Abstract
Founded on December 7, 1 878, JUNIMEA, the Romanian students Society in Cemautzi continues and develops the national ideals of the Romanians in Bukovina, ideals that had been proclaimed by The Academic Society ARBOROASA, abusively dissolved by the Habsburg Empire. The slogan of the organization ” union in thoughts/ union in God” seemed to refer to the words of The Union Hora, in 1 859 and surely was the expression of the young Bukovineans’ credo and believes.
The platform of the Society, both in intentions and in achievements, was a national-cultural one. The aims of the Society were clearly expressed cvcn rrom thc bcginnings of its activity: ” . . . wc havc a special moral duty : to nourish the national feelings and strengthen the links to our
nation”.
A real school of education in the spirit of the national values, .Junimea considered culture to be the most powerfu l instrument for the defense of the national being, for the awakening of and maintenance of the national conscience. In fact, on the occasion of the 25-th. anniversary it was stressed that the students belonging to the Society promoted the national language, literature and culture with much devotion, aiming to and succccding to always kccp alivc thc national flamc in Bukovina, and militating in favor of the Union.
The first World War brought a brake in the activity of the Bukovinean Junimea. Many of its members crossed the border to Romania, intensely working for implying Romania in the war, for the accompl ishment of the great Union, some of them even enrolling in the army.
The Society was brought back to life in 1919, adapting its principles to the new conditions. „Growth through culture” was the new slogan of the students and it was in this direction that Junimea continued its activity, remaining one of the most prominent components of the spiritual Iife in Bukovina up to 1938, keeping its prestige as a cultulat settlement, justifying the mission it was founded for, the one of transmitting, promoting and developing the most valuable heritage of one nation: the national language, the national history, the national traditions and spirituality.