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1
January - The Day of the Foundation of the
Slovak Republic
29 August - The Anniversary of the Slovak National
Uprising
The Slovak National Uprising, a symbol of
anti-fascist movement in Slovakia, reached its climax in the decisive phase of
World War II in the resistance of democratic and anti-fescist part of
inhabitants of the then Slovak State against totalitarian tendencies in its
development and beginning German occupation. By its armed revolt, the Slovak
nation declared its position to be on the side of freedom, human rights and
democracy. The most important contribution was binding up considerable German
armed forces on eastern border of Slovakia. The Slovak National Uprising joined
Slovakia to the allied anti-fascist powers and so they were considering it as a
part of allied forces with the status of allied army. War operations connected
with the Uprising resulted in 20000 victims.
1 September - The Day of the Constitution / Slovak
Constitution Day
On
September 1, 1992, The Slovak National Council approved the basic law of the
state - The Constitution of the Slovak Republic which made it possible to
establish the Slovak Republic on January 1, 1993. This day commemorates many
festivals with opening speeches of aldermen
and important persons with continuing almost all day long variegated cultural
program. As a part of these celebrations are open doors in the Parliament, where
all rooms are accessible to public and visitors can directly meet the members of
Parliament (MPs).
17 November - Struggle for Freedom' Day
On
17 November 1989, the International Students' Day, the students were
demonstrating in Prague. The police attacked them brutally and many of them were
wounded. The students initiated a strike and demanded to inquire the
inadequate intervention. The following events resulted in the ending of
political power of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia and at the same time of
socialist political system in Czechoslovakia.
6 January -
April Easter holidays
1 May -
15 September - Mary Seven Dolor' Day
The
Slovaks were ardently taking refuge in St. Mary giving her the name "Mary
of Seven Dolors". Under her protection they survived all national and
religious persecution. After attaining a partial agreement at last the Slovak
bishops asked the Holy Seat for permission to public celebration of St. Mary in
1927. This came about by the decree of the pope Pius IX published in 1927, April
22. The pope Paul VI proclaimed the church of St. Mary to be the Patron of
Slovakia. The greatest glory of the Basilica was the visit of the pope John Paul
VI.
The
history of the Basilica extends down the year 1564. One day the nobleman of
Sastin drove with his wife Angelika Bakic and after a quarrel threw her out to
have a picture made if she interceded in converting her husband. This
supplication came into being and the graceful wife had a statue made of
pear-tree wood, and found the place for it. It was the same place where she had
been thrown out. Some time later a shrine was erected. It is to be seen today.
During
the Turkish occupation the statue was transferred to the Czobor castle secretly
kept. After the defeat of the Turks in the region of Slovakia the statue was
solemnly returned to its original place.
Crowds of believers
assembled in great procession on this place. Many miracles took place. The
privilege of them testified the order of the archbishop Imrich Esterhazy in 1733
to built up an appropriate church in honor of St. Mary by the religious order of
Paulins. The church was solemnly consecrated in 1744, August 15. The statue was
located on the main altar. The pope Paul VI raised the position of the cathedral
to Basilica Minor. It was visited by the pope John Paul VI. The representatives
of Slovaks devoted the Slovak nation to the protection of St. Mary who is Good
Mother and Patron of Slovakia. On this occasion a commemorative tablet had been
unveiled showing St. Mary with the dead body of Christ in her arms. 15 September
is a holiday devoted to our patron.
1 November - All Saints' Day
All Saints' Day is dedicated to the memory of all deceased. On this day people are visiting and decorating graves and tombs, lightning candles, and recollecting the time spent with their kinship.
24 - 26 December Christmas Days
Christmas is the most beautiful of all Holydays (and of course of all holidays). Preparation for Christmas start many weeks ago. Many popular traditions and colourful customs make it an exciting and fascinating time. Special Christmas decorations , coloured lights and Christmas trees can be seen in the streets and shops. Christmas carols are sung everywhere. People buy presents and send Christmas postcards to their relatives and friends.
24th
December is called Christmas Eve. On Christmas Eve homes are decorated with
misteletoe, Christmas trees and coloured lights. In our country we fill
Christmas wafer with honey, walnuts and
garlic and we bake sweets and dry cakes. Traditional Christmas dinner is
sauer-kraut soup with sausage, carp wtih potatoe salad. Than we eat figs and
dates. After dinner unpack their presents under the Christmas tree.
This holydays are not only about giving presents and eating. It is strengthening family relationship and traditions. Over the Christmas is most important to be with family.
25 March - Struggle for Human Rights' Day
Approximately
220 male religious orders were brutally attacked by the police units in the
night on 13 April 1950. They were concentrated in the Redeptorist convent in the
town of Podolinec. Superiors were assembled in the cloister of Jasov in eastern
Slovakia. Extremely hard was the persecution of archbishops: Jan Vojtassak,
Michal Buzalka and Pavol Gojdic.
After
many months of torturing they were condemned under the pretence of high treason
to life-imprisonment and were deprived of all civil rights.
M.R.
Stefanik is a very important person for the Slovaks. Even amo.ng
the controversities and contradictions that can be found in the
historical awareness of Slovak people, Stefanik is a person who is
respected and recognized by everyone and thus plays a role of a person
integrating the nation. His fast military carrier in the French army, his
contribution to the origin of the Czechoslovak Republic and finally his
mysterious death contributed to that Stefanik
surpassed all other historic figures in the awareness of Slovak people. None of
the Slovaks has such an imposing statue as is that of Stefanik at Bradlo.
