Post by radovic on Jun 5, 2008 21:27:43 GMT -5
Tito's birthday, then and now
30/05/2008
It's a far cry from the mass festivities of the past. But each year on May 25th, people still gather at Tito's tomb and in his hometown to commemorate the late communist leader.
By Davor Konjikusic for Southeast European Times in Belgrade -- 30/05/08
A woman places a flower in memory of former Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito. [Davor Konjikusic]
In the old Yugoslavia, the birthday of communist leader Josip Broz Tito was a national holiday. Workers, ordinary citizens, soldiers and Young Pioneers turned out to honour the president-for-life.
It was also the Day of Youth (Dan mladosti), culminating with a final celebration in a Belgrade soccer stadium. Tito, watching the festivities from his terrace seat, would receive the baton from the last runner in the Relay of Youth.
Tito was probably born on May 7th, but observance of his birth occurs on May 25th. Even today people continue to celebrate it. The two main locations for commemorating Tito are the village of Kumrovec, his Croatian birthplace, and his tomb in Belgrade, known as the House of Flowers. More than 2,000 visitors from all over ex-Yugoslavia visited the mausoleum during this year's celebration.
Lilanina, a blogger from Belgrade, remembers how it used to be. "Every May 25th I rejoiced on one birthday," she writes. "My aunt, sister and I would prepare a long time for that special day. We'd write a poem, make a red velvet baton and search for an appropriate red tie. Then we would dress up nicely and run the entire length of a street to give the baton to my grandmother. She had a birthday on the same day as Tito. We recited our poem, and then she would give us juice and cakes."
On B92, meanwhile, a more in-depth discussion has started about Tito's birthday and the role he played in history.
"In Tito's time it was much better than after him," argues Baki. "Our bad situation today is not connected with Tito policies. Come on -- he was respected by the West, the East and the bloc that followed the policy of non-alignment. If the slogan 'after Tito, Tito' had been fulfilled, today we would be in the EU and we would have a leading role."
Other forum users disagree. "All those who write how wonderful it was to live with Tito remind me of gamblers," writes one. "In casinos, the gambler is surrounded by a glamourous ambience and the most beautiful women, drinking expensive drinks … Every gambler sometimes needs to step out of the casino and face reality."
Tinolovka, a blogger from Croatia, is critical of the celebrations in Tito's hometown. "That party, that 'vampire ball' in Kumrovec, is really not necessary," he writes. "Any gathering of people wearing insignias of any communist, fascist or totalitarian regime should be strictly prohibited. We need to punish any crime, because a victim is a victim -- without exception."
Commenting on the post, Marisol writes: "For me, Tito was a positive figure, whatever people write about him. ... My father left the Communist Party after the 'Croatian Spring', and afterwards he was against communism, but it is true that we lived much better in the 'dark' than now, when we are overwhelmed with 'light'."
Obadzo seems more interested in the late dictator's love life. "Ha, when I count everything, it seems that never in all of Croatian history did we have a Croatian who conquered so many hearts and made love with so many beautiful women," he writes.
30/05/2008
It's a far cry from the mass festivities of the past. But each year on May 25th, people still gather at Tito's tomb and in his hometown to commemorate the late communist leader.
By Davor Konjikusic for Southeast European Times in Belgrade -- 30/05/08
A woman places a flower in memory of former Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito. [Davor Konjikusic]
In the old Yugoslavia, the birthday of communist leader Josip Broz Tito was a national holiday. Workers, ordinary citizens, soldiers and Young Pioneers turned out to honour the president-for-life.
It was also the Day of Youth (Dan mladosti), culminating with a final celebration in a Belgrade soccer stadium. Tito, watching the festivities from his terrace seat, would receive the baton from the last runner in the Relay of Youth.
Tito was probably born on May 7th, but observance of his birth occurs on May 25th. Even today people continue to celebrate it. The two main locations for commemorating Tito are the village of Kumrovec, his Croatian birthplace, and his tomb in Belgrade, known as the House of Flowers. More than 2,000 visitors from all over ex-Yugoslavia visited the mausoleum during this year's celebration.
Lilanina, a blogger from Belgrade, remembers how it used to be. "Every May 25th I rejoiced on one birthday," she writes. "My aunt, sister and I would prepare a long time for that special day. We'd write a poem, make a red velvet baton and search for an appropriate red tie. Then we would dress up nicely and run the entire length of a street to give the baton to my grandmother. She had a birthday on the same day as Tito. We recited our poem, and then she would give us juice and cakes."
On B92, meanwhile, a more in-depth discussion has started about Tito's birthday and the role he played in history.
"In Tito's time it was much better than after him," argues Baki. "Our bad situation today is not connected with Tito policies. Come on -- he was respected by the West, the East and the bloc that followed the policy of non-alignment. If the slogan 'after Tito, Tito' had been fulfilled, today we would be in the EU and we would have a leading role."
Other forum users disagree. "All those who write how wonderful it was to live with Tito remind me of gamblers," writes one. "In casinos, the gambler is surrounded by a glamourous ambience and the most beautiful women, drinking expensive drinks … Every gambler sometimes needs to step out of the casino and face reality."
Tinolovka, a blogger from Croatia, is critical of the celebrations in Tito's hometown. "That party, that 'vampire ball' in Kumrovec, is really not necessary," he writes. "Any gathering of people wearing insignias of any communist, fascist or totalitarian regime should be strictly prohibited. We need to punish any crime, because a victim is a victim -- without exception."
Commenting on the post, Marisol writes: "For me, Tito was a positive figure, whatever people write about him. ... My father left the Communist Party after the 'Croatian Spring', and afterwards he was against communism, but it is true that we lived much better in the 'dark' than now, when we are overwhelmed with 'light'."
Obadzo seems more interested in the late dictator's love life. "Ha, when I count everything, it seems that never in all of Croatian history did we have a Croatian who conquered so many hearts and made love with so many beautiful women," he writes.