Slava, Serbian Heritage under the protection of UNESCO

The Slava was listed as a UNESCO Cultural Heritage in 2014.

The Christened Slava (krsna slava), or Christened name (Krsna time) is the most characteristic feature of Serbs' spiritual and familial life. Celebrating Slava is one of the ways that Serbs differ themselves from other Christian groups. It is a form of both recognition and identity. In the entire Christian world, Serbs are the only people who celebrate Slava. The celebration of the Saint, on whose day our ancestors were baptized into Christianity in ancient times, is passed down from generation to generation, from father to son.

The Serbs are the only nation in the whole Christian world that celebrates Krsna Slava.

Slava in its present form began in the 12th century when Saint Sava was the first Serbian archbishop. The custom proceeded in the following way: If one family converted to Christianity, then the patriarch, as its most prominent member, would take the name of the Saint on whose day he was baptized and celebrated that day. His family would continue this tradition, keeping that Saint as the family's protector.

Once received, Slava does not change; rather, it is inherited. According to the cultural tradition, Slava is inherited among Serbs; it is not shared and is transferred exclusively through the male line. If the daughter's husband joins the traditional household of the parents-in-law, he receives his father-in-law's Slava. Upon the patron's death, the patroness can continue celebrating the Christened Slava. While the father is alive, the son or sons do not host the Slava but celebrate it with the father. When the father dies, then the sons take over hosting the Slava. If there is more than one son, they can discuss whether just one or all of them will take over hosting duties for Slava. If the sons cannot come to the father's Slava due to distance or other reasons, they can celebrate Slava on their own as soon as they start their household. Suppose Serbs live in the diaspora, far from their homeland and parents; they can also celebrate Slava independently from their fathers. In that way, the Slava, as a Serbian custom, came to the North American continent and was upheld in Canada and the States among most Serbian families.

During the turbulent centuries of their history, despite being subject to invasion and persecution, the Serbs managed to preserve their Slava and the Slava Ritual.

SLAVA RITUAL consists of a prayer for the consecration of slavski kolač, žito, and wine, each family determines their way of following the old tradition. It is important to celebrate!

SLAVSKI KOLAČ (cake) is a symbol of Jesus Christ, which is the Bread of Life for Christians. The patroness kneads it the day before. It is made from pure wheat flour with some consecrated holy water. Kolač is decorated with various symbols made of dough (water and flour). The Cyrillic letters "ИС ХС НИ КА" are imprinted on the central part of the cake in two lines of four letters, which means Jesus Christ wins, or it is decorated with a dove as a symbol of peace.

SLAVSKO ŽITO (wheat) symbolizes the Resurrection and is a mandatory offering for all Slavas. It is prepared the day before Slava. The wheat berries or kernels are cooked, drained, ground, and mixed with ground walnuts and sugar. Each matriarch can determine the ratio of ingredients according to her taste. Fragrant spices such as cloves, nutmeg, or vanilla can also be added. The žito is first served to the members of the household, and then every guest who comes to the Slava must first cross themselves and then can serve themselves with a spoonful of žito.

SLAVSKO VINO (Wine), used in the rite of consecration, is a symbol of Christ's blood shed for the salvation of humanity.

SLAVSKA. TRPEZA (Dishes) is ceremoniously prepared for Slava. There is an established order in which the dishes are served: first, the appetizers, then the main course, and finally, the desserts. If Slava falls on a fasting day (Wednesday or Friday) or during a fasting period, then the feast is prepared with no animal products (except for fish), but on all other days, it can contain meat, eggs, and dairy.

The culmination of the ritual is the ceremonial breaking of slavski kolač and its raising to the glory of God and the Saint. Everyone present holds kolač from below and turns it in a circle. Then they break kolač together, and the priest takes both halves, puts them together, aligns the bottom crusts, kisses them and gives them to the patron and his household, at which point the priest says a prayer.

After Christmas, the Christened Slava (krsna slava) or Christened name (krsno ime), as it is also called, is the most important cultural-religious tradition and the most significant  family holiday.

These are the most common patron saint days celebrated as Slavas:

January 20^th, St. John the Baptist (Sveti Jovan) or John's Day (Jovanjdan)

January 27^th, St. Sava (Sveti Sava) or Sava’s Day (Savindan)

May 6^th, St. George (Sveti Đorđe) or George's Day (Đurđevdan)

November 8^th, St. Demetrius (Sveti Mitar) or Demetrius’ Day (Mitrovdan)

November 21^st, St. Michael (Sveti Arhanđel Mihajlo)

December 19^th, St. Nicholas (Sveti Nikola) or Nicholas’ Day (Nikoljdan)

Orthodox customs and traditions are different among all Orthodox peoples. Among the Greeks, for example, each person has a particular  Saint  /name sake day and they celebrate it as a feast day.