MESSAGES FROM TREBINJE TO NOVI GRAD

Ahead of January 9, the Day of Republika Srpska, billboards bearing the slogan of this year’s celebration, “ŽIVJEĆE OGNJIŠTE” (“The Hearth Will Live On”), have been installed across Republika Srpska.

PHOTO: SRNA

From Trebinje in the south to Novi Grad in the north, the message is visible in all local communities and along major roads, serving as a symbol of unity and continuity of Republika Srpska. The placement of the billboards is part of a unified visual campaign through which Republika Srpska and its institutions mark the Day of the Republic.

The slogan “ŽIVJEĆE OGNJIŠTE” is not merely a visual message, but a powerful symbol deeply rooted in the tradition and identity of the Serbian people. It speaks of home, family, and the space where life is built and preserved.

In Serbian tradition, the hearth has always represented the center of life and belonging. Preserving it meant preserving the family and the community, while its extinguishing symbolized the loss of home and displacement. That is why the slogan accompanying this year’s celebration of the Day of the Republic carries a message that goes beyond a single date or ceremony.

Through its strong visual presence across Republika Srpska, the message “ŽIVJEĆE OGNJIŠTE” connects all its regions and reminds citizens that Republika Srpska is their shared home. It is not an abstract idea, but a living space of everyday life, work, and future — a place where identity, language, and tradition are preserved, while a modern society oriented toward peace, stability, and development is being built.

As January 9 approaches, billboards with the message “ŽIVJEĆE OGNJIŠTE” become a visible sign of endurance and unity, reminding that Republika Srpska lives through its people, cities, municipalities, and its hearths — today, tomorrow, and in the years to come.

This year as well, Republika Srpska will mark the Day of the Republic with a series of events, planned for January 5, 8, 9, and 10. The program includes a ceremonial academy and the traditional festive parade.

Republika Srpska was established on January 9, 1992, in Sarajevo as the Republic of the Serbian people in Bosnia and Herzegovina, by a decision of the then Assembly of the Serbian people in BiH. This decision expressed the political will of the Serbian people to organize within their own Republic in order to preserve their right to freedom, equality, and survival.

The creation of Republika Srpska was a response to the historical circumstances and profound political changes of that time, aimed at providing an institutional framework for the protection of both collective and individual rights. From then until today, Republika Srpska has remained a permanent constitutional category, based on the Dayton Peace Agreement and committed to peace, stability, and development.