinterland