My Opera
Vizita
Saturday, May 31, 2008 3:25:57 PM
"Vizita" is a traditional event in my town. Back in the days of Habsburg Monarchy young boys (of 18) had to serve about 7 years of army service (!!!) so they had to make a really big party before they went. That celebration was called "Vizita", even though the word vizita means the the physical examinaton at doctor's (the word might be related to english word "visit" or verb "visiting"). Military service was kept obligatory in all successive regimes [SHS or Italia (betwen WWI and WWII), and later on Yugoslavia (1945-1991) and even in independent Slovenia (1991 - present day)] so the tradition of vizita went on. But a couple of years ago, Slovenia discontinued obligatory service and the whole event came into question. Luckly enthusiasts from our local tourist bureau and others are keeping it alive just for the sake of tradition.
I remember my vizita from some years back. At that time we were still facing military service (unless you go to university, as I went) so there was a just a little bit more pressure for us. Today these boys don't have to go trough that. But the army, which is now professionalized takes the advantage of the event to promote their agenda and draft volunteers. Click for some pics below or visit the whole album.
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I remember my vizita from some years back. At that time we were still facing military service (unless you go to university, as I went) so there was a just a little bit more pressure for us. Today these boys don't have to go trough that. But the army, which is now professionalized takes the advantage of the event to promote their agenda and draft volunteers. Click for some pics below or visit the whole album.
[/IMG]Every village has it's own generation of Vizitant's. Together with their families and girls of their generation they have to make a decorated carriage that was once pulled by the horses, but some today use tractors. The decoration is made by paper flowers. Today only few carriages are made every year, but back in the days there were up to 20. Villages were competing for the best design (there was a prize for that) and money wasn't the question when the local honour has to be protected.
[/IMG]On the day of the event they all join in a procession of vizitant's, girls, musicians, horses and of course the carriage. They lined up and entered the main square in the center of the city where the crowd awaited them. After all of the carriages had arrived, the jurry picked the most beautiful of them. Of course, vizitant's and their girls are fairly drunk by then...
[/IMG]During the procession trough the town, there is a lot of singing and dancing
[/IMG]Today every team gets a free Pršut as a gift from our defense ministry.
[/IMG]The defense ministry is advertising their business. The solder told me that this machine gun can fire up to 850 bullets per minute (wOOt!), but I was more interested in a sniper gun in the back.
[/IMG]Vizita is also a rare (non-sport's) event where Slovenians show a lot of patriotism.
[/IMG]This is how you make those flowers...
[/IMG]Perhaps boys are to shy... (if they had to face 7 years of army, I bet these girls wouldn't be dancing together)
[/IMG]But older guys know how to roll a lady
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Amazing what people are willing to do to be photographed. This WASNN'T my idea.
[/IMG]Generation of 1990 in front of their carriage...
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Violeta Rosalesvioletisha # Saturday, May 31, 2008 3:54:44 PM
Nikio # Saturday, May 31, 2008 4:02:01 PM
kristjand # Saturday, May 31, 2008 5:09:40 PM
Were those guns loaded?
Nikio # Sunday, June 1, 2008 9:13:59 AM
Funny, I asked the same question, but I don'remember the answer. I was too busy aiming the sniper gun (not at people, of course...).
OskarBozicek # Sunday, June 1, 2008 10:25:11 AM
nikio - i realy like your photos, keep up the good work!
have a nice day