Prešeren Day: Who was France Prešeren? Why is the Slovene Cultural Holiday celebrated?

Prešeren Day (Prešernov dan), otherwise called Prešeren Day, the Slovene Cultural Holiday (Prešernov dan, slovenski kulturni praznik) is celebrated in Slovenia on 8 February to perceive the death anniversary of the Slovenian national poet France Prešeren.

The Slovenian cultural holiday likewise happens in other Slovene populated territories around the world. The annual holiday commemorates the achievement of Slovenian poet France Prešeren and falls on the date of his demise. The holiday is likewise a representation of the achievements of talented Slovenians.

Who was France Prešeren?

France Prešeren was born on December 3, 1800. He started writing poetry during his student years. His first poems were fully affected by Slovene folk poetry and the works by Valentin Vodnik, the first poet in the Slovene language.

Prešeren is one of the best Slovenian poets ever. His composing has had an impressive impact on the Slovenian culture. His poem “A Toast” reflected his patriotism and is one of his most prominent bits of writing. France Prešeren died in 1849, however, regardless of the poet’s extensive literary successes, it would be almost a century before an official holiday was set up.

Prešeren composed numerous outstanding works, remembering the national epic Baptism for the Savica, O Vrba, Sonnets of Misfortune, Wreath of Sonnets. His poem Zdravljica was adopted as the country’s national anthem in 1989.

Prešeren Day History

This holiday honors the death of France Prešeren, a Slovene poet who is viewed as the best Slovene classical writer. The day additionally serves as a chance to think about all Sloven cultural successes.

Prešeren Day was first established as a Slovenian holiday in 1944, however, it didn’t become an off-work day until 1991. Some additionally keep the birthday of Prešeren as a sort of holiday, yet that doesn’t have any official status.

During World war II, Slovene artists had been repressed and were forbidden from communicating while Slovenia was involved. This prompted the anniversary of Prešeren’s death to become a point of convergence for remembering Slovenian culture. After the finish of the war, the day was first declared as a cultural holiday in 1945.

Prešeren Day recognizes the abuse of Slovenia’s culture, specifically its authors, poets, and artists, during the Nazi occupation. Because of the immense impact of and appreciation for France Prešeren, this day of cultural celebration was based on him.

Nearby Prešeren Day, there are a wealth of cultural exhibitions, events, and educational presentations. School children frequently go on field outings to Slovenian art museums and different spots where they can find out about France Prešeren and Slovenia’s history and heritage in general.

The national Prešeren day holiday became official in 1944 and was proclaimed a nonwork day in 1991. It was a public holiday during the period of the Socialist Republic of Slovenia within the SFR Yugoslavia yet was announced as a work-free holiday just in 1991, the year the nation proclaimed independence.

Since 1947, on February 7th every year, the Prešeren Awards have been held. The awards which appreciate cultural accomplishments are declared in mid-January and given to two Prešeren Prize laureates and six winners of the lesser Prešeren Fund Prizes. These are the highest decorations in the field of artistic contribution in Slovenia.

Likewise, on Prešeren Day, different awards are offered out to Slovenian artists, ordinarily to just a couple each year. These awards are esteemed and have been given out consistently since 1947.

A few people decide to celebrate the holiday on the poet’s birth date, December 3, however, the December date is certainly not a prominent national holiday.

The original sentiment of the holiday was for individuals to improve their education by going to cultural events, and numerous individuals keep on utilizing the national holiday to focus on cultural education.

The poet’s achievements keep on being honored today, and in 2007, the similarity of France Prešeren was added to the two-euro Slovenian coin as well as the 1000 tolar banknote.

On the eve of Prešeren Day the highest Slovenian recognition in the field of artistic creation is awarded. They are the Prešeren Award (the Grand Prešeren Award) and the Prešeren Fund Awards (the Small Prešeren Awards). The winners are selected by the Prešeren Fund Management Board.

In 2021, writer Feri Lainšček and architect Marko Mušič will get the Prešeren Prizes, the top national lifetime achievement award.

Other notable Slovenian authors incorporate Srečko Kosovel, Dane Zajc, Drago Jančar, Alojz Rebula, and Edvard Kocbek. Prešeren Day is one of 16 annual work free public holidays in Slovenia.

Prešeren Day is set apart with cultural celebrations and recognition services and school outings to culturally huge institutions. Most public museums and galleries will have free entry today.

As this is a public holiday, numerous supermarkets and different stores are probably going to be closed.