President Milanović Calls for Preservation of Croatian Customs and Language at 57th Voloder Autumns Opening
The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović participated in the opening of the 57th edition of the Voloder Autumns, a business and cultural event, held tonight in Voloder. In his address at the opening ceremony, President Milanović emphasized the importance of preserving cultural heritage, customs, and language, with a particular focus on the value of the Kajkavian dialect.
“Along with folk costumes and customs, language is also important. Every time I hear the old original Kajkavian dialect, which is unique to this region and is fading but still persists, I know there is hope for us. Of all our customs, language is perhaps the most important,” said President Milanović.
President Milanović also praised the organizers of the event and expressed his hope that their efforts to preserve local customs and culture would be financially rewarded, concluding: “I hope you benefit from what you do and that your work is not in vain, and that you continue to preserve customs and language.”
This is the largest and oldest event dedicated to vintage customs, representing one of the largest wine and must fairs in Sisak-Moslavina County. It is organized by the Tourist Board of the Town of Popovača and the Voloder Local Committee, in cooperation with local associations. The first organized cultural event, “Grape Harvest,” took place in Voloder on 1 October 1967, and it was first held under the name “Voloderska jesen” [Voloder Autumns] on 15 September 1968.
In addition to President Milanović, the event was also attended by Danijel Sučija, President of the Voloder Local Committee; Josip Mišković, Mayor of Popovača and President of the Tourist Board of the Town of Popovača; Mihael Jurić, Deputy Sisak-Moslavina County Prefect; Tugomir Majdak, State Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and the minister’s delegate; Tomislav Sokol, Member of the European Parliament; and Marijana Petir, Member of the Croatian Parliament.
After the opening ceremony, President Milanović, accompanied by the host, visited the exhibitors, the exhibition stands of the event, and the Gastro Park.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Marko Beljan