In the presence of the leadership of the City of Smederevo, local residents and visitors, the fourth “Miholjski susreti sela”, a festival that has been held in Smederevo’s villages for four years in a row, officially began today in Šalinac.
“Villages have always been the foundation of the development and survival of Serbian society. They nurtured the values that shaped our culture and tradition.
Apart from their enormous importance in agricultural production, villages are also the guardians of folk customs, language, songs and dances, as well as of the moral values that have guided us through the centuries. It is precisely in the villages that many of the stories that today form the core of our cultural identity were born.
The City of Smederevo attaches great importance to the development of rural areas. By renewing and investing in villages, we are securing not only the stability and development of rural communities, but also the future of our city and of the whole of Serbia, because the village is the heart of the nation, beating to the rhythm of nature, work and solidarity.
Today, more than ever, faced with rapid change and globalisation, it is important that we return to our roots and highlight the value of the intangible cultural heritage we have inherited. Our folk music, dances, customs, crafts and beliefs are not just a memory of the past: they are the foundation of our identity, a mirror of our past and the key to preserving our future,” said the Mayor of Smederevo, Jasmina Vojinović, as she declared the festival open. On that occasion she thanked everyone who had contributed to organising the “Miholjski susreti sela”, the hosts, participants and visitors, and above all the Ministry of Rural Welfare.
The opening ceremony was followed by competitions between women’s associations from Smederevo’s villages for the most beautifully decorated stand, the finest Serbian gibanica and the finest traditional dish, a village multi-event contest featuring tug of war and other tests of skill, a contest for the tastiest fish soup, and a competition between village cultural and artistic societies for the best stage performance, the best male dancer, the best female dancer and the finest couple in folk costume.
Next weekend the fourth “Miholjski susreti sela” will continue in Vrbovac, and the finale of the festival is scheduled for 20 October in Lipe.
