How to say merry Christmas in Serbian and how do Serbs celebrate Christmas?

A noble celebration of life, a table laid with various delicious dishes, wines and sweet homemade bread, who wouldn’t want to celebrate Christmas like Serbs do? Still, if you’d like to impress your Serbian hosts with some jolly good manners, get ready to embrace the centuries long tradition that is as enchanting as it is unique.

First of all, don’t be surprised if you are greeted with “Hristos se rodi!” (Christ is born!) – it may sound medieval, but it truly is exactly what one says on Christmas day. The traditional response to this greeting is “Vaistinu se rodi!” (Indeed, He is born!). These phrases surely reflect the rather religious, respectful and solemn Christmas spirit in Serbia, rooted in the Orthodox tradition. Still, if it’s a tongue-twister for you, feel free to follow up with the classic “Srećan Božić!” (Merry Christmas!).

In order to fully experience the magic of Christmas in Serbia, there are a few traditional elements you should be well aware of:

  • It’s celebrated on January 7th
  • Christmas Eve (Badnje veče) is usually spent in piece and with family
  • Christmas tree is actually an oak branch
  • Special Christmas bread is called the Česnica

Without further ado, let us explore the story of Christmas, the Serbian way!

What is Serbian Christmas called? 

Christmas in Serbian is called “Božić”, which is a diminutive form derived from the word “Bog”, meaning God. Therefore, we can say that the word literally denotes the birth of a “young God”, and appropriately so, as it celebrates the day of Christ’s birth.

In preparation for this most famous and widely celebrated birthday, if you are in Serbia, there is some fasting to be done. Namely, prior to Christmas festivities, a lot of religious people in Serbia practice a 40-day fast. This tradition still remains in the Orthodox ways and it requires of us to resist the delicious temptations of meat, eggs and dairy products, as well as to commit ourselves to pure thoughts and good deeds. Once Christmas day comes, you will be more thoroughly detoxed than if you’d been juicing all month, and you’ll start the new year fresh and ready for the rich Christmas menu. 

When is Serbian Christmas? 

Isn’t it great to celebrate Christmas after the New Year? The festivities chime into cold January and spread the joy till half the month has passed. This is exactly how Christmas is celebrated in Serbia – Christmas Eve (Badnje veče) is celebrated the whole day on January 6th, and then follows Christmas Day on January 7th, celebrated with family and friends, and nowadays with matinées in the city centre. If you are lucky, some companies grant a day off work on the 8th as well, so the festivities make up for a solid holiday!

Why is Serbian Christmas on January 7th?

Serbia celebrates Christmas on January 7th because the Orthodox Church follows the Julian calendar, which is 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar used by most of the world. The Julian calendar was introduced by Julius Caesar in 45 BC and was the predominant calendar in Europe until the Gregorian reform in 1582. However, don’t think that Serbia runs 13 days behind. This calendar is just a religious one that co-exists with the common calendar used in the rest of the world. What this means in reality, is that the dates that bear a religious significance come 13 days after the ones in the western part of the world. For example, St Nicholas’ day is on December 19th, rather than December 6th, Christmas on January 7th, and Serbian New Year is celebrated on January 14th.

You may wonder why a country should have two calendars, though the reason here is quite simple. While many countries transitioned to the Gregorian calendar for civil purposes, the Serbian Church decided to stick with the Julian calendar with the aim of preserving their heritage and religious identity.

Serbian Christmas Traditions

As we have learnt so far, Serbian Christmas celebrations are quite a mix of spiritual devotion, family time, and tradition. Let us now dive into the customs and feel the magic of these cherished traditions. 

 January 6th, Badnji Dan

The day before Christmas is also very important in the tradition, as it is the final day of the Christmas fast. Families get together at their homes, cook traditional meals (fish, beans, potato salad with vinegar, spices and onions) and gather oak branches, known as badnjak, which play a central role in the evening rituals. On Badnji Dan, you won’t see a house without a branch of badnjak at the front door, as it is the most important element of Christmas and a symbol of health and happiness.

On Christmas Eve, i.e. Badnje veče, badnjak is supposed to be burnt in a fireplace and the more sparkles it gives off, the more prosperous the year for the family. Nowadays though, and for practical reasons, families usually take their badnjak to the nearest church.

There is a communal gathering around the sparkling oaky fire and people enjoy socialising over mulled rakija and wine. Can you already imagine the crackling sound of the crispy oak wood and the warmth it spreads?

Oak Tree (Badnjak)

The oak tree holds a very special place in Serbian Christmas traditions, and each region in Serbia has its own way of honouring the badnjak. Traditionally, the men from the household would go out to cut a branch of a young oak tree at the break of dawn, and bring it home as the badnjak. Today however, you will see decorated badnjak being sold on the streets, at markets and shops, making it more convenient for the families in the city to maintain the tradition.

Christmas Feast

The Christmas lunch or dinner is always the highlight of the day. Having fasted or not, everyone prepares a lavish and versatile Christmas feast. There is roasted meat, fresh salads, stuffed cabbage, stews and soups, prosciutto and several sorts of bread and cheese. Don’t forget the traditional desserts as well, such as oblande (homemade wafers), baklava and tulumba. Mouthwatering indeed!

Serbian Christmas Bread (Česnica)

Be that as it may, the centerpiece of the Christmas feast is the one and only Česnica, a round loaf of delicious bread. Apart from being tasty, Česnica contains symbols of wealth and health, such as: a coin, a bean, perhaps a small piece of dogwood – all depending on the local tradition.

What all traditions do have in common, is the cherished breaking of the Česnica. This bread is never cut, but the family gathers around it and each member breaks a piece. The person who finds the coin in their piece of the Česnica will have good fortune that whole year. So you see, the Česnica isn’t just bread – it is a symbol of family unity and blessing.

Now that you know how to say “Merry Christmas!” in Serbian and how Serbs celebrate this joyful holiday, feel free to practise saying “Hristos se rodi!” and “Vaistinu se rodi!” with your friends and the locals all around. Enjoy the festive spirit that merrily streches through January and indulge yourself in unique Christmas delicacies in Serbia.

Srećan Božić!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

What our students say?

Since our school organizes Serbian language courses online, video lessons can be watched at any time from anywhere.

info@serbology.rs

Download

© 2025 Website development: Seosajt