Dear ladies and gentlemen,
Respected participants and dear lovers of traditional heritage,

It is with particular pleasure that I send a congratulatory message on the occasion of the 14th Christmas Gathering in Grude 2025, an event that for many years brings together the guardians of the oldest forms of folk musical expression and promotes the rich cultural heritage of our region.

The participation of ganga, fiddlers and ojkavica performers from Croatia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina gives this event special weight and confirms its international character. These traditional forms of singing and storytelling, deeply rooted in the identity of our communities, testify to the power of culture, to the transmission of customs through generations and to the unbreakable ties that bind the people of this area.

I congratulate the organizers for their perseverance and dedication in preserving cultural heritage, the performers for their tireless dedication, and the audience who, with their participation, confirms that tradition still has an important place in modern cultural life.

May this year’s Christmas Gathering in Grude be inspiring, joyful, and filled with togetherness!