Celebrations in the Idrija River Valley of Slovenian Entrance into the European Union

Abstract

Članek obravnava dogodke v dolini reke Idrije na italijansko- slovenski meji ob vstopu Slovenije v EU 1. maja 2004. Gre za povezano kulturno regijo na obeh straneh reke, ki je bila že v preteklih stoletjih mejna, a jo je najbolj prizadela meja med Italijo in Jugoslavijo po 2. svetovni vojni. Prekinila je vitalne povezave, zato so kraji na obeh straneh meje nazadovali. Na krajevni proslavi in srečanjih domačinov v naslednjih mesecih je prišla do izraza skupna tradicionalna kultura, ne kot nostalgična rekonstrukcija, ampak kot izraz olajšanja po zgodovinskih travmah.

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Analyzed are the events that had taken place in the Idrija River Valley when Slovenia joined the European Union on May 1, 2004. The villages on both sides of the river were the ones most affected by the newly established border between Italy and Yugoslavia after the Second World War. The months following the entrance of Slovenia in the European Union were marked by a number of festivities, cultural events, and encounters organized by the local population. These reflect the common traditional cultural elements that, rather than a nostalgic reconstruction, express a sincere relief after the traumas of the past.