Krakow celebrates poet Mickiewicz's birthday
PR dla Zagranicy
Peter Gentle
24.12.2013 14:18
Poland’s national bard Adam Mickiewicz was born 215 years ago today and in line with a long-standing tradition, flower sellers in Krakow's Market Square have placed flowers at the foot of the monument dedicated to him.
December 24 is also the poet’s name-day.
Mickiewicz is regarded as one of the greatest Slavic poets and at the time of the partitions of Poland, his verse was seen as a voice for the Polish people’s hopes and ideals.
Mickiewicz’s major works are the drama Forefathers’ Eve and the epic poem Pan Tadeusz.
His reputation as Poland’s most prominent poet secured him a teaching position at the Academy of Lausanne and then the chair of Slavic Literatures at the Collège de France.
In 1848 he organized a Polish legion in Italy and upon his return to Paris founded a radical French-language newspaper. His final days were devoted to forming a legion in Istanbul.
Mickiewicz died in 1855.
Thirty five years later, his remains were transferred to Krakow, where he was interred in the Royal Cathedral alongside Poland’s kings and military heroes. (mk/pg)