Royal Sokol Society of Nikolia
Kraljevsko Sokolsko Društvo Nikolije Nikolskie Królewskie Towarzystwo Sokół | |
 Badge of the Royal Sokol Society | |
| Motto | Mens sana in corpore sano |
|---|---|
| Formation | May 12, 1884 |
| Founder | Dr. Teodor Radosavljević |
| Type | Sports and cultural federation |
| Headquarters | Carigrad,  Nikolia |
Membership (2019) | 8,531,633 |
President | Konstantin, Crown Prince of Nikolia |
Secretary General | Radovan Jovanović |
Main organ | General Assembly |
| Website | sokol |
The Royal Sokol Society of Nikolia (Serbian: Kraljevsko Sokolsko Društvo Nikolije, Mazurian: Nikolskie Królewskie Towarzystwo Sokół) is an organisation that aims to support young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, as well as developing patriotic and moral values and national unity.
The society was founded in 1884 by a Nikolian doctor Teodor Radosavljević who specialised his research in youth physical and mental development.
Honorary President of the Royal Sokol Society is traditionally a heir to the Nikolian throne, and the current title is held by Crown Prince Konstantin.
As of 2019, the Society has 8,531,633 active members throughout Nikolia.
Brief history
In 1880, a prominent Nikolian pediatric doctor and a poet Teodor Radosavljević, accompanied by his assistant and friend, Aleksa Kostić were researching on youth physical and mental development. The two developed a system of youth development that included physical exercises with a focus on athletics, weightlifting, fencing and marching drills and educational lessons with a focus on Nikolian history and culture, patriotic and moral values. After 4 years of testing and improving their system, Radosavljević and Kostić founded the Sokol Society of Nikolia in Carigrad on 12th of May, 1884. The first gathering of its members, known as slet (a flock of birds in Serbian) was performed in Carigrad in 1884 with more than 2500 members assembled from across Nikolia. It meant a mass gymnastics festival that became a grand tradition within the Sokol movement that spread around Nikolia. The first and subsequent slets included an elaborate welcoming ceremony at the train station, mass demonstrations, gymnastics competitions, speeches, and theatrical events, open to members of all Sokolls.
In 1885 Queen Viktorija I acknowledged the movement and issued a Royal Charter granting the society a royal status. This allowed for the society to quickly gain popularity and influence, as it spread across Nikolia. Then-Crown Prince Milan II of Nikolia was titled a honorary president of the society, and the tradition to have a heir apparent as honorary president kept to this day.
As the Sokol Society grew larger, slets that were organised had more and more participants. In 1963, the largest slet ever was performed in Warta, with more than 150,000 participants gathered for a 3 day festival. Since 1970, slets are organised every 4 years with a host choosen by a competition among Sokoll societies of applicants.
Organisation
Royal Sokol Society of Nikolia is per organisational structure divided following the administrative division of Nikolia on Voivodeship and County Sokol Societies. The lowest level of organisation was Fraternity, which composed of at least 6 members, and is usually in rural areas.
The main decision-making organ in the Royal Sokol Society of Nikolia is General Assembly of the Royal Sokol Society, composed of the Secretary General as its highest officer, and a representative from every Voivodeship Sokol Society. There are also several departments that help run the organisation:
- Educational Department
- Department of Athletics
- Organisational Department
- Financial Department
- Public Relations Department
The President of the Royal Sokol Society of Nikolia is a honorary role and serves to promote the society. The traditional holder of that title is heir to the Nikolian throne. As of 9th of June 1990, that title belongs to Konstantin, Crown Prince of Nikolia.
Members
The Royal Sokol Society has an open policy regarding the membership, and promotes equality among its members, meaning that everyone can be a member. Different programs for different age groups exist, and usually members that grew older become teachers for younger Sokols. Programs for youth are generally focused on athletics, while a focus for adolescents is prioritised on life skills, such as household maintenance, paying bills and taxes, constitutional rights and obligations.
As of 2019 there were 8,531,633 registered members of the Sokol society in Nikolia.
Uniforms and traditions
A traditional Sokol uniform consists of several traditional elements from different parts of Nikolia: a black Mur cap with falcon feather and a cocarde, red Kuyavian shirt, blue Kalesian coat and black Krib pants. The traditional uniform is worn during opening ceremonies and parades. A strict set of rules is enforced when members wear uniforms, which involves good public conduct, no smoking or drinking alcohol, no swearing and no shouting.
The members of the Sokol movement always address other member with informal "you" and an informal greeting "Zdravo!" or Hello in English, regardless of the age. It is also common for members to address each other with "brother" or "sister". This tradition serves to promote equality among the members, and even goes as far as addressing the president of the society, who is member of the Royal Family with informal "you".
Every official gathering of Sokols starts by "Sokol Greeting" , with all the members shouting: "With our Sokol power, for King, for People, for dear Homeland, Hello! Hello! Hello!" followed by the national anthem.
Oath and principles
All Sokol members give an oath of allegiance to the society. The oath ceremonies are held biannually across Nikolia in Sokolariums, in front of the flag of Nikolia and with the right hand brought up with index, middle and ring fingers up. The Oath is as follows:
I, [full name], solemnly swear before the Flag and my Sokol brothers that I will respect the principles and traditions of the Royal Sokol Society. I will seek to promote the Nikolian heritage, reputation and history, and will strive to develop myself as a person as well as future generations of Nikolians, so help me God.