The New New Year: or, How a Tradition was Tempered

Abstract

Hommage à Milovan Gavazzi, on the fiftieth anniversary of Godina dana hrvatskih narodnih običaja (A Year of Croatian National Customs) “New Year's Day, the socialist holiday of the peoples of Yugoslavia, is a day of joy for all workers of our land, for on that day we sum up the results of our labor. Every new year is one step higher in our ascent toward socialism. We are transforming ourselves from a technically and culturally backward land into an advanced, economically independent, and cultured land.” “We have our days of celebration, such as November 29, March 8, May 1, and New Year's Day, and on those days we will give our children presents and organize a children's holiday.” “In the cities, on squares or intersections, one could decorate a large fir tree, which would be especially well decorated with the five-pointed star, hammer and sickle, and so forth.” “This year's celebration of the day of `Children's Joy' ” must have a mass character, therefore our organization, along with all other organizations, must seek to make the celebration succeed and to become in time a national custom and replace the former religious holiday. ” “The celebration of the New Year must also acquire a political character. ”