On 25 June, Slovenia celebrates Statehood Day (Dan državnosti) to commemorate the country’s declaration of independence from Yugoslavia. Even though the formal declaration, resulting from a referendum held in December 1990, was signed on 26 June 1991, most of the legislation relating to the country’s independence was passed one day earlier. As a result, 25 June was chosen to be Slovenia’s national day.
Since then, many celebrations are held on this day throughout the country to mark this triumph. Usually, the Statehood Day celebrations are launched with a firing cannon salute from Ljubljana Castle followed by a cultural programme and the main speech by the President of the Republic of Slovenia.
Interestingly, Croatia's Independence Day is celebrated on the same day, as these two neighbouring countries declared their statehood and recognized each other's sovereignty on the same day.
On the occasion of this national day, we invite you to learn more about Slovenia’s history, culture, and language by practising your interpreting skills on the Slovenian language section of the Speech Repository. We wish everyone celebrating Dan državnosti, happy Statehood Day!