Štafete su izrađivane s puno simbolike i neskrivenih asocijacija The relay batons were made with lots of symbolism and overt associations
O n the day when Tito’s birthday was celebrated, young- sters would sing an oath to him “to never turn away from his path”. On the days after he died and was laid to rest eternally in the House of Flowers, the entire country believed that “after Tito there will be Tito”. Both dates occur in May. The times have since changed and betrayed his great words, while today some other holidays are celebrated. Following the end of World War II, the date of 25 th May was celebrated as the birthday of President Josip Broz ‘Tito’. And, in accordance with his wishes, as of 1957 this date also commem- orated a holiday dedicated to the youth of Yugoslavia - Youth Day. The central ceremony was organised as a mass event in the glory of youth, to be held at the “Yugoslav People’s Army” Sta- dium in Belgrade. Masterfully, thousands of young people per-
formed living images of the most famous choreographers and artists, practised to perfection and presented impeccably. To the sounds of specially composed songs performed by the top music artists of the time, everyone was left with a lump in their throat and tears in their eyes... Such were the times, and the author of this article can testify to that personally. She long pre- served as a remnant the beige, balloon silk, costume that she wore to practise during the jamboree. The finale of the ceremony was the handing over of the youth baton, which was presented to Tito – along with an ap- propriate speech – by a representative of the youth; every year from another republic or province, with great care taken over this. Three months before the May festivities, the relay baton began making its way through the cities, towns, villages and hamlets of the then large country, along a precisely defined route. Just like in an actual relay race, the baton was passed from hand to hand... It was an honour to run for around 50 metres with the baton in your hand. - Mass relay races were initiated throughout Yugoslavia in 1945 by Czech Josif Prohaska, a professor of physical edu- cation at the Kragujevac Gymnasium School and a former member of the Sokol Asso- ciation. That first baton was the only one that didn’t even resemble a stick. It was a bound book containing papers with birth- day greetings between citizens and was preserved as the“Blue Book”.The Museum
Beograd je Titu za njegov 70. rođendan poklonio najimpozantniji poklon – Muzej 25. maj
Belgrade gifted Tito
the most magnificent present for his 70 th birthday - 25 th May Museum
Britanska Kraljica Elizabeta bila je drag gost
British Queen
Elizabeth was a dear guest
Slet na stadionu JNA, povodom Dana mladosti 1959, Beograd National jamboree at JNA Stadium to commemorate Youth Day 1959, Belgrade
of Yugoslavia today boasts more than 20,000 batons, but the ti- tle of Youth Baton was only given to those personally handed to Marshal Tito during the ceremony. The batons made in the first 12 years are the most interesting, with the most fantastic forms and conceptual designs, as they were the works of ama- teurs. The later batons that were designed by academic artists are less exciting, similar and fairly sterile – explains Momo Cvi- jović, museum advisor in the Museum of Yugoslavia. Batons were carried by young people from the ranks of fac- tory workers, fieldworkers, students, school pupils and soldiers.
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