Famous Slovenians
Primož Trubar (1508-1586)
Primož Trubar was the leader of the Protestant movement in Slovenia and the founder of Slovenian theology.
| Primož Truban - source |
Janez Vajkard Valvasor (1641-1693)
Janez Vajkard Valvasor, nobleman and polymath, harbinger of the Slovenian Enlightenment.
Jurij Vega (1754-1802)
Jurij Vega is the foremost Slovenian mathematician and author of several textbooks on higher mathematics.
Rihard Jakopič (1869-1943)
Rihard Jakopič, Slovenia’s leading Impressionist painter and theoretician.
Jože Plečnik (1872-1957)
Jože Plečnik, Slovenia’s greatest architect, also achieved a prominent place in world architecture.
| Jože Plečnik - source |
France Prešeren (1800-1848)
France Prešeren is Slovenia’s greatest poet.
Ivana Kobilca (1861-1926)
Ivana Kobilca is Slovenia’s most important woman painter and represents the generation of Slovenian realists.
| Ivana Kobilca - source |
Ivan Cankar (1876-1918)
Ivan Cankar is the greatest Slovenian short story writer and dramatist, a universal representative of Slovenian Modernism.
www.un.int - Famous Slovenians
Education
The system of education system in the Republic of Slovenia is based on the principles of democracy, autonomy and equal opportunities. The constitution regulates only the fundamental rights in the sphere of education by determining that eEducation is free. The compulsory basic education is the responsibility of the state, which finances the system from the state budget. Slovenia is a highly educated society with a literacy rate of more than 99%. State universities and state professional colleges are autonomous.
Foreign Students
Children of foreign residents are also appropriately provided for in Slovenia. They can receive an education at all levels: they can enter elementary school at any time, because all children living in the Republic of Slovenia have a right to compulsory basic education under the same conditions as its citizens. At other educational levels, they have to obtain official recognition for certificates documenting their prior education - for secondary schools at the Ministry of Education and Sport, and for further and higher education directly at one of the universities - before they enrolenrol.
| Date | English Name | Slovenian Name | Remarks |
| 1 and 2 January | New Year | novo leto | |
| 8 February | Prešeren Day, the Slovenian Cultural Holiday | Prešernov dan, slovenski kulturni praznik | Anniversary of the death of Slovenian poet France Prešeren, established as the national cultural day in 1944 (work-free day from 1991) |
| - | Easter Sunday and Monday | velika noč in velikonočni ponedeljek | work-free day, date varies |
| 27 April | Day of Uprising Against Occupation | dan upora proti okupatorju | Formerly Liberation Front Day (dan Osvobodilne fronte), marks the establishment, in 1941, of the Liberation Front to fight the German, Italian and Hungarian occupation of Slovenia |
| 1 and 2 May | Labour Day | praznik dela | |
| - | Pentecostal Sunday | binkoštna nedelja | work-free day, date varies |
| 25 June | Statehood Day | dan državnosti | Commemorates the proclamation of independence in 1991 |
| 15 August | Assumption Day | Marijino vnebovzetje (veliki šmaren) | work-free day |
| 17 August | Union of the Slovenians in Prekmurje with the Fatherland Day | dan združitve prekmurskih Slovencev z matičnim narodom po prvi svetovni vojni | not a work-free day |
| 15 September | Restoration of Primorska to the Fatherland Day | dan vrnitve Primorske k matični domovini | not a work-free day |
| 31 October | Reformation Day | dan reformacije | work-free day |
| 1 November | All Saints | dan spomina na mrtve | work-free day, Formerly called The Day of the Dead (dan mrtvih) |
| 23 November | Rudolf Maister Day | dan Rudolfa Maistra | not a work-free day |
| 25 December | Christmas | božič | work-free day |
| 26 December | Independence and Unity Day | dan neodvisnosti in enotnosti | Commemorates the proclamation of the independence plebiscite results in 1990 |
www.wikipedia.org - Holidays in Slovenia
Slovenia Food
Slovenia’s national cuisine shows an Austro-German influence with sauerkraut, grilled sausage and apple strudel often appearing on menus.
National Specialties
• The best-known Slovene foods are the breads made for special occasions, which appear in the form of braided loaves or wreathes: the struklji is stuffed with sweet fillings, meat or vegetables.
| Struklji - source |
• Another Slovene specialty is potica, a dessert prepared with a wide variety of fillings.
| Potica - source |
• Seafood is a specialty in Primorska region.
• Goulash is popular in the Hungarian influenced eastern Prekmurje region.
Carniolan pork sausage- Carniolan pork sausage is the Sslovenian national food. It has to be made of a 68% of pork, 12 % of beef and 20% of lard. There can also be 5 % of water and some salt, garlic and pepper. Other ingredients aren’t alloweud.
National drinks
• The southwest, eastern and northeastern parts of Slovenia are known for their outstanding white wines (Laski, Renski Rizling and many others).
• The southeast is the homeland of the light, russet-colored cvicek wine.
• The Adriatic Coast and the Karst region have mainly red dry teran wine.
• Slovenian beer is excellent: the most popular brewers are Union in Ljubljana and Lasko in the eponymous town.
Legal drinking age: 18.
STEREOTYPES ABOUT SLOVENIA
1. Slovenia is a country with a picturesque countryside.
2. The Slovenians Slovenes are honest, hardworking, disciplined and industrious.
3. There is a lot of envy and jealousy.
4. Slovenians are an introverted and a bit over-serious nation.
5. Slovenians regard skiing as a national sport and each Slovene knows how to ski.
6. Slovenians like good food and drink.
Nightlife in Slovenia
There is a wide selection of theatres, cinemas, casinos and nightclubs in the larger towns. Ljubljana also has a good opera house and the symphony orchestra plays regularly in the Big Hall of the Cultural and Congress Centre.
Although they were considered the workaholics of Yugoslavia, Slovenian do know how to enjoy themselves. One in 10 of the capital’s inhabitants is a student, hence the proliferation of trendy cafés and small art galleries. Each year the International Summer Festival breathes new life into the Ljubljana cultural scene, sparking off a lively program of concerts and experimental theatre. For information about forthcoming cultural events, check Events in Ljubljana, a monthly pamphlet published by the Ljubljana Promotion Centre, and the English-language magazine Ljubljana Life, both available in major hotels and tourist offices.
Nightlife in Slovenia is one of the huge attractions for the tourists and visitors. Nightlife in Slovenia is a well known celebration point and hub for many revellersa lot of people. Most of the bars and pubs are open throughout the night. One can get food everywhere regardless of the time factor, as most of the shops are open till late.