He
grew in a family of a poor evangelist priest with many children in
Kosariska. Very soon he left his family nest driven by his desire for
knowledge and education. He went to Prague to study civil engineering at the
Technical University. Against his fathers will he changed his major and
graduated in astronomy. After graduating he decided to go to Paris where he
could work in the major he had studied. Here he was stricken by the beginning of
WWI. As a conscious Slovak, a sympathizer of Czechoslovak
mutualness, and a French citizen as well, he never had problems to identify
himself with the war aims of his new homeland France. From the beginning,
when he commenced his military service, he saw another goal in the war
liberation of Slovaks and Czechs and creation of mutual Czechoslovak state. And
this was the goal which Stefanik followed with unusual amount of energy and
self-sacrifice. It was a very difficult goal. Nobody considered the split
of the Austrian-Hungarian state and creation of Czechoslovakia for real. Yet,
Stefanik believed in this goal and he sacrificed himself to its reaching.
Czecho-Slovak foreign insurgency was close to Stefanik because there was Tomas
Garique Masaryk Stefaniks favourite professor on its head.
Stefanik
was not a soldier. He didnt have any military education. Even though,
from a common soldier became a general during the war. He wasnt a a diplomat,
he didnt have any education in this field and previous diplomatic practice.
In the end of the war he became one of the most reputable diplomats in the
countries of the Treaty. He had a natural diplomatic talent. He didnt
write memoranda, not notes. Writing was not one of his strong points. Yet, he
could be very persuasive in his interviews, he could find impressive arguments.
On
4 May 1919, the plane which had General Stefanik on board crashed down just
closely before landing at Vajnory airport. Milan Rastislav Stefanik and the crew
died. Therefore the Slovaks dedicate 4 May to the memory of this exceptional man,
as well as to his lifelong piece of work, his struggle for the creation of the
Czechoslovak state.
7 June The Anniversary of the Memorandum of the
Slovak nation
5 July The Day of Slovaks Abroad
17 July The Anniversary of the Declaration about
the Supremacy of the Slovak republic
On 4 August 1863, The League was founded in Martin, the only nation-wide cultural association of Slovaks in Hungary with permitted statutes. It represented a centre for national and cultural life of the Slovaks. On its grounds, there developed scientific research, there were laid the foundations of Slovak archivism, care of museums and librarianship, educational and scientific publications, calendars and the first Slovak scientific magazines. The League was in the way of Hungarian politic powers and on 6 April 1875 it was closed without and objective reasoning. During its functioning the cultural life in Slovakia rose, as well as the feeling of national togetherness and self-esteem. the functioning of the League was again renovated after WWII, on 1 January 1919, when Slovakia was a part of the Czechoslovak republic.
19 September - The Day of the Foundation of the Slovak National Council
Sep 19 is commemorated by the Slovaks to celebrate the occasion of the first Slovak national assembly. On 19 September 1848 the Slovak National Council was assembled for the first time in Myjava. Ludovit Stur proclaimed the independence of the Slovak nation, as well as the beginning of the Slovak national uprising. This was the start of the Slovak national-liberation fight when the Slovaks fought for their state and national independence.
6 October The Day of the Victims at Dukla
On the basis of Czechoslovak demand, the Soviet command changed the original strategic plans and in 4 days, they prepared a huge offence through the Dukla Pass towards Presov. On 20 September, larger Soviet units crossed the Carpathian crest and on 21 September they liberated the first village in Slovakia Kalinov. In Carpathian Dukla operation, 19000 Soviet soldiers died for the liberation of our country and about 60000 were hurt and missing. Czechoslovak army lost 6500 soldiers, 1800 of them died.
27 October - The Day of Cernova Tragedy
On this day, in 1907, a tragedy, which very deeply penetrated into the memories of all Slovak people, happened in Cernova near Ruzomberok in the Middle Slovakia. At the beginning of the 20th century, the area of Slovakia was a part of the Austrian-Hungarian monarchy. Although the process of Slovak national emancipation couldnt be stopped, the Slovaks were a subject to strong Hungarianisation. As an example of this can serve the event in Cernova : the direct stimulus for the tragedy was an argument about the consecration of the church in Cernova between the inhabitants of the village and the Spis bishop Alexander Parvy. Cernova inhabitants demanded that the church be consecrated by their compatriot Andrej Hlinka, who very significantly contributed to building of the church. But in that time Hlinka was suspended by the bishop because he agitated for a Slovak candidate in elections to Hungarian parliament. Thus bishop Parvy refused the consecration of the church by Andrej Hlinka and he sent a priest of his own choice to Cernova. The inhabitants didnt let coaches with the consecration officials to the church. This caused anger and following firing from Hungarian gendarmes. 50 shots were fired which took 15 human lives. This case caused reactions all around the world and revealed the manners of Hungarian rulers, but brought support for the Slovaks at the same time. A small nation from under the Tatra got into the awareness of the world.
29 October - The Day of the Birth of Ludovit Stur
30 October - The Anniversary of the Declaration of the
Slovak Nation
