The Mass at Bile is a traditional custom that brings together more than a thousand participants of all ages, who in one place can experience a part of the rich and layered intangible cultural heritage of Herzegovina through traditional songs, dances, instruments, games, costumes, food, old stories and traditional sports.

The Mass at Bile is held every year on the first Sunday after the feast of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June). The occasion is a saint mass and the blessing of the fields in the village of Grabova Draga near Široki Brijeg, at Velika Bila, in the hollow known as Misište. Most participants come from the wider Herzegovina region.

After the religious service follows the “lunch of Bile”, a communal outdoor lunch shared among families, friends, and guests, featuring traditional homemade dishes, drinks, sweets, and storytelling. The gathering continues with folk songs and dances accompanied by traditional instruments. In the afternoon, competitions in traditional sports take place.

The history of the Mass at Bile in the collective memory of the people stretches back more than five centuries, bearing witness to the endurance of faith and the preservation of tradition. During the Ottoman rule, when practicing the Catholic faith in these lands was forbidden, Misište at Bile, as a hidden mountain hollow, offered refuge to many people who, together with their priests, families, and acquaintances, could practice their faith, celebrate Mass, and gather there.

Keeping this custom alive strengthens its inheritors’ sense of belonging, continuity, and joy. The event leaves a particularly strong impression on visitors from outside the region, as well as on descendants of local villagers dispersed across the world.