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Sep 30

Martinmas on 8th November in Cambridge

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VTIS  Great Britain is organising  Martinmas in Quy Village Hall near Cambridge and is inviting members of the British-Slovene Society to join in.

Martinmas is named after St. Martin, a Bishop from Tours in France. His feast day marks the end of the agricultural year and the start of winter. For centuries, Martinmas was the primary Harvest Thanksgiving celebration in medieval Europe. In Slovenia, as elsewhere in Europe, this tradition still continues. A Martinmas feast often includes roast goose, known as “Martin’s goose,” and the first wine from the recent grape harvest, called “St. Martin’s wine”.

One legend explains the tradition of eating goose. As the story goes, Martin was so humble that he tried to hide in a goose pen to avoid being named a Bishop, but the honking geese gave him away. The roasting of the goose is sometimes seen as Martin’s revenge for this betrayal.

Date and time: 

Location:

Stow cum Quy Cambridge CB25 9AB  (G-Maps location: TUKAJ)

How to get Stow cum Quy?

  • From the railway station Cambridge North you take a taxi (cca. £15 )

You are invited to join the cooking, eating and drinking.

The event is free of charge. Miha will be the chef but it will be much appreciated if you contribute Slovene food created by yourself.

Should you wish to consult Miha, here is his contact: E: miha.pipan@hotmail.com, M: 07449557134

Some beverages will be provided, however there is a principle of BYOB (50m away from the hall there is a pub and also a mini village shop).

Sep 09

Language Short Courses of Slovene at UCL SSEES

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Here is more information about courses of Slovene we received from the Slovenian Embassy in London:

Are you ready to start or continue studying Slovene? Join evening Slovene language courses starting in October 2025 at UCL School of Slavonic & East European Studies. These small interactive courses are designed for adults and develop conversation skills without losing sight of the fundamentals of grammar. They are ideal for anyone interested in the rich culture and unique language of Slovenia.

All courses are scheduled to run 6:30-8:30pm online and will start in the week commencing 6th of October.

This year we will be offering the following courses:
Beginners (Thursdays)
Lower Intermediate (Wednesdays)
Advanced (Thursdays)
Advanced Plus (Mondays)

More information about the Slovene courses is HERE

If you are interested, please enrol HERE

The courses will be taught by Maja Rančigaj Beneš (Advanced and Advanced Plus course) and Ana Ilievska Završnik (Beginners and Lower Intermediate course). For more information contact Maja Rančigaj Beneš, Slovene language lector: m.rancigaj@ucl.ac.uk
Sep 09

Laugh Without Borders – First British-Slovene Society Stand-up Comedy Night, 23 October, 6 pm, London

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The British-Slovene Society proudly invites you to our first-ever stand-up comedy night. This evening is open to everyone—members, non-members, Brits, Slovenes, and friends from anywhere—because laughter knows no borders!

Date & Time: Thursday, 23 October 2025, at 6 pm

Venue: HaHa Comedy Club at Vauxhall Station Arches, 39-44 Parry Street, Vauxhall, London, SW8 1RT (under the railway arches near Vauxhall Station in South London)

Special Guest: Tin Vodopivec

We are honoured to host Tin Vodopivec, one of the most recognised comedians in Slovenia, celebrated for his uniquely everyday-inspired humour:

  • Tin’s comedy finds gold in the mundane rituals of daily life—funny, ironic, even absurd—and he has an uncanny talent for making audiences laugh at the most ordinary moments. His style is respectful, clever, and effortlessly funny, winning hearts across Europe.
  • He has performed hundreds of stand-up shows across Europe, making tens of thousands laugh in different languages.
    • Belgrade – Serbian
    • London – English
    • Berlin – German
    • Warsaw – Polish
    • Paris – French
    • Ljubljana – Slovenian
    • One of his most astonishing feats was the Triple Seven Challenge: 7 stand-up shows in 7 countries, in 7 different languages over 7 consecutive days:
  • And he’s also tried his hand at filmmaking—he directed his first feature film, “Nekaj sladkega” (Something Sweet).

We are truly proud to welcome Tin to London, the global centre of stand-up and culture!

Why You Should Attend

  • Because laughter is more than entertainment—it’s essential. It’s a vital ingredient of modern society, making the world warmer, people happier, and everyday responsibilities easier to bear.
  • Plus, 10–15 minutes of laughter each day can burn 10–40 extra calories—so you may even get your workout in without a treadmill!
  • And did you know you’re 30 times more likely to laugh in company than alone? Laughter truly is contagious!
  • Join us in London, one of the world’s comedy capitals, for a cosy, international evening—laughter, connection, and enjoyment guaranteed.
  • A bar will be on site—drinks are self-service at your own expense, so you can sip and smile at your leisure.
  • And because laughing together is always better, bring your friends—sharing joy only multiplies it!

