Editing Christmas in Serbia

[[File:MCB-icon12.jpg|thumb|250px|An [[icon]] representing the [[Nativity of Jesus|Nativity of Jesus Christ]].]]

'''Serbian Christmas traditions''' are customs and practices of the [[Serbs]] associated with [[Christmas]] and a period encompassing it, between the third Sunday before [[Christmas Day]] and [[Epiphany (holiday)|Epiphany]]. There are many, complex traditions connected with this period. They vary from place to place, and in many areas have been updated or watered down to suit modern living. The [[Serbian language|Serbian]] name for Christmas is ''Božić'' ({{lang-sr-Cyrl|Божић}}, pronounced {{IPA-sh|ˈbǒʒitɕ|}}), which is the [[diminutive|diminutive form]] of the word ''bog'' ("god"), and can be translated as "young god". Christmas is celebrated for three consecutive days, starting with Christmas Day, which the Serbs call the first day of Christmas.<ref group=note>Christmas Day does not fall on the same day for the Serbs as for [[Western Christianity|Western Christians]], although they celebrate it on the same date—25&nbsp;December. This is because the [[Serbian Orthodox Church]] uses the [[Julian calendar]] rather than the [[Gregorian calendar|Gregorian]] one used in the West. Since 1900, the Julian calendar is 13&nbsp;days behind the Gregorian calendar, and will remain so until the year 2100. During this period, 25&nbsp;December in the Julian calendar—Christmas Day for the Serbs—corresponds to 7&nbsp;January of the following year in the Gregorian calendar.</ref> On these days, one is to greet another person by saying "Christ is Born," which should be responded to with "Truly He is Born," or in Serbian: "''Hristos se rodi''" (pronounced {{IPA-sh|xrǐstos se rôdi|}}) – "''Vaistinu se rodi''" (pronounced {{IPA-sh|ʋaǐstinu se rôdi|}}).

| isbn = 86-331-1946-3}}</ref> When the log has burnt through, some families let the fire go out, while in others the men keep watch in shifts during the night to keep the badnjak burning.<ref name=v81/>

Another type of the badnjak that has developed among the Serbs has mostly replaced the traditional log, whose burning is usually unfeasible in modern homes. It is a cluster of oak twigs with their brown leaves still attached, with which the home is decorated on the Eve. This cluster is also called the badnjak, and it is usually kept in the home until next Christmas Eve. For the convenience of those living in towns and cities, such little badnjaks can be bought at marketplaces or distributed in churches. In a common arrangement, the cluster of oak twigs is bound together with twigs of [[European Cornel]] and several stalks of straw.<ref name=v81/>

Before the table is served, it is strewn with a thin layer of straw and covered with a white cloth. The family members sit down at the table. Prior to tucking in, they all rise and a man or boy among them says a prayer, or they together sing the [[Troparion]] of the Nativity in [[Church Slavonic language]]:<ref name=spc>{{cite web

| publisher = spcportal.org

| language = sr

| url = http://www.spcportal.org/index.php?pg=647&lang=sr

{|

Christmas Eve being a [[Eastern Orthodox Church#Fasting|fast day]], the dinner is prepared in accordance with that, but it is copious and diverse in foods. Besides a round [[Leavening agent|unleavened]] loaf of bread called ''badnjački kolač'', and salt, which are necessary, this meal may comprise roast fish, cooked beans, [[sauerkraut]], noodles with ground walnuts, honey, and wine.<ref>{{cite web

| publisher = [[Krstarica]]

| language = sr

| work = Кувар

| url = http://kuvar.krstarica.com/c/izdvajamo/svecanosti/trpeza-za-badnje-vece

| last = Ardalić

| first = Vladimir

| first = Mirjana

| year = 2006

| journal = Glasnik Etnografskog instituta SANU

| volume = 54

| location = Belgrade

| language = sr

In central Serbia, once the household members have gone to bed, an elderly woman of the family sticks a knife into the house door from the inside. Alternatively, she puts a [[Crataegus monogyna|hawthorn]] stake by the door, hanging a wreath of [[garlic]] on it. This is done as a protection against [[curse]]s, [[Witchcraft|witch]]es, and [[demon]]s. For the same reason, children are rubbed with garlic on the palms, armpits, and soles before going to bed. In some regions, the men keep watch in shifts by the fireplace during the night, to keep the fire burning.<ref name=v81/><ref name=k/>

|}

A custom to use a domestic animal as a ''polaznik'' was kept in some regions until the first half of the 20th century. A sheep, ox, swine, or calf was led into the house on Christmas morning.<ref name=v87/> In the west Serbian region of Rađevina, centered on the town of [[Krupanj]], the head of household would place a sheep between himself and the fireplace, and pronounce the aforementioned words while striking the ''badnjak'' with a branch cut from it.<ref name=djurdjev/> In the region of [[Bihor, Montenegro|Bihor]], north-eastern [[Montenegro]], a round loaf of bread with a hole in its center was prepared; four grooves were impressed into its surface along two mutually perpendicular diameters of the loaf. After an ox was led into the house, the loaf was put on his horn, and some grain was thrown on the ox. Yanking his head, the ox would throw off the loaf; having fallen down, the loaf would break into four pieces along the grooves. The pieces were picked up and distributed among the family members. This custom was preserved up to the 1950s even in some Muslim families of the region.<ref>{{Cite book

| year = 2003

| place = Belgrade

===Strong water===

===''Koleda''===

The ''[[Koledarenje|koleda]]'' was a custom that a group of young men, [[mask]]ed and costumed, went from house to house of their village singing special ''koleda'' songs and performing acts of magic intended to summon health, wealth, and prosperity for each household.<ref name=kulisic>{{cite book

|last = Kulišić

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[[Category:Christmas in Serbia| ]]

[[Category:Serbian traditions]]

[[Category:Christmas traditions by country|Serbia]]