Macedonians in Slovenia

ethnic group
group= Macedonians in Slovenia Македонци во Словенија "Makedonci v Sloveniji"
poptime= 3,972 [http://www.stat.si/popis2002/si/rezultati/rezultati_red.asp?ter=SLO&st=7]
popplace= Kranj, Ljubljana,
Jesenice
rels=Predominantly Macedonian Orthodox,
Serbian Orthodox,Muslim
langs=Primarily Macedonian and Slovenian
related-c=Macedonians

Macedonians in Slovenia is a term referring to the groups of Ethnic Macedonians residing in Slovenia. According to the official census of 2002, there are 3,972 ethnic Macedonians in Slovenia, but Ethnic Macedonian Associatians claim they number over 12,000. 4,760 people declared Macedonian as their mother tongue. [http://www.stat.si/pxweb/Dialog/Saveshow.asp]

Immigration

During the years of the Yugoslav federation, many Macedonians migrated to the Socialist Republic of Slovenia. Most of them came from the east of the Socialist Republic of Macedonia and they settled mainly in the town of Kranj and the capital Ljubljana. Macedonian communities can be also found in larger towns such as Jesenice, Nova Gorica, Maribor and Celje. Around 450 Macedonians reside in the Celje region.

Culture

There are three larger cultural associations in Slovenia. The biggest ones are KUD Makedonija from Ljubljana [MKD-Makedonija-http://www.mkdmakedonija.si/] , KUD Kiril i Metodij from Kranj [MKD Kranj-http://www.mkd-kim.si//] and Kud Biljana from Maribor. [MKD Biljana-http://www.mkd-biljana.si/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2&Itemid=6|] They were founded in the 1990s after Slovenia become an independent republic. Cultural Associations were founded to encourage learning of the Macedonian language, heritage and customs for those living in Slovenia. They mainly gather Macedonians for major holidays like Easter, Ilinden and Christmas. Each association has its own center for gatherings and folklore acts. There is also a Macedonian language school in Kranj which is targeted at younger Macedonians.

Religion

Macedonians in Slovenia are predominantly of Orthodox religion, while a minority are Macedonian Muslims. Due to the lack of priests there is only one Macedonian Orthodox Church in Slovenia, which opens only on some occasions, for weekley mass Adhererants use the Serbian Orthodox Church. The first Macedonian church organization was the MCO (Македонски црковен одбор/"Makedonski crkoven odbor"). The first meeting was held on April 13 1993 where there was talk about establishing a Macedonian Orthodox Church in Slovenia. Good communications have been established between the Macedonian Orthodox Church and Roman Catholic Church, which is the perominant denomination in Slovenia. Many Macedonians also use the Serbian Orthodox Church.The Community was leased the church St.Marija Roženveska which is located in centre of Kranj. It is used by Macedonians only on bigger holidays.Naše Sonce-http://www.mkd-kim.si/vesnik/nase%20sonce%20-%20st%201%20-%20december%201997.pdf]

Media

There is just one newspaper which is written for Macedonians in Slovenia called "Naše Sonce" (Наше Сонце, "lit. Our Sun"). It is printed by the cultural association of St.Cyril and Methodi whose office is in Kranj. The first edition was printed on December 1 1997.The newspaper mainly writes about problems and activities of Macedonians living in Slovenia.

References

External links

* [http://www.mkd-biljana.si/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2&Itemid=6| KUD Biljana Maribor]
* [http://www.mkd-kim.si/slo/slo.html| KUD Ciryl and Methody Kranj]
* [http://www.mkdmakedonija.si/| KUD Makedonija Lubljana]
* [http://www.cox.si/pella.html| KUD Pella Ljubljana]
* [http://www.slovensko-makedonsko-mitrasinsko-drustvo.si/| SMMD]
* [http://www.slo-mak.com/slo/index.html| Slovenian and Macedonian Friendship]
* [http://www.macedonia.si/aktualno.html| MACEDONIA SI]