The British-Slovene Society

We’re a community that connects people, builds friendships, and bridges cultures. Just as humour defies borders, so do we.

Tickets – Limited Availability!

  • Since this is our very first comedy night, we’re giving non-members the same ticket price as members: just £18— with no membership requirement.
  • Tickets are limited, so secure yours now before they’re gone!

How to Sign up for the Stand-Up Comedy Night

Notice: if you are reading this in your email client, please open this page in your browser to sign up.

  • Purchase tickets using Paypal in the column alongside
  • After successful payment, please fill out the ticket registration form
  • You will receive an e-ticket (QR code) by email. Bring it to the event.

Mark your calendars, invite friends, and prepare for a night bursting with positive energy, laughter, and brightness.

We can’t wait to see you there!

Go to checkout:
Sep 06

Slovenian courses for children

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We received the following message from the Slovenian Embassy in London:

From 13. September children with Slovenian roots aged 4 and over can have access to Slovenian lessons.

The programme is organised by Zavod RS za šolstvo and Ministrstvo za vzgojo in izobraževanje in cooperation with Inštitut za narodnostna vprašanja.

The teaching will be performed online in small groups. Advanced pupils will meet on Monday evenings, and younger pupils and beginners will meet on Saturday mornings and early afternoons.

For more information please contact the teacher of Slovenian Urška Rozman: dps.londonuk@gmail.com

 

Jul 12

Henley Standard published an article about our picnic

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Slovenian friends make song and dance in field

Slovenian friends make song and dance in field

AN accordionist played traditional music at a gathering hosted by the British-Slovene Society.

The picnic, which is held annually, took place in Gillotts Corner Field last Saturday.

A gazebo was set up next to the Slovenian hayrack, which was donated to Henley by the society in 2022 in celebration of Henley’s twinning with the lakeside town of Bled.

The hayrack, which is known as a “kozolec”, is a familiar sight in the Slovenian countryside and they are traditionally used to dry crops and hay.

Despite a brief rain shower, guests enjoyed sunshine and warm temperatures.

Nina Kralj, who works as an economic attaché for the Slovenian Embassy in London, played several tunes on the accordion.

Ms Kralj said she had been playing the instrument for about 20 years but it would be one of the first outings for her accordion, which was brand new. Ms Kralj said: “For me, it brings people together and everybody always knows one song to sing along to. Some of the folk songs are passed down from generation to generation.”

Evelina Ferrar, who chairs the British-Slovene Society, explained that music could be categorised as Oberkrain music, which is a lively genre of folk music originating from the Oberkrain region of Slovenia but is now popular in Austria and Germany.

Ana and Joe Carr travelled from Oxford to see the hayrack. The couple met at university and got married last year in Slovenia where Ana grew up.

Mrs Carr, who is from Ljubljana, said: “It’s nice to see one that is nicely kept, as it’s newer in Slovenia they are often not kept as nicely.

“When you are in Slovenia, you don’t really notice them, you only notice it’s not there when you are somewhere else.”

Mr Carr described Slovenia as one of the most beautiful countries. “It’s just got a bit of everything,” he said.

Slovenian friends make song and dance in field – Henley Standard

Jul 10

VTIS After Work druženje 17. julij 2025 ob 18.30, Mercato Metropolitano, London

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After Work pijača in druženje na tržnici Mercato Metropolitano v Londonu

Četrtek, 17. julij 2025, ob 18.30 Lokacija: Mercato Metropolitano, London

Lokalni odbor Društva VTIS Velika Britanija vabi na sproščeno večerno druženje in pijačo. Dobimo se na Mercato Metropolitano – sodobnem kulinaričnem in kulturnem prostoru z več kot 40 ponudniki hrane in pijače z vsega sveta.

Dogodek je brezplačen, vendar je zaradi lažje organizacije obvezna prijava :   VTIS Velika Britanija: After Work druženje Tickets, Thu, Jul 17, 2025 at 6:30 PM | Eventbrite

Jul 07

British-Slovene Society’s Henley picnic — with accordeon

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Once again, members of the British-Slovene Society and friends and family gathered around the kozolec (Slovene hayrack) at Henley-on-Thames for our annual picnic on 6th July. Nina Kralj from the Slovenian Embassy came down from London to entertain us with her accordeon. The sun shone plentifully, although once or twice big black clouds dumped sharp showers. After the great heat of recent weeks, temperatures were thankfully ideal for a picnic. Balls, frisbees and little dogs flew in all directions.

