The Festival in Cleveland brought together hundreds of young guardians of Croatian heritage, confirming that tamburitza, folklore and the Croatian language remain a strong link between the homeland and diaspora.
“You are keeping the heart of Croatia alive. You are the bridge between America and Croatia. You are the future of our global Croatian community around the world.” With this strong message, CHF Director Zdeslav Milas concluded his address at the opening ceremony of the Croatian Fraternal Union of America’s 58th Junior Tamburitza Festival in Cleveland, one of the largest and most significant gatherings of young Croatian descendants of the 4th, 5th and 6th generations in North America.
This year, the festival brought together 13 Croatian folklore ensembles gathered around the CFU Junior Cultural Federation, tamburitza ensembles and hundreds of children and youth from different parts of the United States and Canada, who, through song, dance, tamburitza and the Croatian language, once again showed that Croatian tradition and identity are alive far from the homeland and are proudly being passed on to new generations.
The ceremony was opened and led by the President of the Croatian Fraternal Union, Edward W. Pazo, and words of welcome were delivered by the Custos of the Croatian Franciscan Custody of the Holy Family in Chicago, Fr. Nikola Pašalić, who, after the end of the first program day, led the holy mass celebration for Festival participants. Those in attendance were also addressed by the Consul General of the Republic of Croatia in New York, Nikica Kopačević, CFU Secretary/Treasurer Bernadette Luketich-Sikaras and Executive Vice President Franjo Bertović.
In his speech, Director Milas highlighted that the Croatian Fraternal Union has been committed to gathering Croatian emigrants for more than 130 years, preserving their identity and passing on the love for Croatian heritage to new generations. He extended special thanks to President Edward W. Pazo, the leadership of the Croatian Fraternal Union, parents, grandparents, leaders of folklore ensembles, choreographers, music teachers, tamburitzans, and numerous volunteers who preserve the Croatian language, customs, and cultural heritage through their work and dedication.
Addressing the young people in Croatian and English, he reminded them of more than a thousand years of Croatian statehood and emphasized that they represent a bridge between Croatia and the countries in which they live. He invited them to proudly preserve the Croatian language, cherish their roots and never forget that they are an important part of the global Croatian family.
A special moment of the ceremony was the mutual recognition of two organizations that established institutional cooperation for decades. CHF Director Zdeslav Milas presented the leadership of the Croatian Fraternal Union with the Croatian Heritage Foundation’s Certificate of Appreciation, awarded on the occasion of the CHF’s 75th anniversary, as a sign of gratitude for the long-standing partnership and exceptional contribution to preserving Croatian heritage among the Croatian diaspora. At the same time, the Croatian Fraternal Union of America presented Director Milas with a Certificate of Appreciation for 75 years of cooperation and contribution to the promotion and preservation of Croatian cultural heritage and the Croatian language in the United States, Canada and Croatia.
This year’s festival has once again confirmed that the tamburitza, folklore and Croatian song are not only part of our tradition, but also a living link that brings together Croatian families, strengthens unity and preserves the heart of Croatia among young generations throughout the world
Text and photo: CHF
