Božić in Belgrade..

Last week we flew to Belgrade, to celebrate Božić (Serbian Christmas) with Vladimir’s mom.

Because Serbia goes by the orthodox calendar, Christmas falls on January 7th.

New Years is celebrated on December 31st and Santa Claus comes. Therefor you decorate the christmas tree and all kinds of christmassy stuff you can find. In addition christmas presents are handed out diligently. This doesn’t have anything to do with the orthodox church though.

On December 6th the whole family celebrates at home, It is Badnje Veče (Christmas Eve).

The word Badnjak or Badnje originates from the word tree. Badnjak means oak and according to tradition a big oak branch is taken from the woods and in the evening carried into the house.

The branch symbolizes the wood, which the shepherds brought to Bethlehem, so Joseph could start a fire for the newborn Jesus.

The hay in the bag symbolizes the hay in the crib, in which Jesus was born.

Today these oak nests are sold everywhere on the streets in Belgrade. Some even decorate their cars with it.

Vladimir, who isn’t really into all these traditions, values these things way more. I’m really happy about that, because I know, that Irma doesn’t understand very little with her 8 months, but later on she will be ecstatic. After all for children most festivities exciting and fascinating.

So a tree was bought for our little one too and the next day, on Božić, Vladimir carried her first through the house door. Since as per tradition necessarily the youngest family member has to enter the house.

One greeted each other with “Hristos se rodi!” (Christ is born) and receives the answer “Vaistinu se rodi!” (Truly, he is born)

His mom provided us with Česnica for breakfast. In this christmas bread a coin is hidden and then everyone breaks off a piece. The one, who finds the coin in his piece will be especially happy throughout the whole year, thus says the tradition.

You can buy Česnica in Belgrade already with the coin in it.

Now the Serbian-Orthodox church celebrates christmas with the whole works and so many traditions would be a little too much for me.

But as I grew up with a mixture of Swedish, Austrian and invented christmas traditions, we will make up our own traditions with Irma. A little jul, a little Božić and a little fairytale. As long as we’re together.

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