The residents of Medjimurje today remembered an assembly held in Cakovec on January 9, 1919, when the historic decision on Medjimurje's separation from the occupying Hungarian rule was made.
Before this decision was made, Croatian volunteer units entered Medjimurje on Christmas Eve 1918 and liberated it from the Hungarian rule.
In 2005 the Croatian Parliament adopted a decision to mark this event with a memorial day at the proposal of MPs from Medjimurje.
Dr Ivan Novak, a lawyer, writer and politician, promoted the development of Medjimurje's intellectual circles.
He also organised the military movement to free Medjimurje from the Hungarian rule and integrate it with the rest of Croatia in December 1918.