After a two-year interruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Serbian Folklore Association of Switzerland organized a folklore festival in the City Hall in Dietikon, Canton of Zurich. The festival was officially opened by Arnaud Gouillon, 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.

Gouillon pointed out that the Administration had been supporting folklore manifestations and associations for many years, and that this year was special for the purchase of folk costumes for children financed with the amount of about EUR 45,000, the first time in seventeen years.

He called folklore a sport with a soul, expressing admiration for the energy of young generations in nurturing tradition and performing on stage.

According to him, the Serbian kolo is what connects Serbs across all meridians, and it is something he will definitely teach his children.

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 such events were the lifeblood of our people in the diaspora, and that this was the latest proof that associations were slowly emerging from the crisis caused by the pandemic.

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

He also reminded that Embassy website offered a lot of useful information about enrolling students in Supplementary Schools, as well as latest information regarding COVID-19 requirements for entry into Serbia and Switzerland.

The host, the president of the Serbian Folklore Association of Switzerland, Nenad Milenković, and the archpriest of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Zurich, Branimir Petković, addressed the gathered in the presence of representative of the Consulate General of the Republic of Serbia in Zurich, Vice Consul Živorad Petrović, among others.

The event, which opened with the intonation of the anthem Bože Pravde, gathered 13 cultural and artistic societies, and as many as 638 participants, before more than 1,000 spectators.

Source and photo: Directorate for Cooperation with the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region