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Get ready to celebrate Prešeren Day on Feb. 8, a special holiday in Slovenia that honors the country's greatest poet, France Prešeren. This day is also known as Slovenian Cultural Holiday and has been celebrated since 1945. Prešeren is considered a national hero and his works are an important part of Slovenian culture and identity. On this day, people gather to read his poetry, attend cultural events and concerts, and pay tribute to his legacy. It's a time to celebrate art, literature, and the rich cultural heritage of Slovenia. So mark your calendars and join in on the festivities!
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1800</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Birth of France Prešeren</div><div class='timeline-text'>France Prešeren, Slovenia's greatest poet, was born on December 2. His works played a key role in the formation of the Slovene language and cultural identity.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1849</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Death of Prešeren</div><div class='timeline-text'>On February 8, Prešeren died in Kranj. This day would later be recognized as a day of Slovene culture.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1945</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Celebration Begins</div><div class='timeline-text'>The Slovene Academy of Sciences and Arts proposed celebrating Prešeren Day on February 8, which was eventually established as a national culture day.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1991</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Prešeren Day National Holiday</div><div class='timeline-text'>Following Slovenia’s independence, Prešeren Day was made an official national holiday.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2012</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>UNESCO Recognition</div><div class='timeline-text'>Prešeren Day was added to the list of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.</div></div></div>
<div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Attend a poetry reading</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Celebrate the works of Slovenia's greatest poet, France Prešeren, by attending a poetry reading. Listen to his beautiful words and gain a deeper appreciation for his impact on Slovenian culture.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Visit Prešeren's birthplace</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Take a trip to the town of Vrba, where Prešeren was born and spent his childhood. Learn about his life, see his house, and pay your respects to this important figure in Slovenian history.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Create your own poem</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Get creative and write your own poem in honor of Prešeren Day. You can share it with friends and family or even submit it to a poetry competition to showcase your talents.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Watch a performance of Prešeren's works</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Find a local theater or performance group putting on a play or musical featuring Prešeren's poems. Enjoy a night out while paying tribute to Slovenia's national poet.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Organize a cultural event</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Gather your community and organize a cultural event to celebrate Prešeren Day. This could include music, dance, food, and other activities to showcase the beauty and diversity of Slovenian culture.</p></div></div>
<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Commemorates a national hero</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>France Prešeren, the namesake of Prešeren Day, is considered Slovenia's greatest poet and is celebrated as a national hero. This day is an opportunity for Slovenians to honor and remember his contributions to their literature and cultural identity.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Promotes Slovenian culture</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Prešeren Day is also important because it showcases and preserves Slovenian culture through various events and activities such as poetry readings and musical performances. It brings people together to celebrate their shared traditions and heritage.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Emphasizes the value of art and language</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>France Prešeren was not only a poet but also a linguist who played a significant role in shaping the Slovene language. Prešeren Day highlights the importance of art and language in preserving a nation's history, traditions, and values for future generations.</p></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>1</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Prešeren Day celebrates Slovenia's National Poet</h3><p class='facts-content'>The day is in honour of Dr. France Prešeren, one of Slovenia's most celebrated poets, who made significant contributions to the Slovenian literary culture.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>2</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Prešeren Day is a national holiday</h3><p class='facts-content'>Prešeren Day, observed on February 8, is a non-working public holiday in Slovenia, marking the anniversary of the poet’s death in 1849.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>3</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Prešeren wrote the Slovenian National Anthem</h3><p class='facts-content'>Prešeren's poem "A Toast" serves as the lyrics to the Slovenian national anthem, highlighting his profound influence on Slovenian culture.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>4</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Prešeren Day is also known as Slovene Cultural Holiday</h3><p class='facts-content'>Besides honoring Prešeren, this day is dedicated to the cultural heritage and development of Slovenia, making it an important day of celebration for Slovenians.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>5</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>The Prešeren Award is given on this day</h3><p class='facts-content'>The Slovenian government grants the Prešeren Award, Slovenia's highest recognition for achievements in the cultural field, as part of Prešeren Day festivities.</p></div></div>
Prešeren Day is celebrated on February 8 every year. In 2024, Prešeren Day will occur on a Thursday.
2023
Feb 8
Wednesday
2024
Feb 8
Thursday
2025
Feb 8
Saturday
2026
Feb 8
Sunday
2027
Feb 8
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