HOLIDAYS
Yugoslav celebrations include religious, national and cultural events. The most important celebration of the year is Christmas, which the Orthodox Church celebrates according to an older calendar on January 7. Festivities begin on Christmas Eve, called Badnje Vece (badnjak means "Yule log"), when a traditional Yule log is cut by the father and his oldest son and brought to the family hearth for burning. The burning of the log is said to symbolize Christ, who gives light in the darkness and warmth against cold. Afterwards, people gather for a special meal that contains no meat.

On Christmas morning, families traditionally wait for a previously selected neighbour or child to knock at their door and symbolically bring in the spirit of Christ. Most people attend church on Christmas morning, then enjoy a feast at home. The main foods are roast suckling pig and cesnica, a round bread with a coin baked inside. The bread is broken, not sliced, and whoever finds the coin is said to have good luck for the coming year.

Easter is celebrated with church services and Easter eggs. Children and adults have competitions of tapping their decorated eggs together to see whose is the strongest.

Family saints are honoured on Krsna Slava, a special family day for thanksgiving that varies according to each family. Every Orthodox family reveres its own patron saint, whom they believe protects them. The celebration is a time for church service and feasting. Families prepare a special bread that is blessed by the priest along with wine and a wheat dish.

Muslim holidays follow the lunar calendar, and thus occur at different times each year. The most important Muslim celebration is Id Al Fitr, a feast which marks the end of Ramadan, the Muslim month for fasting during daylight hours. People feast, wear new clothes, exchange gifts, and enjoy visits with friends and family.


January 1 New Year's Day
January 7 Christmas (Orthodox)
April 27 Statehood Day
May 1 Labour Day
May 9 Victory Day
July 7 National holiday in Serbia
July 13 National holiday in Montenegro



  Did you know?
On Krsna Slava day, people prepare zito, a boiled sweetened wheat. Each guest at the family feast takes a spoonful of the zito to honour those who have passed away. Zito is also prepared for funerals.