Slovenian diaspora to gather in Vipava
Vipava, 16 June - The traditional meeting of Slovenians living abroad will take place from 29 June to 2 July in Vipava and Ljubljana. Some 500 visitors are expected in Vipava, mostly from nearby countries but also from other continents.
Novo mesto
The annual get-together of the Slovenian diaspora in 2022.
Foto: Rasto Božič/STA
File photo
The event, dubbed Welcome Home, is organised by the association of expatriates called Slovenia in the World, or Slovenija v Svetu, and held in a different city every year.
"We chose Vipava because it is a place of big emigrations, especially after WWI," said Boštjan Kocmur from the association. The organisers are expecting that this event will help bring the local population and the diaspora closer.
The event will kick off on 29 June with an all-Slovenian meeting in the National Assembly in Ljubljana. Two exhibitions will open, one showcasing the history of the Slovenian Diaspora Society and the other featuring photographs by Lučka Oblak Čop from Argentina.
A conference on Slovenian national identity will be held on 30 June, organised by the Slovenian World Congress.
On 1 July Vipava will offer choir and dance performances, workshops and guided tours, while the evening will be dedicated to the main celebration and a concert by singer-songwriter Adi Smolar.
Ljubljana will host the 29th annual get-together on 2 July, including Mass celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop of Ljubljana Anton Jamnik and emigrant priests, and a round table on modern-day emigration.
Minister for Slovenians Abroad Matej Arčon welcomed the meeting, saying "it is about the cooperation of all diaspora organisations in Slovenia, about the promotion of Vipava and the Vipava Valley and about Slovenians living outside their homeland to get to know it". He believes the event highlights the importance of culture and the cultural identity of Slovenians.