Young Guardians of the Croatian Language: 25 Years of Love for Poetry

A total of 89 young performers gathered in Subotica for the 25th Provincial Croatian-Language Recitation Festival, demonstrating that the Croatian language, culture and literature continue to thrive among younger generations of Croats in Serbia. Children from Belgrade also took part, contributing to the celebration with their performances.

Organised by the Croatian Reading Room in Subotica (Hrvatska čitaonica Subotica), the 25th Provincial Croatian-Language Recitation Festival was held on November 8. For a quarter of a century, the event has encouraged a love of Croatian literature, language and poetry.

Participants included children attending schools offering education in Croatian, those studying Croatian as a school subject, and members of Croatian cultural associations.

From Young Primary School Pupils to Aspiring Performers

The 89 participants competed in three age groups. The youngest included pupils from the first to fourth grades of primary school, followed by students in grades five to eight. The oldest category featured secondary school students and young people up to the age of 27.

Once again, the festival highlighted the importance of preserving the Croatian language and cultural identity among younger members of the Croatian community in Serbia.

Children from Belgrade Among the Participants

A special contribution came from students attending Croatian-language classes at the Foundation in Belgrade. Lorena, Željka and Rahela, under the guidance of their teacher Dubravka, took part in the programme, showcasing their work and enthusiasm for the Croatian language.

The Foundation congratulated them on their results and thanked them for their active participation.

The anniversary festival once again demonstrated the importance of bringing young Croats in Serbia together, while helping preserve the language and literary heritage passed down by previous generations.