      

Our kozolec starts becoming popular with the people of Henley too. The ranger who looks after Gillotts Field told us that locals often gather for their own picnics around the kozolec, so he keeps the grass there cut all the time.

The lime tree which was planted near the kozolec by Ambassador Simona Leskovar is flourishing. It commemorates Henley’s twinning with Bled in Slovenia, both being great rowing venues.

Jul 05

British-Slovene Society picnic, Henley, Sunday 6th July – with accordeon

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The British-Slovene Society will hold its Annual Picnic on Sunday 6th July beside the kozolec (Slovene hayrack) on Gillotts Field, Greys Road, Henley-on-Thames, RG9 1RZ. Slovenes and friends of Slovenia are warmly invited to come with families. It’s an ideal location for children – and dogs – to play games and run about. Bring food and drink – and share around.

A traditional Slovene spirit is assured: we will have at least one accordeonist to entertain us, and possibly two! Henley is a lovely town to visit and its Regatta will still be on. Henley is twinned with Bled in Slovenia – they are both rowing venues.

In recent years we have mostly had luck with the sun. We’re keeping our fingers crossed, but the event goes ahead whatever the weather. If the rain pays a visit, we have plenty of cover under gazebos.

We look forward to seeing you! From midday onwards or earlier if you wish.

May 30

Summer language camps in Slovenia

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We have received the following information about summer language camps in Slovenia:

V okviru projekta Mednarodni poletni jezikovni tabori (www.poletni-tabori.si) otroci spoznavajo slovensko podeželsko tradicijo in slovenski jezik skozi vsakdanje aktivnosti in vodene jezikovne delavnice v naravi.

       

Vsako poletje organiziramo tematsko raznolike in vsebinsko bogate jezikovne tabore na slovenskem podeželju.

Delavnice potekajo VEČJEZIČNO – predvsem v slovenščini in angleščini. Možnost individualnega UČENJA SLOVENŠČINE, prilagojeno starosti in predznanju.

7. – 12. 7. 2025 V Kozjanskem raju z Guzajem (ANG, NEM, SLO); Prevorje na Kozjanskem (od 7 do 11 let)

14-18. 7. 2025: Jezikovne počitnice v Arboretumu (ANG, NEM, SLO); Arboretum Volčji Potok (od 5 do 9 let), dnevno varstvo.

26. 7. – 2. 8. 2025: Foto-športni tabor na Kozjanskem (ANG z maternim govorcem, NEM, SLO); Prevorje (od 10 do 15 let)

17 – 22. 8. 2025: Foto-športni tabor na Krvavcu (ANG z maternim govorcem, SLO); Hotel Krvavec (od 10 do 14 let)

Aktivnosti na taborih s poučno-zabavno vsebino: spoznavanje življenja na kmetiji in v naravi, glasbene, naravoslovne in ustvarjalne delavnice, raziskovanje okolja in spoznavanje živali, hranjenje damjakov in zajčkov, košnja trave, opazovanje nočnega neba skozi teleskop, noč na seniku, srečanje z razbojnikom Guzajem, učenje fotografiranja in snemanja filma (v angleščini), snemanje vlogov, pisanje pesmi v angleščini, rolanje in druge športne aktivnosti, petje ob tabornem ognju, učenje na prostem … in še mnogo več.
Ob vsem tem bodo otroci nadgrajevali svoje znanje angleščine, nemščine ali slovenščine ter se neizmerno zabavali.

Prednost naših taborov na Kozjanskem in na Krvavcu je, da na posamezni tabor sprejmemo največ 16 otrok, da so otroci in učitelji dejansko sami na lokaciji in da večina dejavnosti poteka zunaj, v neokrnjeni naravi, obiskujejo tudi okoliške kmetije in spoznavajo zanimivosti okolja. Tabori v Arboretumu Volčji potok pa so namenjeni raziskovanju različnih ekosistemov v senci krošenj mogočnih starih dreves in učenju v naravi.

Vabimo vas, da vašim otrokom spet omogočite brezskrbne in aktivne jezikovne počitnice v objemu neokrnjene narave Kozjanskega, Krvavaca ali Arboretuma.

Podrobni programi in PRIJAVE na www.poletni-tabori.si in informacije na info@poletni-tabori.si  +386 41 763 031 in +386 40 256 171.