house, because it’s seen as a symbolic ap- pearance of ancestors. The ancient Romans also believed that every home has its own spirits, ghosts that protect the house - says Dr Miloš Matić, museum advisor of the Eth- nographic Museum in Belgrade. Nevertheless, continues Dr Milos, it is known reliably that Saint Sava, the medie- val Serbian prince, monk, first archbishop, writer and diplomat, canonised and officially introduced the celebration of the Slava pri- or to the 13 th century, as it was by then al- ready sufficiently widespread and significant in the nation as both a social and religious custom. Slava is also associated with agrarian culture, thus one of the biggest Serbian pa- tron saint celebrations, Đurđevdan (George’s day), not only commemorates the day of St. George on 6 th May, but is also a holiday that marks the departure of winter and the coming summer. In addition to Đurđevdan, the biggest and most popular Slava celebra- tions include Aranđelovdan, Mitrovdan and Savindan. However, the Slava of Saint Nich- olas, which is celebrated on 19 th December, is something special. At that time even the most important agreements are postponed, employees head home earlier, only the most urgent work is done in the villages, and even children abandon their school benches earli- er. The people don’t say without reason that St. Nicholas is celebrated by half of Serbia, while the other half are their guests. A festive atmosphere reigns in fami- ly homes on the day of the Slava. The host lights a special Slava candle and, together with the most important guest or local priest, cuts the Slava breadcake into four pieces, in the form of a cross, and pours wine over it, or he takes it, along with cracked wheat, to the local church early in the morning. The cracked wheat that is prepared in the house,
Slava with full stomachs, and still have to deal with the small buns and cakes that are to fol- low, will barely survive the harsh looks of the insulted lady of the house if they skip even a single dish. That’s because only she knows how much she chopped, cooked, kneaded and stuffed during the previous days. It’s still a mystery how those who have to visit two or three places in one day manage to cope. - The Slava feast takes in the world of time and space, so social relations are also emphasised. It’s not the same seeing friends somewhere in a café as it is when they attend a Slava. Then their relationship is very differ- ent, binding, says Dr Matić. Apart from that, the celebration of the patron saint, through which Serbs express their ethnic identity, ex- ists in this form only in Serbia and nowhere else in the world. And how much the Slava atmosphere can bring is perhaps best illustrated by the luckless host Ivko, hero of the comedy work “Ivko’s Slava”, authored by famous Serbian writer Stevan Sremac. Tormented and ex- hausted for three days, he is unable to make his guests leave, and so he slowly begins see- ing his fiercest enemies in his friends and god- fathers. During this time, they are enjoying themselves immensely with music, food and drink – to such an extent that Ivko’s wife leaves the family home and goes to her parents. There is no doubt that this time of year is the right time for some wandering stranger to warm themselves in the Slava atmosphere. The host will not refuse even those who are uninvited – bringing a bottle of drink is suf- ficient. Still, such a guest needs to know that if they are hosted once they must keep coming back in the years ahead, because it is a great honour. That’s why we say for one whose opinion we don’t care about, “leave him, he won’t come to my Slava”.
Svi se ukućani okupe kako bi uz drage ljude, rođake, prijatelje i komšije uz slavsku gozbu odali počast svom svecu zaštitniku All members of the household gather, with their nearest and dearest, relatives, friends and neighbours, to enjoy the Slava feast and pay tribute to their patron saint
along with the cake and wine that symbolise Christ’s body and blood, represent the sacri- fice to the family saint offered in return for protection and wellbeing. The family kitch- en is a special place during the days of Sla- va. There the lady of the house kneads the Sava breadcake and decorates it with min- iature symbols made of dough. She shares her skills with the youngest members of the household, thus ensuring this tradition is preserved and relayed from generation to generation. As the Slava progresses, im- mediately after serving cracked wheat and coffee, the lady of the house proudly brings dishes to the Slava table one at a time. Then you can forget your diet or fast, as you’ll be feeling hungry just at the sight of the vari- ous pies, rolls, salads, prosciutto, kajmak milk curd, ajvar pepper chutney, cheeses, soups, stews, stuffed cabbage rolls etc. And as a rule, everything is served in huge quantities. But as the time approaches for the main course of piglet, lamb or – if the Slava takes place during Lent – fish, the appetite for these spe- cialities wanes and your strength dissipates, though the scents and flavours are intoxicat- ing. Less experienced guests who arrive at a
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