|
Žive
naj vsi narodi France Prešeren Commemoration
Day Szentgotthárd,
2006/02/12 On that sunny winter’s
day, many Slovenes from Porabje and Slovenia gathered in the theatre of
Szentgotthárd in order to commemorate one of the leading figures in
Slovene culture history: the great national poet France Prešeren.* The
significance of Prešeren for Slovene culture Already at the very beginning
it became clear, how important Prešeren is for Slovene history, since the
event started with the most essential contribution of Prešeren to Slovene
community spirit: by playing the Slovene national anthem. Part of the lyrics
(the 7th verse) of the national anthem contains excerpts from
Prešeren’s work "Zdravljica". When the first bars
of the Slovene national anthem resounded from the loudspeakers, those present
rose and some also sang out loud. Afterwards Jožef Hirnök, the
president of the Association of the Hungarian Slovenes, and Marko Slotar, the
consul general of the Book
presentation by Ferenc Mukič The second part of the event
consisted of the presentation of the novel by the author Ferenc Mukič. His
book entitled "Garabancijaš" plays at the border
area of the Slovene Raba region in Hungary and former Yugoslav constituent
republic of Slovenia in the 1940s and 50s and addresses the problem of the
relations between Slovenes from the Raba region (Porabje) and Slovenes from the
Mura region (Prekmurje) concerning the aspect of separation, which was caused
by the Iron Curtain. Ferenc Mukič and Milan Vincetič, a colleague
from Prekmurje, portrayed vividly the incidents of that time. The transition to
the third and final act of the celebration consisted once more of a musical
performance by a young harmonica player. " In the end, a five-member
theatre group called "Nindrik-indrik" caused good humor
among the large attendance. Neighborhood conflicts, how they could occur
anywhere and anytime, were satirized. If and only if the situation was on the
brink of escalation, a mediator appeared who managed to bring the wranglers to
terms. Ultimately, the quarrel at the garden fence led to war. The antagonists,
who were dressed in uniforms, fought each other with (plastic-) weapons.
However, the play offered a peaceful ending, which left the audience in
delight. And thus the two hour commemoration day in Prešeren’s honor
was acknowledged with applause by a highly pleased audience. * In France Prešeren was
commemorated on the following Sunday, February 12. Joël Gerber / Tibor Horváth Origin and Professional Career France Prešeren was born
in Vrba, in the former dukedom of Krain on December 3, 1800. Franz Prešeren descended
from a rural family and was the third of eight children. He went to elementary
and high school in Ribnica and in In 1832 Prešeren moved to Private
Life In Prešeren’s love life
was characterized by negative experiences. His big love Julia Primitz (Julija Primic)
did not respond to his love, even though a part of his issue of
“Poezije’ contained her name in its acrostic*. In 1839 he got to
know the worker Ana Jelovšek, whom he had three children with. However,
she left him again later. * The initial letters or words
of poems or texts add up a meaning when being read successively. On February 8, 1849 he died in
Kranj, which was still called Krainburg at that time, of cirrhosis of the
liver. Prešeren’s
Work Prešeren is considered one
of the greatest Slovene poets. Not only did he write Slovene literature but he
is also known for his German works (poems and sonnets). He is famous for his
love and nature lyric and his great historical epic "The Baptism on River Savica" (Krst pri Savici). In 1848 his opus
magnum Poezije (Poetries) was published. Today’s Slovene hymn
still contains the 7th verse of the Zdravljica: Žive naj vsi narodi ki hrepene dočakat' dan, da koder sonce hodi, prepir iz sveta bo pregnan, da rojak prost bo vsak, ne vrag, le sosed bo mejak! God's blessing on all nations, Who long and work for that bright day, When o'er earth's habitations No war, no strife shall hold its sway; Who long to see That all men free No more shall foes, but neighbours be. Translation: Janko Lavrin The main Literature Boris Paternu:
France Prešeren. Ein slowenischer Dichter 1800-1849, München 1994 Wilhelm
Baum: France Prešeren, ein
slowenischer Dichter in Österreich, in: Österreich in Geschichte u. Literatur, 43, 1999,107-117 France
Prešeren: Deutsche Dichtungen, hrsg.
v. Wilhelm Baum, Kitab, Klagenfurt 1999 Joël Gerber
/ Tibor Horváth |