190th anniversary of the Croatian national anthem celebrated

(Photo credit: Office of the President of Croatia/Filip Glas)

Croatia commemorated two important anniversaries on Monday, the 190th anniversary of the Croatian national anthem “Lijepa naša” and the 90th anniversary of the unveiling of its dedicated monument.

The President’s envoy and Head of the Office of the President, Orsat Miljenić, took part in the official commemoration held at Zelenjak, the protected landscape at the entrance to the municipality of Kumrovec.

It was here, on 24 November 1935, that members of the cultural society Braća hrvatskoga zmaja unveiled the obelisk honouring the anthem on the centenary of the poem’s publication.

The ceremony began with the laying of wreaths at the anthem’s monument, a striking stone obelisk designed by sculptor Rudolf Ivanković.

The monument stands at the very spot traditionally associated with Antun Mihanović’s inspiration for his poem, originally titled Horvatska domovina.

Published in 1835 in the literary magazine Danica, Mihanović’s verses captured a growing sense of Croatian national identity.

(Photo credit: Office of the President of Croatia/Filip Glas)

In 1846, Josip Runjanin, an officer and amateur composer from Vinkovci, set the poem to music, drawing loosely from themes in Gaetano Donizetti’s opera Lucia di Lammermoor.

By the end of the 19th century, the song had become deeply rooted among Croatians, widely known by its opening words Lijepa naša domovino. It was officially adopted as the national anthem of the Republic of Croatia in 1991.

Antun MihanoviĆ (Photo: Stjepan Kovačević/Public domain)

Unlike many national anthems written in times of conflict, “Lijepa naša” stands out as a peaceful homage to the beauty of the homeland, celebrating its rivers, mountains and the enduring spirit of its people.

(Photo credit: Office of the President of Croatia/Filip Glas)

After the ceremony at the monument, the programme continued at the Cultural and Community Centre in Kumrovec. Alongside Miljenić, attendees included the Croatian Parliament’s envoy Andro Krstulović Opara, the envoy of the Minister of Culture and Mayor of Krapina Zoran Gregurović, Krapina-Zagorje County Prefect Željko Kolar, the Grand Master of Braća Hrvatskog Zmaja Mislav Grgić, and the Mayor of Kumrovec Robert Šplajt. Miljenić was accompanied by Deputy Head of the Office of the President, Goran Grobotek.

(Photo credit: Office of the President of Croatia/Filip Glas)