The Association of Slovenians Triglav Banjaluka should not worry for their young. On Saturday, 16 December, Jewish Cultural Centre was full of children waiting for Santa Claus.
Some are still in diapers, and others already attend supply teaching lessons of Slovenian. Pupils who attend lessons recited poems by Slovenian poets, and the youngest carefully listened to them.
After the programme, children watched fairy tales and poems performed by Breda and Darko Kočevar from Črnomelj. Artists from a cultural association Zlata skledica presented the art of kamišibaj theatre. It was Branka Bukovec from the Association for the Development of Voluntary Work Novo mesto that brought them. Therefore, it was the first time that we in Banjaluka saw such a theatre that is rather popular in Slovenia.
Following the cultural programme we called for Santa Claus. He did not come alone; he was accompanied by Father Christmas, while two elf assistants waited for them in the hall. The elves made sure that none of the children was left without a gift. The big gifts included sweets and also books thanks to Readers' Badge of Slovenia and Buča Foundation. Stories in Slovenian will accompany the children also during next year, while some of them will use them to learn their first words in Slovenian. Following a relaxing socialising with Santa Claus and Father Christmas we wished many nice things in the next year.
Barbara Hanuš
