| Zdravljica | |
|---|---|
| byFrance Prešeren | |
 Original manuscript of the poem, written in theBohorič alphabet | |
| First published in | Kmetijske in rokodelske novice |
| Country | Carniola,Kingdom of Illyria,Austrian Empire (present-daySlovenia) |
| Language | Slovene |
| Genre(s) | carmen figuratum |
| Publication date | 26 April 1848 |
| Media type | Print (periodical) |
"Zdravljica"[i] (Slovene pronunciation:[zdɾau̯ˈljiːtsa]; English:"AToast") is acarmen figuratumpoem by the 19th-centuryRomanticSlovene poetFrance Prešeren, inspired by the ideals ofLiberté, égalité, fraternité.[1] It was written in 1844 and published with some changes in 1848. Four years after it was written, Slovenes living withinHabsburg Empire interpreted the poem in spirit of the 1848March Revolution as political promotion of the idea of aunited Slovenia. In it, the poet also declares his belief in a free-thinking Slovene andSlavic political awareness. In 1989, it was adopted as theregional anthem of Slovenia, becoming the national anthem upon independence in 1991.[2][3]
The integral version of the poem was first published only after the March Revolution whenAustriancensorship was abolished, since the censorship did not allow for the poem to be printed earlier because of its political message. On 26 April 1848, it was published by theSlovene newspaperKmetijske in rokodelske novice, that was edited by the Sloveneconservative political leaderJanez Bleiweis.[citation needed]
Before the censorship was abolished, Prešeren omitted the third stanza ("V sovražnike 'z oblakov / rodú naj naš'ga treši gróm") because he intended to include the poem in hisPoezije collection (Poems), however the censor (fellow-SloveneFranz Miklosich in Austrian service) saw in the fourth stanza ("Edinost, sreča, sprava / k nam naj nazaj se vrnejo") an expression ofpan-Slavic sentiment and therefore did not allow its publication either. Prešeren believed the poem would be mutilated without both the third and the fourth stanza and decided against including it in thePoezije.[citation needed]
"Zdravljica" was first set to music in the 1860s byBenjamin Ipavec andDavorin Jenko, but their versions didn't go well with the public, probably because the stanzas that they chose were not enough nationally awakening.[4] In 1905, the Slovene composerStanko Premrl wrote achoral composition. It was first performed only on 18 November 1917 by the Music Society (Glasbena matica [sl]) in theGrand Hotel Union, Ljubljana. It became an immediate success.[4]
... in September 1989 ... 'Zdravljica' had been chosen as the national anthem by the Socialist Republic of Slovenia.
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