Pjetër Zarishti Albanian poet and cleric was born on February 16, 1806. He served as a priest in Mirdita and Kallmet. In addition to his religious activities, he also engaged in poetic creation, which was published after his death.

Gaqo Avrazi, Albanian conductor and composer was born on February 16, 1915, in Korça. He was one of the main organizers of the establishment of the Army Ensemble, especially the Army Choir, which became a true school of our music where great artists such as Mentor Xhemali, Avni Mula, Ibrahim Tukiçi, and Pavlina Nika began their careers.

On February 16, 1916, the distinguished folklorist and ethnologist Qemal Haxhihasani was born in Elbasan. He started his work as a folklorist and research scientist at the age of 20. He was the author of many scientific bibliographies in the field of folklore. Qemal Haxhihasani passed away in Tirana on February 2, 1992.

On February 16, 1918, Korça ceased to be an Autonomous Region. This was the most important victory of our National Movement during the years of World War I.

The Sports Club Vllaznia was founded on February 16, 1919. Ten years later, the club changed its name and became Shkodra Union, and in 1930, it debuted in the national league of Albania. The club reverted to its old name in 1935, only to change it two more times, to “Shkodra” and “Labor”. Since 1958 and up to now, the football club has been known under the name with which it was founded, the Vllaznia Sports Club.

On February 16, 1922, the official Albanian currency was named “Lek”.

The General Directorate of Archives says that there are many discussions regarding the origin of the name of the Albanian currency. According to the hypothesis of Italian scholars in publications of the ’30s and ’40s, the name derives from the Christian name of our national hero, Skanderbeg.

Meanwhile, there are other hypotheses that dictate that the name was given in honor of Alexander or Alexander the Great.

According to parliamentary discussions in 1922, among the proposals were “Skënder or Shqipe”. Until 1947, when the relevant decree law was adopted, the “Frang” paper coins would circulate simultaneously with the monetary unit of the Lek.

Prof. Zihni Sako, a writer and folklorist, passed away on February 16, 1981. Zihni Sako was born in 1912 in Gjirokastër. He is the author of one of the first texts on folklore for higher education schools, as well as several novels, volumes of poems for children, and stories.

/k.s/