Bern: Festival of the Association of Serbian Folklore of Switzerland

14. Nov 2021.
In the City Hall in Dietikon, Canton of Zurich, the Association of Serbian Folklore of Switzerland, after a two-year break caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, organized a folklore festival.

The festival was officially opened by Arnaud Guillon, Director of the Directorate for Cooperation with the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia.

Guillon pointed out that the Administration has been supporting folklore manifestations and associations for many years, but that this year is special because for the first time in the previous seventeen years, the purchase of folk costumes for children was financed, in the amount of about 45,000 euros.

He called folklore a sport with a soul, expressing admiration for the energy with which young generations nurture tradition and perform on stage.

As he stated, the Serbian "kolo" dance is what connects Serbs across all meridians, and something that they will definitely teach their children as well.

The Consul of the Republic of Serbia in Bern, Predrag Mandić, greeted those present on behalf of the Embassy and Ambassador Goran Bradić, emphasizing that similar events are of essential importance for our people in the diaspora, and that this is the latest proof that associations are slowly emerging from the crisis caused by the pandemic.

He underlined that the support for associations is important due to the richness of cultural heritage that they leave to future generations, and called on parents to enrol their children in the Supplementary School in the Serbian language, which is free, organized by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of Serbia.

He also reminded that on the website of the Embassy, you can find a lot of useful information about enrolling students in supplementary schools, but also up-to-date information regarding the COVID-19 regime of entry into Serbia and Switzerland.

The host, the President of the Association of Serbian Folklore of Switzerland, Nenad Milenković, as well as the archpriest of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Zurich, Branimir Petković, also addressed those present, while the representative of the Consulate General of the Republic of Serbia in Zurich, Vice Consul Živorad Petrović, was also present.

The event, which opened with the intonation of the anthem "God of Justice", gathered thirteen cultural and artistic societies, and as many as 638 participants, in front of over 1,000 spectators.