1500 Croats from USA and Canada at big folklore spectacle in Zagreb

(Photo: HMI)

By HMI

On Friday, 28th June, in the Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall, the grand three-day Festival of the Croatian Fraternal Union (CFU) “Tambura Across Generations” began.

Over 900 participants, both parents and children, adults and juniors from various folk ensembles, have arrived in Croatia, accompanied by other community members, totalling more than 1500 descendants of Croats from America and Canada.

A total of 36 folk ensembles travelled to Zagreb to hold this unique cultural event and celebrate 130 years of the CFU, the largest Croatian emigrant organisation in the world.

The leaders of the Croatian Fraternal Union also attended the festival in Zagreb, including the Main President and Chairman of the Executive and National Board, Edward W. Pazo, General Secretary and Secretary of the Executive and National Board, Bernadette M. Luketich-Sikaras, Executive Vice President and Member of the Executive and National Board, Franjo Bertović, and Vice President and Member of the National Board, Michael J. Ricci.

(Photo: HMI)

The festival was ceremoniously opened by the Master of Ceremonies, Ivan Begg, a board member of the CFU Youth Cultural Federation since 1991.

Retired Bishop Juraj Jezerinac welcomed the guests and participants at the beginning, highlighting the decades-long fruitful collaboration between the homeland and the CFU, especially during the tenure of its long-standing Main President, Bernard M. Luketich.

“We all know that when Croats emigrated to America and Canada, they took with them the best they had – their faith, music, songs, and love for their homeland. Through prayer, they found the strength to preserve their identity. I personally experienced this deeply in Canada. Therefore, I am particularly pleased that you continue to nurture Croatian culture, as this shows you are the sons and daughters of a people who have lived since the 7th century,” said Juraj Jezerinac, blessing the festival participants.

On behalf of the hosts and co-organisers of the festival, the director of the Croatian Heritage Foundation, Mijo Marić, addressed the guests.

“The festival’s motto, ‘Tambura Across Generations,’ best reflects the nurturing of the cultural heritage of the Croatian people in the United States. On behalf of the Croatian Heritage Foundation, I especially thank the participants of the 56th CFU Youth Tambura Festival and their parents for choosing to hold their annual folk festival in the homeland of their ancestors for the eighth time. Many young American Croats from various cities are visiting the land of their grandparents for the first time, which evokes deep emotions in all of us. Great-grandchildren speak English but sing passionately with Croatian hearts – hearts that love both their new and old homelands equally,” said Director Marić.

(Photo: HMI)

He presented the American Croats with a traditional belt from the Prigorje folk costume, engraved with a dedication.

On the first day of the festival, a total of 13 performers took the stage, including Cleveland Junior Tamburitzans (Ohio), Graničari (Wisconsin), five groups from Pennsylvania – St. Lawrence Junior Tamburitzans, St. George Adult Tamburitzans, Junior Tamburitzans of Duquesne, Javor Pittsburgh, and St. Nicholas Ensemble, as well as American-Croatian Waukegan Jrs. (Illinois), Cardinal Stepinac (New York), and guests from Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kraljica Katarina Cultural Society of Croats BiH and Varaždin Tamburitza Orchestra.

The groups presented their work and the ways they preserve Croatian heritage through 12-minute performances. With songs, music, and dance, they expressed strong emotions about returning to their homeland.

(Photo: HMI)

This is the first time in history that the CFU is presenting a combined tamburitza festival for both young and adult performers, bringing together up to four generations of the same family on the Zagreb stage.

Hence, the name of this year’s festival, “Tambura Across Generations,” is both symbolic and fitting.

On the second day of the festival, Saturday, 29th June, the performances will take place in the morning from 11:00 to 15:00 and in the afternoon, starting at 18:00, with the attendance of the Prime Minister of Croatia, Andrej Plenković.

The highlight of the final concert will be a historic combined performance of all participating ensembles together on stage, conducted by CFU’s Guest Conductor for 2024, Derek Hohn.

(Photo: HMI)

Such a musical and dance presentation of the CFU and its members greatly contributes to the excellent relations between the United States, Canada, and Croatia.

It also showcases the significant success the CFU has achieved over the past sixty-plus years in establishing cultural cooperation with the homeland. In his address, Edward Pazo expressed immense pride in all American Croats for this concert.

(Photo: HMI)

“As we watch our children singing the Croatian national anthem here on stage in Zagreb, we remember our ancestors who emigrated to the USA and Canada six generations ago but never forgot their roots. We pass on our heritage, language, and origin to future generations, preserving our cultural heritage through folklore. We have earned respect in the countries we live in today while maintaining our most valuable asset – our Croatian identity,” said Edward Pazo.

The festival was also graced by high-ranking officials from Croatia, including the Advisor to the President of Croatia for Foreign and European Policy, Neven Pelicarić, representing the President of Croatia; Jasna Vojnić, the envoy of the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament; the State Secretary for Croats Abroad, Zvonimir Milas; and the envoy of the Prime Minister, who stated that the festival demonstrates the strong presence of Croatian identity among emigrants in the farthest corners of the world, making Croats one family wherever they live. Milan Kovač, Chairman of the Management Board of the Croatian Heritage Foundation, also welcomed all participants.

(Photo: HMI)

On Sunday, 30th June, at 10:00 am, a solemn Tamburitza Mass will be held at the Parish of St. John XXIII, led by Zagreb Archbishop Mons. Dražen Kutleša, with live broadcast available on HRT1.

The festival is organised by the Croatian Fraternal Union and the Croatian Heritage Foundation, under the patronage of the President of Croatia, Zoran Milanović, who received representatives of the CFU and the Croatian Heritage Foundation at the Presidential Office on Thursday.