Albanian Alphabet Day
November 22 is a national holiday in Albania and is celebrated as Alphabet Day. It is a day with special symbolism. November 22 specifies the most significant unifying moment for Albanians, who are scattered throughout the Balkans. They unite their language in the Kongress of Manastir in North Macedonia, then Albania.
The Congress of Manastir took place between November 14 and 22, 1908. Fifty delegates from 26 cities, clubs, and associations participated. In this Congress, the decision was adopted to accept the Latin alphabet with some changes to the letters, adapting them for the Albanian language.
At that time, Albanian intellectuals from all Albanian territories participated in Bitola, as the city was the center of the consuls and was more secure for the progress of this critical national process.
Mithat Frashëri was elected president of the Congress, while Luigj Gurakuqi and Gjergji Qiriazi were vice presidents. His sister, Parashqevi Qiriazi, was the only woman in this Congress.
According to the number and importance of the participants, the Congress of Manastir was the most important event for the Albanian people at the beginning of the 20th century. As a result of this work, the independence of Albania was announced on November 28, 1912.
For the Albanians, this day is a day of celebration and no work.
The Museum of the Alphabet of the Albanian Language operates in Manastir, where about 56 photographs of the participants and 230 documents in digital and paper form are kept.
Ps. The Congress of Manastir (Albanian: Kongresi i Manastirit) was an academic conference held in Manastir (now Bitola) from November 14 to 22, 1908, intending to standardize the Albanian alphabet. November 22 is now a commemorative day in Albania, Kosovo, and North Macedonia, as well as among the Albanian diaspora, and is known as Alphabet Day (Albanian: Dita e Alfabetit). Before the Congress, the Albanian language was represented by a combination of six or more distinct alphabets, plus several sub-variants.
Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia
22/11/2024 – 22/11/2024
10:00
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