Smith’s Day is a traditional celebration which continues the blacksmith tradition, and is an important contribution to the preservation of our historical and ethnological legacy. The celebration has its roots in the year 1705 when seven young boys found an image of the Virgin Mary in the forest just above the town. According to legend, numerous miraculous events occurred connected with the image instructing the inhabitants of Kropa to build a new church. The date the church known as “At the Chapel” was consecrated, July 2, became known as “Kovaški šmaren” or Smith’s Day, a celebration for all of Kropa. The event offers a day of respite for the hardworking smiths and their helpers, as well as the miners, charcoal-burners and smelters from everyday blacksmith work. In the morning they attend mass, enjoyed themselves with a day of recreational activities such as nature hikes, socialising and parties.

In its modern form the Smith’s Day celebrations have grown into the most important annual event of the town, whose primary aim is to publicly showcase the everyday tasks of the Kropa Blacksmith. The town, with its unique traditions, customs and dialect, forged its own distinctive community during its 700-year history shaped by fire and iron, one which we can be proudly call the cradle of iron-forging. In addition, Smith’s Day is an opportunity for Kropa natives — both those who live in the town and those who live elsewhere — to come together to enjoy sport, cultural and entertainment events.