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Veronika: The first woman in Slovenia to be accused of being a ‘witch’
A lot of hype has been made for months about this year’s representation of Slovenia in the Eurovision Song Contest with “Veronika”. 28-year-old Sara Briški Cirman, singer, songwriter and harpist, known by her stage name Raiven, (inspired by the falcons her parents raised), is the performer of the piece in question. Many wondered how this name came about as a title and reference point for the Slovenian representation.
Raiven identifies “Veronika” as a feminist anthem connected to history. In several interviews, she explained that the heroine of the song is a real person who became her source of inspiration and was not written with the aim of participating in Eurovision. It is about the legendary story of Veronica of Deseniki.
Veronika was of humble origin, from the village of Desinić in Croatia, and therefore Herman II did not approve of her secret marriage, which took place in 1425 with his son Frederick II, Count of the city of Celje. The ruthless Hermann kidnapped his son, led him into a trap with the help of his brother-in-law, King Sigismund of Hungary and imprisoned him in Celje Tower, a narrow building 23 meters high (since then called Frederick Tower), to keep the field free to exterminate the unfortunate Veronica. First, he accused her of trying to poison him and of seducing his son with witchcraft to marry her for it, and dragged her to court, demanding that she be burned at the stake as a witch.
But according to sources, the judges said: “Count, there is no responsibility in this girl, let alone a crime. The only thing is that she is very much in love with your son Fridrik. However, Your Highness, love was never a sin, love is one of the most beautiful human virtues.’
Although the court acquitted her of the trumped-up charges, Well, Hermann was undeterred, he ordered her imprisonment in Ogistritsa Castle, near Tabor and her death by drowning in 1425 AD. δ@λ@φονία was performed 1-2 years later by the knight Jošt Soteški. A large tank filled with water was placed in the yard of Veliki Tavor, in which Veronika drowned. In fact, her body was built into the wall that connected the tower to the entrance of the castle. They say how Veronica’s cries can still be heard and become one with the sound of the wind.
Later, her husband managed to transfer her remains to a monastery in Jurklošter, then Styria but now Slovenia. Of course, there was also the rumor that Frederick was never captured but participated in his father’s plan as he had an extramarital affair and wanted to “get rid” of Veronica’s presence.
We may never know what really happened, but this story was first written by the Hungarian-German chronicler of the time, Eberhard Windeck. It was established as a tragic love story of Veronica and Frederick II, which not only led to the beginning of the end of the House of Celie, but was a source for many literary and musical creations in Croatia, Slovenia, Italy, the Czech Republic and Germany, such as dramas , operas, even musicals.
For example, we mention “Innocence and power, subtitled “Veronika Desinska”” from 1851, Danilo Švara’s opera “Veronika Deseniška” from 1946 and Dušan Čater’s children’s novel “Veronika Deseniška” in 1996. In fact, he named an award of the same name poetry. The martyr’s castle was turned into a museum that houses, among other things, old vehicles, ethnographic objects and historical swords and is a monument of secular architecture in Croatia.
@raivenmusic Brrrraaaaap #veronika #raiven #eurovision #slovenia ♬ original sound – raiven
We flash back to today, where Raiven stated: “I see Veronica as a symbol of femininity, maybe not the stereotypical femininity. I wouldn’t want to show something like that on stage. Definitely, though, femininity and grace. I wanted her story to not only be expressed, but to resonate in 2024. The idea that she needed the music, which was right – cinematic and contemporary – was present throughout the creative process.”. The lyrics and composition of the song were written by Raiven herself, as well as last year’s country representative, Bojan Cvjetićanin.
@williamleeadams 🇸🇮 Who you calling a witch? Raiven stands will all women who think differently ❤️ #eurovision #raiven #slovenia #eurovisionsongcontest ♬ original sound – William Lee Adams
The song “Veronika” is performed in Slovenian as Raiven states “I don’t think this kind of song needs English for Eurovision. I am convinced that both the story and the music are powerful and expressive enough that their essence and emotional depth can be perceived and understood even by non-Slovene speakers».
SONG LYRICS:
I hid in the river and walked into the silent night
With loud steps, silent calls for help
Now that I am only water, I seek peace in the waves
I drown in myself, surrender to the light.
Find me, hurt me, defend me
Who are you after when you leave me? Pick me up, put me down, love me
Who’s chasing you when you’re afraid of me? Who do you fear when you hide your desires?
You look into my eyes, your image shining in them
I am a mirror without a rim
I’m just a reflection of your fears
Find me, hurt me, defend me
Who are you after when you leave me? Pick me up, put me down, love me
Who’s chasing you when you’re afraid of me? I am, You are, Veronica
Only she knows your truth
So tonight, when you will enjoy the Eurovision final, you will see again the presentation of the song that qualified from the 1st semi-final, possibly with a different look. Perhaps in the sounds of this piece you will recognize the timeless cry of every unfortunate Veronica, who was savagely beaten because she did not “fit” the social standards of male-dominated societies. A victim who, over the centuries, became a timeless artistic symbol and is introduced to us again from the stage of the most famous European Song Contest. Unfortunately, she was not the last victim and perhaps her message is now more relevant than ever.
Editor: Kyriaki Seliniotakis
Text editor: Giovanna Kontonikolou