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BOŽIĆ Christmas
7. JANUAR / 7 TH JANUARY
THE ‘POSITION HOLDER’ BRINGS LUCK
POLOŽAJNIK DONOSI SREĆU
U noći između Badnjeg dana i Božića deci posebnu radost donosi Božić Bata. Pre spavanja u prozore stavljaju svoje čizmice, u kojima će im u toku noći ostaviti poklone. Rano ujutru, na Božić, na pravoslavnim hramovima zvone zvona najavljujući dolazak velikog praznika. Domaćica ustaje pre svih i pravi pogaču, koja se zove česnica,
During the night between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, special joy is brought to children by the character of Božić Bata (Christmas Brother). They place their boots on the windowsill before heading to bed, and Božić Bata fills them with gifts during the night. Early on the morning of Christmas Day, the bells of Orthodox churches ring out to announce the arrival of the great holiday. The lady of the house
rises first and bakes a special Christmas bread loaf called česnica, in which she places a coin. The people greet each other with the words “Christ is born!” and the response “Truly he is born!”. The first guest, known as the položajnik, meaning position holder, then arrives at the house and offers positive wishes for the home and the household, while the lady of the house presents him with a gift prepared in advance. The položajnik symbolises the three wise men, who came to worship the newborn Jesus by following a star from the East. It is believed that the položajnik is a person who brings good luck to the house throughout the year ahead. The members of the household then formally exchange Christmas
pa u nju stavlja novčić. Ljudi se pozdravljaju rečima: „Hristos se rodi!“ i otpozdravljaju: „Vaistinu se rodi!“ Zatim u kuću dolazi položajnik, koji upućuje lepe želje domu i ukućanima, a domaćica ga daruje pripremljenim poklonom. Položajnik simbolizuje mudrace sa istoka, koji su, prateći zvezdu, došli da se poklone novorođenom Isusu. Veruje se da je položajnik osoba koja će cele godine donositi sreću u kuću. Ukućani potom čestitaju jedni
Na Božić ujutro, pre svitanja, zvone sva zvona na pravoslavnim hramovima / On Christmas morning, before dawn, all the bells in the Orthodox churches ring
drugima Božić i sedaju za mrsnu, bogatu trpezu, na kojoj se, osim česnice, nalaze razne đakonije. Sa proslavljanjem Božića povezana su još neka narodna verovanja. Trebalo bi da se pomire svi oni koji su tokom godine bili u svađi, da se posle ručka simbolično započne neki posao kako bi ljudi cele godine bili vredni, a praznik se proslavlja u krugu porodice.
greetings and sit down to a rich, non-Lenten feast that includes, in addition to the česnica bread, roasted meats and various other treats. The celebration of Christmas is linked to some other folk beliefs. For instance, all those who’ve quarrelled during the year should reconcile, some work should be started symbolically after Christmas lunch in order to ensure the people will be diligent throughout the year, and the holiday is celebrated in the circle of the immediate family.
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