Serbian History 101

American Serb kids always considered themselves so lucky, because they had "TWO" Christmases (and if you were lucky enough to have Sveti Nikola as your Slava, it was like you had THREE!)

How's that? Well, in our house, we celebrated what we called "American" Christmas on Dec. 25 with most of the other people of the world.  To us, it was Santa Claus, a decorated Christmas tree and presents that we opened in earnest.  Only six days before on Dec. 19, however, we also got a present of sorts: a long heavy-duty cotton-nylon stocking filled with apples, oranges and nuts and a silver dollar at the bottom that came from St. Nicholas.

But our "REAL" Christmas, we knew, the celebration of the Birth of Jesus, was on January 7.  We never went to school that day, nor on our Slava! We went to church, and celebrated the great day with our larger Eastern Orthodox Christian family!

Is Serbian Christmas still celebrated? 

Yes, American Serbs are STILL celebrating their unique heritage guarded so jealously and handed down from generation to generation.

Mir Bozji, Hristos se Rodi!

Peace on Earth, Christ is Born, glorify Him!

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Badnji Dan (January 6th) in Aliquippa, PA.

The young oak tree, the "Badnjak" or Yule Log is loaded into the truck after the St Elijah Choir sang "O Badnajce" and the V.Rev. Fr. Stepanov blessed the tree especially planted for just his occasion.

Ready to go back to others waiting at church. 

Watching the sparks in front of the church center.

 _________Badnjace, Badnjace_________

Oj Badnjace, badnjace, ti nas stari rodjace,

Dobro si nam doshao, i u kuchu ushao

Mili Srpski badnjace, ti nas stari rodjace

Badnjace, badnjace, rodjace, rodjace. 

Click here to hear children in Belgrade singing this song to the Yule Log.

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Members of the Ohio Valley Marine Corps detachment are an important part of the ceremonies  each year at Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church in Pittsburgh.  They send off a 21-gun salute to the Badnjak, making the ceremony even more colorful for the many families gathered.

Families gathered together at Holy Trinity in Pittsburgh's White Hall section on Badnje Vece.

Each family takes home a piece of the Badjnak to an honored place in the home for Serbian Christmas.

Everybody loves the closeness of family!

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And from Holy Trinity's PAST Christmas Eve Badnjak services is this photo with V. Rev. Fr. Milan Savich, Sam Vignovic and Mike Milan by fire.

Press on the link below to learn more about Serbian Christmas Customs courtesy of the Serbian Unity Congress (S.U.C.)  where you'll find great info about the "Polaznik"-representing Christ himself coming into the World!

Serbian Christmas Customs

Nick's picture entitled "Teti Ann Finds the Coin!" dated  1/7/79 shows Nick's aunt jumping up into the air, kicking her heels together in joy after finding the  coin in the Cesnica, knowing she is promised "Good Luck" in the coming year.  Note the pig's head on the table with the apple in his mouth, the 3 homemade beeswax candles, the straw under the table, and the St. George painting to the far right! 

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Here's a photo from the past.  This photo was prepared for Milan Karlo who was anxious to fit it in his January, 1948 issue of American SERB LIFE. However, in those days, months were needed ahead of time to publish the information.  This photo was taken in October or November of 1947 so it could be included in the Christmas issue.  The "straw" my grandfather, Nikola Mamula was reaching for was nothing but crushed-up paper in a bag.  Our 'psenica' was a snake plant!  But at least Baba had time to make us a Pogacha for the procession! 

(I'm the tallest, at the end.  Sister Rose is the smallest walking, cousin Paul is in Aunt Marty Belosh's arms. Papi was 77 yrs. old at the time.)

Papi (Nikola Mamula married Andja Mamula on December 7, 1900 in Pittsburgh, PA) making the three Beeswax candles for us.

From the Christmas issue, American SERB LIFE magazine, January, 1948, Milan Karlo, Editor and Photographer

 From a speech given by Milan Karlo for the First Serbian Youth Conference in Pittsburgh during the 40th Anniversary celebration of the SNF.

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 Our grandparents would be proud to know that we're still keeping the family traditions alive!

More Photos:Christmas Day with the Family

"Oce Nas" (Our Father) prayers are said first, followed by a chorus of "Rozdestvo!"- Jesus' Birth! The straw was under the table representing the manger where Jesus was born, and the "dushitsa" candle was lit to remember all of our ancestors.

