ZAGREB, 25 Nov (Hina) – The 190th anniversary of the Croatian national anthem and the 90th anniversary of the monument to the anthem were celebrated on Monday in Zelenjak near Klanjec.

Back in 1835, in the tenth issue of the literary journal Danica, Antun Mihanović — one of the most important poets of the Croatian National Revival — published the poem “Horvatska domovina”, which later became the basis for the Croatian national anthem “Lijepa naša domovino” (Our beautiful homeland).

In honour of Mihanović and his work, the society “BraćaHrvatskog Zmaja” (The Society of Brethren of the Croatian Dragon) erected a monument in Zelenjak in 1935. Today, it serves as the central site for commemorating these significant cultural and historical anniversaries.

Speaking about the historical significance of the anniversary, Mislav Grgić, Grand Master of the Society of Brethren of the Croatian Dragon, noted that the monument in Zelenjak is likely the only monument in the world dedicated to a national anthem.

He added that the 13-metre-high obelisk, adorned with verses, a relief of Mihanović, and symbols of the Croatian peasant and nation, stands as a lasting tribute to the identity of the Croatian people and as a legacy for future generations.

Orsat Miljenić, the envoy for the President of the Republic, said that the history of the Croatian anthem parallels the history of the Croatian people and the state itself. He noted that over nearly two centuries, the anthem has remained one of the few enduring symbols to survive all political changes.

“Once, we did not have the same borders, we did not speak the same language, but we had an anthem that was unique and that united us,” said Miljenić.