Prime Minister Edi Rama has shared the photo album of the fourth evening of the national folklore festival, which is taking place in Gjirokastër. On the fourth evening, groups from Korça, Kruja and Durrësi performed on the stage built at the Gjirokastra Castle. 

“Korça serenades, Krutan weddings and Durrës motifs concluded the fourth night of the National Folk Festival in Gjirokastër”, Prime Minister Rama writes.

The National Folklore Festival that is taking place in the Gjirokastra Castle started on Saturday and continues until July 2. The festival has turned into a tourist attraction, which promotes the folklore and tradition of our country. Groups from all 12 regions of the country, but also from neighboring countries, participate in the festival.

The history of the Gjirokastra Folklore Festival

The first National Folklore Festival of Gjirokastra took place in 1968 in the Castle of Gjirokastra. The festival, as one of the most important cultural events, brought together the artistic groups in each district by inviting them to perform together on stage every five years, namely 1973, 1978, 1983, 1988, at the Gjirokastra Castle, where National Folkloric Festivals (NFF) have been held regularly.

In the final stage of the 1973 festival, 1370 people participated. In the 1978 festival, around 53,000 participants were activated in the selection phase, while only 1,560 performed during the days of the festival.

In 1995, NFF took place in the fortress of the city of Berat. In September 2000, NFF returned to the city of Gjirokastra. This festival was conceived in the form of a folklore competition, where until the festival of 1988, prizes were awarded to the best groups, while in its last editions prizes would be awarded to the bearers and interpreters of folklore.

NFF 2004 took place in Gjirokastër from September 29 to October 5. NFF 2009 took place in Gjirokastër from September 24 to 29, 2009. In 2015, the ninth edition took place.

The participation in the Festival of folklore groups from Kosovo, Macedonian and Montenegrin Albanians, Arbëresh, Arvanitas, distant diaspora as well as Cham folklore, etc., serves to expand not only the geographical spaces of Albanian folklore, but also brings unique values in the interpretation and execution of traditional Albanian spiritual cultural heritage, turning this important activity into a celebration of Albanian folklore.

/k.s/