 And then the passing of the bread (pogacha/kolac/chesnica) with the lucky coin!

 
Wait!  Who's coming to add  to our  Xmas  joy?

Baba Cheri tells Michael how lucky he is to be Serbian!

"Oro se vije, kraj monastira!"

Rozdestvo Tvoje

Rozdestvo Tvoje, Hriste Boze nas, Vozsija mirovi sjet razuma Vnembo zvjezdam sluzasci zvjezdoju ucahusja. Tjebje klanjatisja solncu pravdi; I tebje vjedjeti svisoti vostoka, Gospodi, slava Tebje!

(Thy Nativity)

Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, Raised the light of knowledge in the world; And those who worshiped the stars were thought by the stars To worship Thee, O sun of Justice, And to know Thee as the East of the heights, O Lord, glory to Thee!

Happy Holidays to ALL! 

 Ready for Serbian Christmas

My father, Milan Karlo, wrote this beautiful story called "The Winter Tale", based on an old Serbian folktale. It appeared on the front page in the December 30, 1964 issue of the American SRBOBRAN:

There's a beautiful story making the rounds again this Christmas season of bright smiles, firm handshakes and expressions of good will. It's reputedly fact, although local legend may have been included.

Locale opens in the lot of a poor wood-cutter. He and his young son are busy felling the trees and chopping the same into wood for sale in the local mart, a-swarm with pre-Christmas shoppers.

Eyeing the bundle he is to shoulder to the mart, the youth expresses hope enough that it will be sold to provide a fine meat dinner for the family. The father congratulates him for always looking "on the bright side."

Enroute to the market, the youth is accosted by several people, all of whom warn him about an old man on the edge of town who asks passersby to help him with his load. The old man is described, variously, as a potential thief, a miser, and a lazy bum.

The first "description," as the story goes, comes from a man with a fat goose under his arm. He grins, in a "knowledgeable" way, as he relates how he was too clever to be taken in by the "crafty old codger" who, he alleged, aimed to make off with the goose once it was laid down and the pack picked up.
 
The second description is furnished by an older boy, a self-styled "go-getter" who first inquired about pay. When told there was none, he turned on the old man with a "miser" charge.

Next, the youth of the story is warned by a man in a handsome fur coat and top hat, leaning on a gold-headed cane. He is shaking in anger and indignation that he, of ALL people, should be asked to carry a peddler's load.

At sight of the bundle of wood on the youth's shoulder, his anger mellows. In his best oratorical tones, he congratulates the youth for "shouldering his own load, not like the lazy old man down on the road."

"He is dressed like a beggar, but he had the AUDACITY to call me his 'friend,'" he related to the youth. Then drawing himself up to his full height, he continued: "I told him, I'm not your 'Friend,' and why you don't carry your own burden instead of sitting there taking your ease?"

The youth's faith in mankind remained unshaken.  Eventually, he came upon the "frail old man" with a long, white beard. A rough brown hood was pulled over his face. His hands were blue with cold and he was shivering in his thin, poor clothing.
Yes, he would shoulder the load, he answered. He would pile it atop the one he was already carrying -- and he proceeded to do so. But after several steps, he knew he'd never make it and suggested they proceed the shorter distance back to the boy's home where the old man could be warmed while he (the youth) made two trips to town.

The climax of the story is reached when the old man is bade fond welcome by the youth's mother, "to warm yourself by the fire" as the youth offers to carry his pack to journey's end.

"My journey ends right here," came the reply. And to the astonishment of the family, he said, "The heavy pack belongs to you." All sorts of wonderful things tumbled out of his bag as he unsheathed it: foods, toys, and at the bottom, a sack of gold.

Now the traveler flung back his hood, revealing a noble face and dark eyes shining with love and goodness.

"Bishop Nicholas!" exclaimed the youth's mother as she fell on her knees. He was indeed the kindly bishop from Myra, well known as a generous, saintly man.

As the children knelt for his blessings, he explained that every year he distributed gifts for the Christ child. This year he decided to test the good-will of those who received them, and hence, the "masquerade."

Turning to the boy, he said: "You alone, my son, proved worthy!"

People look forward to getting the Jan. 7 issue of the SRBOBRAN and greetings from fellow Serbs all over the USA, including the Prince and his family!