Episode 97

Dobro jutro, poštovani slušatelji!

Dear listeners, we have a great Mother’s Day episode in store for you today.

Join us and learn how to say important words and phrases for one of our favourite holidays, Mother’s Day! 

Lesson - Mother’s Day

Happy Mother’s Day - Sretan Majčin dan

To celebrate/observe - proslaviti “Danas proslavimo Majčin dan.”

Bouqet of Flowers - Buket cvijeća

Give me a hug! - Zagrli me!

Reservations - rezervacije

The kids are cooking. - Djeca kuhaju!

Memories - sjećanja

Super Slatko Report

In this edition of the Super Slatko Report, DJ Moe will tell us a bit about the concept of Mati Hrvatska. Some countries are referred to as the fatherland or motherland. What is Croatia’s story? Stick around and find out!

Today I will be covering a symbol of Croatia, known as Mother Croatia or Mati Hrvatska.

This is an extension of the idea that Croatia has been known as the motherland, but this takes it further and personifies Croatia into female form and that of a mother.

From Wikipedia:

“During the Illyrian movement in the 19th century, many prominent writers and intellectuals used the figure of Mother Croatia to represent the Croat people, especially in favor of nationhood and against Hungarian authority.”

Since it’s inception, the symbol of Mother Croatia was used in speeches and later made its way to the art community.

In sculpture form, Croatian sculptor Ivan Rendić made a few different pieces portraying Mother Croatia. One is on a tomb and has a young woman (representing Mother Croatia) looking solemnly down at the final resting place as she lays her flowers on top. Another piece by Rendić is found in front of St. Mirko's Church in Zagreb. At the bottom of the statue is a woman, Mati Hrvatska, dressed as a warrior, with clenched fists and a defiant face, her eyes looking forward towards the horizon.

Super Slatko alumni, Ivan Meštrović, from Episode 25, known here in the US for his large bowman and spearman statues in Chicago; even has a few pieces that feature Mati Hrvatska.

According to Wikipedia:

One of his most well-known works, the "History of the Croats", has a woman dressed in traditional Croatian dress from the Dalmatian hinterland, holding a large volume of work in her lap with Glagolitic text inscribed in the front. The woman (whose likeness is thought to be of Meštrović's own mother), portrays Croatia as a traditional matriarch and guardian of the nation's heritage and history. Two copies of this statue exist, one in Zagreb, Croatia, and the other in the Royal Compound of Belgrade, Serbia.

You can even find Mother Croatia mentioned in countless poems and songs. Calling to her, singing to her, speaking of her and directly to her. The personification of Croatia in such a maternal form, allows for a much more open and honest expression in art.

Mother Croatia also appears on the 100,000 Dinara, this money obviously not in circulation anymore, uses the statue of Mother Croatia on the back of the bill. The sculpture features prominently and sits squarely in the center. The picture of Mother Croatia comes from one of Ivan Meštrović’s works, a picture of his “History of Croats.” Worth a google when you get a chance.

Hopefully you found this as interesting as I did.

That’s it for the Super Slatko Report.