Serbian Holidays

One Day in a Year

Slavas are celebrated only among Serbian people. It is believed that ancestors remember the holly day as the day when they were baptized and they gave it to their descendants as a heritage. On that day a group of relatives and friends, who may not meet that often, is gathered in one place. That is why "slava" nowadays is gaining in sociological importance


By IVANA BARTULOVIĆ
from Belgrade, SERBIA


Every Serbian has one day in a year, which they celebrate and the name of that holiday is "slava" or "baptized name". Serbian families are preparing the celebration of this holiday throughout the year. According to St. Apostle Paul, "the Christian family is a small church". Every Christian temple is dedicated to one saint that is celebrated as its protector. In the same way, every Serbian family is protected by one saint, to whom they pray, believing that he is their representative in front of God.

Slavas are celebrated only among Serbian people. It is believed that ancestors remember the holly day as the day when they were baptized and they gave it to their descendants as a heritage.

Celebrating God and His saints - Angels, prophets, diviners, apostles, martyrs, teachers and fathers of the Church - is the Christian Orthodox attitude with which we confess the faith, with the right goal and the right sense of human life, both in this world and for eternity. Orthodox Christians believe that they, by celebrating God and His saints, will gain the eternal glory of God and eternal life. Christ, God and Savior, His Blessed Godmother, saint angels and God's saints are celebrated on every Sunday and holiday, first in the temples (during holly liturgy) and then at home. Families do not celebrate it alone, but together with friends, relatives, neighbors, as well as with anyone who comes on that day.

For the celebration of "slava" of the saint who is the praying protector, Serbian Orthodox prepare slava special bread, which is, during the prayer, cut and poured over with wine. This bread is made of wheat flour and yeast. Water blessed by a priest is used for its preparing. Bread is the most important food for human life. It is the symbol of our body, while wine is the symbol of our blood, which makes every man/woman a human being. Wheat is also prepared for slava and it is served together with bread, for the blessing. Wheat grain is the symbol of death and resurrection. On the slava day, a priest cuts the bread in a church or at home of the people that celebrate. After "tropar" (a song in the honor of the saints), a priest reads a prayer for the health and prosperity of the family.

Among the Serbs, many saints are celebrated and most families celebrate St. Nicholas, St. John the Baptist, St. Archangel Mihail, St. Great martyr George, St. Dimitrije and St. Petka, etc.

Celebrating God and His saints, both in the ancient Church and in the Orthodoxy nowadays is inseparable from the Divine Liturgy in the church as well as from the unification of all believers.

On that day a group of relatives and friends, who may not meet that often, gather in one place. That is why slava nowadays is gaining in sociological importance.


(Published: 09.12.2007.)

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