Interpretation center Museum of Bećarac in Pleternica
Bećarac is a form of folk song popular in Slavonia, Baranja and Sirmia, Bačka, and beyond. It has a cheerful character, often with ambiguous meaning, imbued with lascivious messages and metaphors.
The Museum of Bećarac interprets this chant in its full meaning, splendor and context, including life, customs and folk costumes.
Interpretation Center Museum of Bećarac itself consists of 5 units . At the entrance there is a unit that thematizes the wine heritage and bećarac of this part of Slavonia.
Unit in which we get to know the world of the people of bećarac, his homeland and people is called "Introduction to the world of Bećarac". Next comes "Bećarac through life", the second thematic unit of the exhibition, in which Bećarac is presented through the stages of human life, from birth to death, through authentic objects, stories, people and historical records. Then we move to the exhibition unit called "The Bećarac almanac" where Bećarac is treated through the calendar year, customs and beliefs.
"Bećar Rhapsody" is a unit where the phenomenon is brought to a contemporary and different view of Bećarac. There is also a space for creative workshops, called the "Bećar Workshop".
The goal of the Museum of Bećarac is to entertain the visitor and in that entertainment to offer interesting and instructive information about the heritage of Croatia and the world.
Bećarac is a form of folk song popular in Slavonia, Baranja and Sirmia, Bačka, and beyond. It has a cheerful character, often with ambiguous meaning, imbued with lascivious messages and metaphors. It is a vocal-instrumental song of two rhyming ten-point verses that is sung to a recognizable melody. The name bećarac comes from the word bećar, which means a young bachelor, a guy, a single man, a reveler prone to drinking, reveling and socializing with women. Bećarac was mostly sung, and is still sung, in places and on occasions when the people gather to celebrate. Those singers who have a good and strong voice, who manage word constructions well and easily create them are appreciated. In 2011, bećarac was included in UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Then, city Pleternica got of idea of creating an institution that would be located in Pleternica and named The Museum of Bećarac. Since then, various projects have been launched to raise awareness of the importance of this phenomenon and educate new generations who identify with the heritage of their homeland. The Museum of Bećarac was finally built in 2023, and is located on the unique Bećarac Square in Pleternica.The surfaces of Bećarac Square are designed so that from the air they resemble the colorful and native Slavonian fields, and the stepped architectural construction that rises above the square can also be interpreted as a touch of the Slavonian highlands. This structure actually serves as an auditorium, stands from which to watch various manifestations and events on Bećarac Square.
The Museum of Bećarac interprets this chant in its full meaning, splendor and context, including life, customs and folk costumes. The heir to that chant, the bećar, was once observed as an unreliable, licentious and unwanted individual, today he is accepted as a guardian of national heritage and the host of this Center.
Interpretation Center Museum of Bećarac itself consists of 5 units . At the entrance there is a unit that thematizes the wine heritage and bećarac of this part of Slavonia.
Unit in which we get to know the world of the people of bećarac, his homeland and people is called "Introduction to the world of Bećarac". Next comes "Bećarac through life", the second thematic unit of the exhibition, in which Bećarac is presented through the stages of human life, from birth to death, through authentic objects, stories, people and historical records. Then we move to the exhibition unit called "The Bećarac almanac" where Bećarac is treated through the calendar year, customs and beliefs.
"Bećar Rhapsody" is a unit where the phenomenon is brought to a contemporary and different view of Bećarac. There is also a space for creative workshops, called the "Bećar Workshop" where you can sign Bećarac in a karaoke style, play a videogame called Tambura hero or play a real tamburica.
The goal of the Museum of Bećarac is to entertain the visitor and in that entertainment to offer interesting and instructive information about the heritage of Croatia and the world. The visitor leaves the Musem enriched with a new, unusual experience with the desire to meet more, in the real world. Bećarac is a brand of Slavonia, Baranja and Sirmia, while the Interpretation Center of the Museum of Bećarac becomes brand of the city of Pleternica.
In 2011, Bećarac was included in the UNESCO representative list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity and then becoming part of the wider european family of protected traditional chants. Bećarac carries the wisdom of past generations, but constantly adapts to the times. He speaks about the past, present and future time through the throat of the people about human rights, men's and women's problems, vices and democracy. In it, people are equal, because through the dialogue of the bećarac, the community goes through a kind of purification. You can say anything in Bećarac!