The lavish halls of the Hofburg Palace, the former winter residence of the Habsburgs, once again became a center of Serbian culture and diplomacy. This year’s 27th St. Sava Ball gathered more than 3,000 guests, solidifying its position as the most prestigious event of the Serbian community in the world and an indispensable part of Vienna’s famous ball season.
The event, whose roots date back to 1846 when Prince Miloš Obrenović instructed Johann Strauss Jr. to compose the “Serbian Quadrille” for the first Slavic Ball, introduced a new tradition into its program this year. The honor of opening the cycle of ceremonial speeches was given to academician Matija Bećković.
His address to the guests in the Ceremonial Hall emphasized the importance of language and script as the foundations of Serbian identity, giving the event a profound intellectual dimension. The Ball officially began with the ceremonial entrance of honorary guests to the sounds of the march “1300 Caplars” and the performance of the St. Sava Hymn.
A special feature of this year’s Ball is the partnership with the City of Trebinje, marking the first time that a local community from Republika Srpska has taken on such a role. A delegation of 200 members presented the authentic Herzegovinian spirit. Performances by GKUD “Alat” and the City Choir “Tribunija” showcased the richness of Serbian folklore, while the Trebinje Tourist Organization used the opportunity to promote the south of Srpska as a destination for living and investment.
Above the glamour of the Hofburg, the Ball retained its primary, ethical purpose. This year’s humanitarian action was directed toward the Dobrić family from the village of Mogila in Kosovo and Metohija. By purchasing tickets, visitors directly participated in raising funds for the construction of their family home. This action sent a strong message of solidarity from the diaspora with the people in the southern province, emphasizing that “every ticket means a step closer to security for a Serbian hearth.”
A triumph of high organization and ball elegance, and a magnificent moment of national cohesion that strongly reminded Serbs from the diaspora of their origins and spiritual strength. In the Hofburg Palace, where history and the present danced together, the Serbian community once again confirmed its place on the cultural map of the world, demonstrating an enviable ability to integrate its own identity into the highest European currents without losing its own essence. It was an evening that awakened a true sense of togetherness, in which every step of the waltz and every spoken word carried a promise of unity, from the Viennese chambers to the family threshold of the Dobrićs in Kosovo and Metohija, sending the message that we are culturally aware, institutionally strong, and, above all, inseparably connected by a noble goal.
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Source: Ognjan V. / Wikipedia, Foto: Ognjan V.