Left, France Preseren. Right, Polona Preseren.

Today is Preseren Day in Slovenia. France Preseren, born in 1800 in Upper Carniola, is the undisputed national poet of the country, in the way that Goethe is to Germany, or Shakespeare is to England. If you are interested, Preseren.net is a great English-language resource on his work and his ultimately tragic life. (In true Slovenian style, Preseren died alone and bitter after years of failed romances and heavy drinking.)

To celebrate Preseren Day, I talked to a living, breathing Preseren: Polona Preseren. She was kind enough to talk about what it’s like growing up with such a revered last name, about poetry, and about the great Dr. Preseren himself:

The Glory of Carniola: When I was kid, children used to yell "Michael, Michael, Motorcycle" at me. And I hated it. What was it like growing up with such a famous last name? Did children ever tease you?

Polona Preseren: I don’t remember other kids teasing me about my last name (they might for other kid stuff). At school the teachers always noticed my name first and so I was in front of the board more often than the others. But I was a good student, and I got used to it. Today, my friends say to me that I would be crazy to give up such a last name after getting married. And I agree.

The constant question for my family and me regarding our name was, and still is: “Are you related to the poet?” My mum was witty about it and always replied that she isn’t, but that her husband is! I always say I am related, although must confess there is no solid proof for that. But I’m very proud of my name. There are around 600 people in Slovenia with the same last name and because many documents have been lost it’s hard to say who is really related to the poet. But the origins of my family during Preseren’s time are traced to Zirovnica, which is very close to Vrba. (Editor’s note: Vrba na Gorenjskem is the village where Preseren was born)

TGoC: What do you think about Preseren’s poetry? Is he your favorite Slovene poet?

Preseren: Preseren is without a doubt a poet that deserves all the glory and respect of the nation. He put Slovenian literature and the Slovenian language on the map of Europe. Through poetry he helped Slovenians build a national identity. I can’t imagine where we would be without Preseren. Unfortunately, Europe does not know him, only rare experts know his name. Preseren was a European, whose poetry was ahead of his time. The verses of Slovenian national anthem A Toast (Zdravljica) are an example of that. Yes, he is my favourite poet.

TGoC: Do you have any personal similiarities with Preseren? (Love of wine, fondness for tragic romances)

Preseren: Of course I like a glass or two of good wine and I like good company. Maybe that is a similarity. Tragic romances? No. I think I’m too rational for that. But you never know… I’m still young and anything can happen. I might even start writing poetry.

TGoC: Did you ever write any poetry?

Preseren: Even though I like poetry very much, I don’t write it. So I can’t share the experience. The only poet in my family is my father. He wrote poems in his younger years, but then stopped. I don’t really know why.

TGoC: How do you normally spend Preseren Day? Is it strange to have a national holiday bearing your name?

Preseren: It’s great to have a national holiday with your name. As I said, I’m very proud of my name. Wouldn’t you be if there was a Manske day? Like other days off work I try to take as many advantages of it as possible, like enjoying nature, skiing or doing other outdoor activities. But it’s also true that during time I think more deeply about my roots and my ancestors. I make a resolution about which books to read, and what shows to see. And usually I don’t just make them, but also make them a reality.

Polona Preseren graduated in international relations at the Faculty of Social Sciences in Ljubljana and has written for several magazines. For the last year and a half she has been the editor of Slovenia News, which is published by Government Public Relations and the Media Office of the Republic of Slovenia.