THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, OCTObER 4, 2024 Page 11 New England Friends of Bosnia and Herzegovina host ‘Taste of Bosnia and Herzegovina’ annual festival Jasminka Colakhodzić (at left) with Aida Arifović displayed baklava. By Tara Vocino N ew England Friends of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s “Taste of Bosnia and Herzegovina” annual festival was held outside of A. C. Whelan Elementary School on Sunday. They surprised everyone with a horse that is special to Bosnia. New England Friends of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Finance Officer, Zerina Dervisevic-Hassan, said the horse’s name is Ukrina – named after a river in Bosnia. “There are only 3,000 Lipizzaner horses left around the world, mostly in the Balkans,” Dervisevic-Hassan said. “There is only one Lipizzaner farm in Bosnia, and after the war and breakup of Yugoslavia in the early ’90s, the farm was neglected and the horses were starving.” According to Dervisevic-Hassan, while people from all over the world descended on Bosnia to help rebuild the country, the Portuguese ambassador risked censure for helping horses instead of people, and did a lot to help the farm get back on its feet. In gratitude, the owners gave him their best foal, Ukrina, whose ancestry goes back to Napolitano, who was born in 1790. “A friend of our organization, Sally Fleschner, fell in love with Ukrina while she was living and working in Bosnia,” Dervisevic-Hassan said. “She later Co-Organizer/Bosnian Language School Teacher Nefira Mašić (third from right) introduced the event. Shown from left to right: Aida Kurtagic, Neira Davis and Alma Derviśević sold Ćevapi, which is a sausage sandwich with onions and sour cream. Guests are shown dancing in a circle to native music. New England Friends of Bosnia and Herzegovina President Axelle Derviśević (at left) and New England Friends of Bosnia and Herzegovina President Past President Jasmina Ćesić stand beside a history display of Bosnia. had the opportunity to purchase the horse from the ambassador and that is how Ukrina made her way to the United States.” Dervisevic-Hassan said they are very grateful to Fleschner for bringing the horse to Sunday’s festival. “It was an incredible surprise for both the youth and adults who attended,” Dervisevic-Hassan said. Oliver and Courtney Dutra looked at a map of Bosnia. Shown from left to right: Kemal Colakhodzić, Mirza Arifović and Azem Dervišević sold Bosnian imported wine and beer. Oversight Committee members Robert Chernack (at left) and Kemal Čolakhodžić by the Bosnian and American flags Indira Bayer poured Bosnian coffee into a “fildzan,” or a coffee cup. Shown from left to right: President Axelle Dervišević, Former Board Member Dzeneta Velic, Bosnian Language School Teacher Nefira Mašić and Finance Officer Zerina Dervišević-Hassan hosted Sunday’s Taste of Bosnia and Herzegovina festival outside A. C. Whelan School. Finance Officer Zerina DerviševićHassan helped to surprise everyone with Ukrina. Ukrina, the horse, with handler Azem Dervišević (Advocate photos by Tara Vocino)
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