National Insignia

State symbols project the recognisability of a country. Slovenia’s symbols highlight historical facts and its cultural tradition, testifying to the fact that the Slovenians are the genuine heirs to the cultural and national heritage of Karantania, the first Slav state and one of the first states following the collapse of the Roman Empire.

The Flag

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Slovenia's national flag is white, blue and red and bears the Slovenian cot of arms. The three-coloured flag first appeared during the Spring of Nations in 1848. The National Assembly upon the announcement of Slovenia's independence on 25 June 1991 took the decision on the design of the present flag.

The national flag is one of the state symbols, so we hang it out whenever we want to emphasize our appurtenance to the country – such as in times of war, national holidays or during sport games of our national teams, or to signify that our country is a participant in some event, such as international conferences, fairs, state visits, etc.

The Coat Of Arms

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Slovenia’s coat of arms is in the shape of a shield. In the middle of the shield is the outline of Mount Triglav in white; beneath which are two wavy blue lines, representing the sea and the rivers and above are three gold six-pointed stars, arranged in the shape of an inverted triangle.

As on the flag, the three national colours (white, blue and red) of Carniola - the central historic state on the territory of the Slovenian people - are used. The six- pointed stars are the symbols of the Celje counts, the last great dynasty on Slovenian territory, and Mount Triglav as a symbol of Slovenehood. The coat of arms was designed by the sculptor Marko Pogačnik.

The Anthem

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The seventh stanza of Zdravljica (A Toast), a lengthy poem by France Prešeren (1800–1849) in used as the Slovenian national anthem. The poem was set to music decades ago by Stanko Premrl (1880–1965).

Zdravljica, a toast to all good-hearted people, was written in 1844, and in it the poet declares his belief in a free-thinking Slovenian and Slavonic political awareness, promoting the idela of a Unified Slovenia, which the March revolution in 1848 elevated into a national political programme.

Translation of the Slovenian anthem:

God’s blessing on all nations, who
long and work for that bright day,
when o’er earth’s habitations, no
war, no strife shall hold its sway;
who long to see, that all man free,
no more shall foes but neighbours be.

Click the link for an audio recording (mp3, 1.5 MB) of the concert on the occasion of the main state celebration of the Independence and Unity Day, 23 December 2005 (conductor: Uroš Lajovic, choirmaster: Robert Mraček).

Source: http://www.twenty.si/for-youth/