Christmas 

6th January, the Yule Log Day (Christmas Eve) 

The sun in Belgrade rises at 7.15 a.m. and sets at 6.13 p.m. Among all the holidays during the year, as well as so beautiful and diverse habits that follow them, the Yule Log Day is separated by the kind of celebration, picturesque events and the meanings it has. The Yule Log Day seems like an ancient holiday, an escape from pestilence, as a real celebration of the fight for life. In the icy surrounding, chained by winter and ice, with the dead and faded nature, in the days that got so short that it seemed the boundless night darkness would prevail, with the sun light becoming farther and farther and it's distinguished and not reaching warmth, an impression of the end of the world and inevitable death was imposed on the man of ancient times. The prevalence of the powers of darkness and the underground world in these days is obvious, so it seems the last days have come. And, as the real optimism begins with despair and in a hopeless situation, a stimulus of hope sparkles, so a revolutionary fight appears, in the winter solstice, with the help of a human acting. By cutting off a Yule log, which has the roots in the underground, to a man not inclined world, by its sacrificing, burning on the heath, the purifying power and the life giving effects are strengthened, as a sort of help to the sun, with the wish to be as many lives as there are sparkles from the log. The Yule log, actually, presents a fight against destruction, which is pictured in Serbian customs and rituals around it. Burning off the Yule log presents the ritual of burning up the deity of fertility, which is at the same time embodied in the new deity as Christmas. Because of that it was believed that the remains and ashes of the Yule log, as of the burned deity, keep miraculous power. It is particularly important that for this holiday all family members must be together, which makes family stronger, as an integral, educational and social function of a family. The Yule Log Day (Christmas Eve) is always on 6^th January. Its celebration starts with cutting off a Yule log, which is, by the rule, cut off in dawn of the very holiday, before the sunrise. Usually, oak or cerise branches are cut for the Yule log. It's not hard to recognize the remains of the old Slavic worship of trees in the way they treat the Yule log when they cut it: When they approach the tree they're going to cut the Yule log from, they always say: "Good morning Yule log and an honest Christmas to you." Then it is strewed by the wheat brought from home in a glove and somewhere a special cake was brought to the Yule log. Obviously, the Yule log is a personification of a live and divine creature. The Yule log is cut from the east side and people would always take care that the cut part fell on the east side, which is achieved by making the last axle hit from the west side. If you have in mind the significance and the symbolism of the sides of the world in the life of our nation, than it's clear that the Yule log symbolizes the deity of sun and the life giving fire. A very important role in the Yule Log Day custom has the hay taken into the house. After going around the house with the hay, followed by the children from the house that would cheep as chicks after him expressing that way the desire to be as many chicks as possible in the yard, the one which brings the hay spreads it on the floor. Since all the chairs are taken out of the house on the Yule Log Day, everybody will sit on a rug put over the hay, without their shoes on. When a part of the meal, dedicated to the ancestor is taken out from the meal, and when the nuts are thrown into the corners, The Yule log dinner which is, understandably, without any fat, can begin. During the Yule log night, roast-suckling pig is prepared, dedicated to the next day- Christmas. During the night, everybody watches when the Yule log will start burning. The one who notices that gets a prize from the host, and the very moment of beginning of burning is announced by shooting from a weapon by the host. During the night, Father Christmas comes through chimneys with a bag full of presents for children.

7^th January, Christmas Day 

In spite of being strictly holiday days, the days of Christmas were considered to be very good for beginning new work, because it was believed they would be successful. Everybody in his/her work - workers in fields, craftsmen and women - attempted in their own way to begin or indicate their work in a symbolic way, in order to make them successful. In the morning on Christmas day, from a spring, which was sprinkled with corn and decorated with sweet basil, so called not begun water was taken and used for chesnitsa (a sort of bread). A coin and other signs of different activities are put into it, and after everybody breaks a piece of bread, according to the thing he gets, his luck or success are judged. Some people also put a little branch of sweet basil in it, and the one who gets it into his/her piece of bread is believed to be healthy that year. Whereas on Christmas Eve you don't give anything to anybody or don't take anything out of the house, nor you visit anybody - for this is a solemn day for every family and they should be together - on Christmas day the most important person is the first visitor of the home. This visitor, called polozainik, is welcomed, according to the belief, as the God's messenger and is treated extremely carefully for it's believed the luck and prosperity of the home depend on him. It's usually the youngest male child in the family or neighbourhood. The polozainik himself wishes merry Christmas, by stirring the fire with an oak branch wishing as much success and fertility as there are sparkles. The polozainik is given a lot of gifts, as the one who brings happiness deserves. 

8^th January 

In church, the second day of Christmas is dedicated to the God's mother, as a sign of thanking her for giving birth to the God and Saviour, and beside that about twenty saints and miraculous events are celebrated on that day. On that day, the young would gather on the town squares and dance. One of the most beautiful Christmas customs is the way people greet each other. With the intention to keep peace, prevent hatred and stop fighting among people, we greet each other with the words: God's peace, Christ was born and reply: Really was born kissing each other and shaking hands.  And of course,