HNK Hajduk, Split's major soccer club and one of the most recognisable symbols of the city is just celebrating its 100th anniversary. The city is full of fans which have celebrated their club's birthdays with one of the most spectacular fireworks in Split's history.
The celebrations also include friendly game between HNK Hajduk and Czech club Slavia Prague. HNK Hajduk is at this time (16:42) losing with 0-1.
The weather is not very friendly towards the revellers. The sky is cloudy and air happens to be damp. So, just like the result, celebrations are going to be tempered with rather prosaic reality.
In many ways, this is what I have expected. Anniversaries are occasions better suited for reflections than for celebrations. Passage of time serves best by putting things in perspective. And this perspective isn't particularly kind towards Split soccer club, faced with results far from its historical glory.
Hajduk fans can comfort themselves that they aren't the only people whose anniversaries, especially those related to big round numbers, coincided with bad situations and situations soon to become even worse. 150th anniversary of French Revolution occured shortly before one of France's worst historic humiliations; USA celebrated its 200th anniversary faced with traumas of Vietnam, Watergate and Carterian malaise. Croatia's eastern neighbour celebrated its 200th anniversary of "statehood" at the eve of another historic humiliations - departure of Montenegro and Kosovo.
Compared with such catastrophes and calamities, present situation in HNK Hajduk and Split doesn't look so bad.
Interesting way of looking at it. Helps put things in perspective:) After all 100 is just a number. Italy is about to celebrate 150 years of unity, and some politicians and industrialists are suggesting it is better to skip the holiday in favor of working one more day, because of the economic crisis. :) So much for the big numbers.
Posted by: Olja | Tuesday, February 15, 2011 at 18:28