SLOVENIA'S 5 CORE VALUES

For years and years, in springtime, their garden yard was full of willow branches – fresh and pliable, gathered from the banks of the nearby Reka river, as well as dried ones, waiting for the moment when they would be softened by warm water.

Every time Jože's worn and calloused hands grasped the willow branches, they became incredibly gentle and soft. Under his hands, the willow bent and wove itself obligingly and willingly exactly where he wanted. He wove his wickerwork creations to the rhythm of his heartbeat with meticulous technique, control, and exceptional focus. He never tired of these activities.

Jože wasn't just a master craftsman; he was also a hunter. For decades he ventured into the Brkini forests, where he primarily enjoyed the company of trees; in nature, which he deeply understood and respected. The forest was his second home. It was a place where he learned patience, perseverance, humility, observation, and listening. These virtues also proved useful in his basket weaving. When he walked the hunting trails along the Reka riverbed, he knew exactly where the best, most pliable osiers grew. For him, nature wasn't something to be subjugated, but a classroom for coexistence, where the most magnificent stories are woven. He respected and valued his land, inherited from his ancestors, above all else, and likewise every inch of foreign soil. He cultivated it with love for as long as he could, and was thankful to it for all it gave him.

Plastic products have appeared on the market, pushing basket weaving to the brink of survival. While people used to earn a living from basket weaving, this craft is slowly retreating into museums of cultural heritage. With the disappearance of the craft, a part of local identity is also being lost. Jože from Brc practised basket weaving as long as his health allowed.

For years and years, he invested all his free time and energy in teaching basketry at schools, in various associations, at fairs… He didn't do it for money, but for something much greater and more lasting. He felt a deep, almost sacred duty to pass on the knowledge that his ancestors had imparted to him; especially to the younger generation. As a hunter, he felt a connection to nature and particularly to game; as a basket maker, he felt a connection to those who, with every woven basket, wove ties with their ancestors and thus connected with the roots from which they drew strength and energy to persevere in their work. Jože engaged in this activity even when his hands could no longer manage fine movements, as rheumatism was taking their strength.

It is precisely because of his commitment to preserving local tradition that basket weaving has survived in the Ilirska Bistrica region. The bonds he forged between people at home and abroad through his woven products have become stronger than any willow branch.

Belonging and tradition are anchors for humans, as they provide a sense of security and acceptance.The ability to feel and connections with people who mean something to us are preconditions for happiness. 

Jerica Strle