If you visit fairs, markets or church ceremonies in the area of Zagorje, and even the surrounding counties, you will notice small wooden colorful toys and bright red cookies with various decorations and inscriptions. These are old crafts of this region that make beautiful souvenirs and gifts for both children and adults.

Wooden toys, most often in red, blue, yellow and white, are a recognizable traditional product of Hrvatsko Zagorje. They attract the attention of both young and old with their colors as well as interesting shapes and objects. There are wooden flutes, chatterboxes – birds with wheels that are pushed on a stick, tambourines, wooden animals, whistles, means of transport and children's furniture for dolls. Their beginnings date back to the 19^th century, and today the central places of their manufacture are Bistrički Laz, Stubički Laz, Gornja Stubica, Marija Bistrica, Tugonica and Turnišće. Since they are all handmade and hand-painted, each toy is unique and it is impossible to find two of the same.

While the making of wooden toys dates back to the 19^th century, licitars appeared as early as the 13^th century. Colorfully decorated honey dough cookies are produced in various sizes and shapes such as hearts, babies, birds, horseshoes, wreaths, horses, etc. and they are a favorite Christmas tree decoration.

In Marija Bistrica, you can get acquainted with the ethno collection of licitar crafts that will take you through the history of licitar, introduce you to the tools that have been used for a long time as well as old handmade techniques. The most fun part of it all is that you can try to be a master licitar maker yourself as part of the workshop.

The art of making traditional wooden toys and the tradition of making licitars from the area of Hrvatsko Zagorje are included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists.