January in my town....by Petra Ćerluka

Imotski - Croatia

January is the first and most exciting month of the year. However, in Imotski, excitement begins as early as possible on 31^st December. It doesn’t matter if you are young or old as long as you are prepared to welcome the New Year somewhere in town. Imotski has a long tradition of organizing small, almost private, parties in cafes and restaurants. Every single person has already chosen his favourite place and they visit it every single year to welcome the days full of things that has never been. Traditionally, town and its citizens witness modest but beautiful fireworks at midnight. All other days of the month may be different, but the New Year’s Day is an inevitable spring of happiness when people cannot wait to wish each other all the best.January usually brings true winter because snow comes and goes so frequently in January that there is no need to take your gloves and scarf off. Imotski is surrounded by mountains and hills but the most impressive one is Biokovo Mountain which has its thick white snowy cover during the winter days and because of it Imotski is really cold in winter. Nevertheless, people got used to it and they try to enjoy whatever nature offers them, so it comes as no surprise to see children and their parents or grandparents playing and enjoying themselves while it snows.Although January may not be a month which invites people to enjoy and experience the nature on daily basis, it still offers a lot of excitement for inhabitants and visitors of Imotski. As it is well known, Imotski is very proud of its two lakes, Blue Lake and Red Lake, which can be very attractive in winter due to long periods of rain and snow. Their water levels sometimes rise so much that inside cliffs of the lake become little islands. What is more, according to the legend, fairies that live and dance at the bottom of the lake are so silent while they sleep waiting for the spring. So, younger people usually go for a walk to see and hear if the lake fairies still sleep while the older ones check up the water levels and forecast the arrival of spring.Thus, the beginning of January is very loud and exciting while the rest of the month is calm and quiet, town sleeps and dreams of sunnier and warmer days just as nature does.