Kikinda is a small town in the Province of Vojvodina, Serbia. It is situated on the border of Serbian, Romanian and Hungarian parts of Banat.
INTERESTING FACTS FROM THE PAST
Kikinda has a very rich history. The first settlements appeared here around 5000 BC, but the modern town was founded in 1774, under the Austrian rule. The name of the town changed several times during the history: Kokenyd, Gross Kikinda... The present name has been in use since 1947.
1758 - the first primary school founded 1769 - the Serbian Orthodox Church Saint Nicholas built 1784 - the Roman Catholic Church built 1796 - the first play given in German 1834 - the first Serbian play given 1839 - Kurija built 1845 - the National Library founded 1845 - the first newspaper published 1857 - the oldest railway in Serbia built; it connected Kikinda with Szeged and Timisoara 1866 - the first tile and brick factories founded 1869 - the first bicycle appeared in the streets of our town 1874 - the first modern printing house founded 1876 - Gusle Academic Society for Cherishing Music founded 1877 - the first Grammar School founded 1893 - Town Hall built 1899 - SuvaÄ?a built 1909 - the first football team formed 1920s - Kikinda - chess centre of Serbia 1980 - the first 5-star hotel in Vojvodina built here 1994 - the only children's theatre in the region founded here 1996 - 500000-year-old fossil of a mammoth found in a clay mine of Toza Marković roof tile factory
Town Hall is a monumental building, with a lot of reliefs, completed in 1893. It has a tall observation tower with the coat of arms and Latin word ATTENDITE, calling for people's attention and asking us to become aware of true values. The assembly building is a place where the local parliament meet and where people can get married or attend cultural events.
Kurija was built in 1839 as the District seat. It still has the 4theavy coat of arms of the District of Great Kikinda on its faรงade. Kurija is now the home of the Archive, the National Museum and the Modern Gallery. Here you can see valuable archaeological, ethnic and historical collections, or attend concerts and exhibitions. There are even interesting, educational camps for young children during summer and winter holidays.
Suvača is a Serbian word for a dry horse-powered mill. The one in Kikinda is one of two remaining such mills in Europe. It was built in 1899 and worked until 1945. It processed wheat, paprika, pepper and cinnamon. It is said that it could give 100 kilos of flour per hour when powered by 5 horses. The taste of bread from the wheat ground in Suvača was excellent and of high quality, fit even for the Austrian emperors.
The National Library is the oldest cultural institution in Kikinda. It was founded by teachers and students in 1845 as the first Serbian Reading Room. Its founders wanted to put the stress on the importance of reading and education. They even published a hand written newspaper called The Kikinda Bell. In 1939 The Reading Room became a Public Library. During the wars, the library changed its location several times, and finally, in 1948, moved into one of the most beautiful buildings in Kikinda, Vincahid's Palace. In 1952 it changed its name once again and got the name of a well-known writer who was born in Kikinda, Jovan Popović. The National Library is the place where you can borrow books, read magazines and newspapers, attend book promotions, watch plays or films in its spacious courtyard... Every summer the National Library welcomes a lot of short story writers on Kikinda Short Festival.
The National Theatre was founded in 1950, more than 150 years after the first play was given in Kikinda. The first play was in German, but the first play in Serbian was performed in 1834 in a café. The National Theatre organises The International Small Scenes Theatre Festival every June.
Mammoth Fest On the first Saturday in September there is a great children's festival in Kikinda. It celebrates mammoth Kika`s birthday. During the festival children make birthday cards for Kika, take photos with her, dig up bones, watch 3D film about Kika and play different mammoth games. Mammoth Fest is a fantastic festival.
Pumpkin Days
Vrbica is a children's holiday celebrated on Saturday before Orthodox Easter. On this day mothers dress their children smartly and take them to church. Each child usually wears a 3-coloured (red, white and blue) thin band with a small bell round their neck. The very name of the holiday - Vrbica comes from Serbian word 'vrba', meaning 'willow.' People put small branches from this tree next to their family icon.
In the second half of October people in Kikinda celebrate Pumpkin Days. During the festival a lot of people visit Kikinda to find out whose pumpkin is the heaviest, biggest and longest. Children make masks and wear costumes. Local women make and sell pumpkin pies. Pumpkin Day is a festival for all ages.
Symposium Terra Ever since 1982 Kikinda has hosted the unique International Sculpture Symposium Terra. A lot of artists from Serbia and abroad come here in July to make large sculptures in terracotta which are then exhibited in the town square or other cities.