The hall of the National Puppet Theater “Licurici” became too small for the many people that came to the festivity held to inaugurate the Year of Spiridon Vangheli on January 15. The event was attended by hundreds of children, politicians, ambassadors and writers, Info-Prim Neo reports. Prime Minister Vlad Filat said that January 15 has several meanings for Moldova. This year it is marked the 163rd anniversary of the birth of Romanian poet Mihai Eminescu and for the first time this year we celebrate the National Culture Day on this day. Also, the Year of Spiridon Vangheli is opened officially. “We all bore fur caps and did different pranks. We were like “Guguta” and continue to be like this personage. I say this because Spiridon Vangheli is considered a writer for children and this is not right as the grownups should also read what Mister Vangheli wrote. I want to tell you, master, that this year is very important for us all. Not only as regards the approval of plans, but also as regards the steps taken. I believe it will definitely be a beautiful year,” said the Premier. Minister of Culture Boris Focsa said that not all the cultures can boast of such writers as Spiridon Vangheli. “We all appreciate your merits, master, because you knew how to cultivate the common sense in all the generations of Moldova,” he stated. Minister of Education Maia Sandu said that she wrote many letters to Spiridon Vangheli when she was a child and it is hard to determine the number of those who write to the master. “Whole generations went to school with “Abecedarul” (First Spelling Book) produced by Grigore Vieru and Spiridon Vangheli. There were probably thousands of children who found out about Guguta’s adventures, who admired the star of Ciubotel and who found out about the boy from the blue hut owing to Spiridon Vangheli,” she said. Spiridon Vangheli also received congratulation messages from First Lady Margareta Timofti, Minister of Youth and Sport Ion Ciobanu, and others. The children attending the event maintained a holiday atmosphere by putting on fragments of plays by Spiridon Vangheli’s works.