In a slightly different setting, but still in a good atmosphere and in even better company, this year we celebrated the traditional Martinovanje (St. Martin’s day) for the 24th time.
In the Youth Center in Banja Luka, on November 18, 2023 we gathered with many old and new friends to traditionally mark the national holiday of the baptism of wine.
Those present were greeted by Dušan Tomažič, who led the program and announced the representative of the City of Banja Luka, Mrs. Nevena Blagojević-Podrić from the Department of Culture, Social Protection, Citizens' Associations and Religious Communities, who expressed her satisfaction at attending the traditional event for which Slovenians in the City of Banja Luka recognized and wished many more successful events in the Association. After Mrs. Blagojević-Podrić, those present were addressed by H.E. Damijan Sedar, Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Ambassador noted that he was pleased to see that the "Triglav" Association brought together both the old and the young, and that this was the key to the success of an association.
In the program part of the event, the mixed choir "Davorin Jenko" performed the Slovenian anthem "Zdravljica" and the song "Mlade oči" by Juro Robežnik, followed by an interesting performance of the Slovenian folk song "En hribček bom kupil" at the end of which the members of the choir toasted those present with a glass of wine. After the choir, a children's folklore group performed with a mix of Slovenian dances, which received great applause from the audience.
As Martinovanje is a traditional Slovenian event dedicated to St. Martin, the patron saint of vineyards and winegrowers, the traditional christening of the wine was performed in a humorous way by a long-time friend of the Association, Peter Kirič from Ormož, with the help of winegrower Miran Trop. Then all present were animated by musician Nikola Novaković from Umag. We celebrated the baptism of wine in a good atmosphere with dancing and pleasant company with autumn delicacies.
With us this year, among others, were Zvone Žigon, deputy ambassador and minister plenipotentiary in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Branka Bukovec from the Association for the Development of Voluntary Work Novo Mesto, Ženja Simonič from the Slovenian Emigrant Association, Igor Kotjelnikov from the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic Srpska, Barbara Hanuš, previous long-term teacher of the Slovenian language in Banja Luka and Prijedor, representatives of the national minority associations of the City of Banja Luka, representatives of Slovenian associations from BiH and numerous members of the Association.
The event was organized with the financial support of the Office of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia for Slovenians Worldwide, the City of Banja Luka, the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Srpska and sponsors.
Ana Marjanović
