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Europe in Brussels part 27: Slovakia

22:52 28/08/2017
For Slovaks around the world, 29 August is an important day. We find out more from two Slovak expats in Brussels

On 29 August, Slovaks young and old come together to lay wreaths for the Slovak Uprising Day. The day signifies the first day of resistance to the push of Nazi Germany in 1944. It holds great significance within the country because as many as 105,000 Slovak Jews were killed during the second world war, but the resistance saved nearly 40,000.

On this day, Slovaks lay wreaths at the memorial site in Bratislava and elsewhere in the country. “I went to a re-enactment once in Dukla, a very important place during the war,” says Dominika Girao, a Slovak expat in Brussels. "On the day I went it was raining very hard and the older people who still remember the uprising said: 'Oh it was raining like this on the day back then'."

Erik Zolcer, another Slovak living in Brussels, says it is a day to celebrate national pride, "mostly by enjoying a day off, doing sports and spending time outdoors, enjoying nature."

According to 2016 Belgian federal government statistics, there are about 6,000 Slovaks registered as living in Belgium. "Here in Brussels the day is usually spent at work," adds Zolcer. "But the permanent representation and the embassy organise various receptions. That's where the whole family of Slovak expats always meet, the whole community."

Food is an important element of Slovak culture. Not to mention wine, says Zolcer: "Not many know that Slovakia is a wine country, but what I like to say is that we drink it all before any is left for export. That’s why you haven’t heard of it.”

Girao adds that she and fellow Slovak expats love to get together around holidays such as Christmas and Easter to bake. "It’s a typical cake made of honey that we get together and make and decorate," she says.

Both Zolcer and Girao say they take a special pride in their humble country of just five million people.

“It's a tiny country, with an impressive history, blessed with stunning nature and resourceful people,” says Zolcer.  “It is still very much an undiscovered place in Europe and I very much hope that more and more people will start enjoying this unique destination."

Girao adds: "What I think is nice is that Slovaks are very open and straight-forward. Once you get to know them you can appreciate that once you’re a friend, you’re a friend. No doubts about that. Once they take you in their hearts, in their life you’ll remain there for life."

Written by Taylor Kinnerup