Serbian History 101

with Baba Mim....

Slava (Niko Nema Sto Srbin Imade)

No One Has What the Serb Has.......

"Gde je Slava, tu je Srbin!"

Where there is a Slava, there is a Serb!

Sts. Cyril and Methodius are the two saints credited with converting the Slavs from paganism to Christianity in the late 9th century. The saintly apostles traveled from village to village, baptizing the inhabitants in Christ's name.

Tradition holds that the Slava date chosen was closest to the time of a saint's birth when the people of the village were baptized en masse by the two apostles of Christ. That's why you will find that many Serbian families whose ancestors came from the same area, celebrate the same "Slava."

Serbians remember the day their early ancestors converted to Christianity by keeping their family's "Slava" or Celebration Day holy and very special.

The Slava date is passed down from generation to generation through the head of the household. Therefore, you know that when you celebrate your Slava, you're reaching back into history through the centuries, secure in the knowledge that one of your family's DIRECT ancestors celebrated that day also. It's a "ties that bind" trait that Serbians value dearly. It's the "birthday" of their family's faith in Christ, the "Christening" of their first baptized ancestor. It's one of the most valuable of all treasures or gifts a family can pass on to their progeny.

St. Paul said every Christian home is like a little church. Serbs pray to God every day for the health and well-being of their family members. On the Slava Day, it's a chance for the family to pause and thank God and the Patron Saint for the family's many blessings. Most families begin their day in church.

(Pevac Family celebrates St. George Slava)

Jessica & Georgette with their incredible Kolach!

Always present in church on May 6th!

+Kum Rudy was so devout in his love of his Slava! Slava mu!

Popular Slava dates include St. Nicholas (Dec. 19), St. George (May6), St. John the Baptist (Jan.20), St. Stephen (Jan.9), St. Archangel Michael (Nov. 21) and St. Demetrius (Nov.18), St. Trifun (Feb.14), and there are many more.

St. Sava's Day (January 27) is the Slava of ALL Serbs, especially the Serbian children, and to him children recite poems ("declamaticas") to honor the Archbishops' teachings. It was St. Sava who first introduced the Slava canonically to the Serbs. "St. Sava" is the most popular church name.

Children's cookie gifts in honor of St. Sava Slava

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Each Serbian Orthodox Church celebrates a "Slava" in honor of the saint to whom the church was dedicated.

This special embroidered cloth of St. Elijah was made by one of the thousands of Serbian refugees forced from their homes in the Krajina (Military Frontier/Croatia), now living in refugee camps in Belgrade, Serbia that would break anyone's heart. Thank God for people like the "4 Kolos" in Illinois and Indiana, where four Serbian area churches all work together to sponsor a dinner to send whatever aid they can. But the needs are so great! However, the "Mothers Against Hunger" need to be congratulated for making a difference however they can!

St. Elijah's August Slava with Koledin Kumovi

Koledin Family-Happy Celebrant Kumovi

"Happy Slava, Baba!"

A host's Greeting thanking God first,

and then welcoming his Slava guests,

from an old proverbs book:

"Pomozi Boze i Sveta Krsna Slava nasa!

"Da se slavimo i Tobom se hvalimo!

"Srecna Slava, srecni gosti, ko dosaso, dobro nam dosao, jos bolje nas nasao.

"Neka Bog sacuva dusmanske ruke i svakojake muke!

"Sto nam Bog da, nek nam i sacuva;

"Spasi Bog!"

The Shirt & Smile say it all!

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Although most Slavas are celebrated with traditionally rich foods, some Slavas are celebrated as strict Fast days, such as St. Nicholas (Dec. 19). No meat, no dairy products are allowed that day, but that doesn't stop families from celebrating bountifully (see photo below).

St. Nicholas' Day is very special, because on Dec. 19, Serbians "plant" their wheat in order to have a beautiful "psenica" for Serbian Christmas (January 7), which, according to custom, promises good fortune for the coming year!