5/15/2023 0 Comments Stari svat serbian wedding![]() ![]() But the holy day, and the day of the most treasured customs, was always Jan. 25 for what she calls “American Christmas,” complete with presents. Her home in Moon has been fully decorated for Christmas, which she joked that she celebrates three times. You can see it grow the next day and the next. But then you see it put out these little knots, and then the shoots. “When you first put the wheat in, you wonder if it will grow. The green wheat is held tall and straight by a circlet of ribbon in the Serbian national colors of red, blue and white. Bizic, who retired five years ago as a librarian in the Quaker Valley School District. “Isn’t it a fun way to pass the short, dark days waiting for the birth of Christ?” said Ms. Waiting for them to grow is a spiritual exercise. Nicholas Day, and watered after a recitation of the Lord’s Prayer. This tiny garden of wheat is a psenica (SHEN-it-za), a Christmas tradition in the Serbian Orthodox Church, which keeps to the Old Calendar date of Jan. Perched in a sunny spot on Mim Bizic’s kitchen counter is a glass bowl that, at first glance, appears to be green grass growing from a bed of pebbles.īut the pebbles are grains of wheat that have broken open to release the shoots of new life - a biblical metaphor for Jesus’ death and resurrection taken from the Gospel of John. ![]() Moon woman keeps Serbian Orthodox Christmas customs alive (Mim Bizic with some of the Serbian Christmas items: psenica, kolach and the bread baked with a lucky coin.) Mikasinovich also worked for Voice of America, Serbian Service, and is a well-recognized figure in Serbia today.įrom Robin Rombach, Pittsburgh Post-Gabette photographer! Lyrical Olivera characterizes lightness of expression, poignancy and motherly sensibilities.”ĭr. ![]() The poem is of impressive quality and expresses Olivera’s love of her ancestors-Serbia- and her race/relatives with poignancy. From this arises a poem that is clean, unpretentious and written with humility. “The poem indicates the talent and sensitivities felt by the intimacies and depths of the heart. Branko Mikasinovich, wrote how he read with excitement Olivera Beljakovich-Terzich’s poem, that had been written in 1966. The Serbian section editor of the SRBOBRAN, Dr. “Vaistinu se rodi!” -Indeed He is Born! goes the refrain! Everyone says, “Mir Bozji, Hristos se Rodi!” (Peace of God, Christ is born!) Then they all kiss each other to the peace of God! If there were any disagreements and quarrels before, all is forgotten. This moment marks the beginning of “Mirboenja” (peace and reconciliation). Hosts and guests stand around the table, and the head of the family, usually the father, lights a candle. 19), which harvests indicates a happy year. For sure on the table would be found “schlivovitz” -old plum brandy, dry figs, shenitsa (wheat grown since St. Before lunch, while the fire burns, the family readies the roasted pig and everything else for Christmas dinner. The family offers him kolivo (wheat & sugar and nuts) and red wine, which he takes prior to leading the Blessing for the family. “As many sparks, may you be blessed with as many sheep! As many sparks, may so much money and riches come to the family! As many sparks, so to you all good health!” “Koliko varnica, toliko ovaca! Koliko varnica, toliko novaca! Koliko varnica, toliko zdravlja!“ Polaznik tapom promjea ar u vatri i kaze: The Polaznik takes his stick and stirs up the embers in the fire and says: He comes full of good wishes and with a good heart. On the morning of 7th January, at Christmas, the first man who comes into our house is called the “Polaznik”. 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! This is a time that draws us nearer to God, a time for deepening our Faith, and for increasing the vitality of our prayers as we await the celebration of the birth of the Christ Child, the true reason for the season. This fast asks that no meat nor dairy products are consumed during the fasting period. Some people “fast” for 6 weeks, other Serbian Orthodox Christians for a week before taking Confession and Communion. ![]() The whole Advent Season is a reason for discipline and fasting. Nothing illustrates this better than the communal fellowship of the Serbian Yule Log ceremony seen below. This brightens up life and brings a measure of joy to the earth. (1) A secular festival like that mentioned above with the happy sounds, smells and sights of Christmas, bringing a spirit of human warmth and friendliness to our hearts. We celebrate the Nativity of our Lord in two different ways: Peace on Earth, Christ is Born, glorify Him! ![]()
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