06 January 2012

Christmas Eve

The Serbian Church [edit] follows the Julian calendar, so 6 January is Serbian Orthodox Christmas Eve.  Traditionally, early in the morning of Christmas Eve, the head of the family would go to a forest in order to cut badnjak, a young oak, which was taken into the church to be blessed by the priest. The tree is stripped of its branches and combined with wheat and other grain products to be burned in the fireplace. This is considered a sacrifice to God so that the coming year may bring plenty of food, happiness, love, luck and riches. 

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