(EXPLAINER) The Serbian Orthodox Church celebrates on Friday the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul (known as Petrovdan in Serbian) in honor of their martyrdom in Rome. 

The Feast of Saints Peter and Paul is an important religious holiday for Orthodox Serbs. It marks the end of the Apostles’ Fast, which begins a week after Pentecost.

Historically, Orthodox Serbs have believed that Petrovdan symbolized the start of the fall season.

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In addition to being observed by the Serbian Orthodox Church, the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul is celebrated by many Serbian families as their patron saint day (known as Slava in Serbian).

The concept of Slava might be unfamiliar to those not acquainted with Serbian faith traditions, culture and history. However, if you have ever interacted with a Serb, you likely would have heard about it.

What is Slava? 

Slava is an annual holiday celebrated by Serbian Orthodox families in honor of their patron saint. During Slava, families celebrate their patron saint, who is considered the protector and provider of welfare for the family. Each family has their own patron saint and a specific reason why their ancestors chose to honor that particular saint.

A Serbian Orthodox family honors their patron saint on this day by gathering friends and family in their home. Beyond its religious significance, Slava is also a social hub and a multigenerational discussion group, where people engage in lively sociopolitical debates.

Origins of Slava 

The term “Slava” originates from the ancient Slavic word for glory. In this context, Slava signifies the celebration, honor and jubilation of a patron saint.

The oldest written record of the Slava celebration dates back to the year 1018. However, its true origin remains unknown.

Several theories have been proposed to explain the origins of Slava. One theory suggests that Slava has its origins in the Roman hero cult, as evidenced by similarities between the Slava celebration and Roman feasts like breaking bread and toasting.

The more popular theory states that Slava has pagan Slavic roots. Before converting to Christianity, Serbs and other Slavs were polytheistic pagans. In pre-Christian Slavic societies, every family had its own deity. Proponents of this theory argue that Serbs strongly resisted giving up the worship of their pagan gods during the conversion to Christianity.

It is also believed that Saint Sava, the first archbishop of the Serbian Church, replaced ancient Slavic gods with new Christian saints. However, there are few historical facts to support these claims.

Season of Slavas 

Experts estimate that Serbian families celebrate over 200 different Slavas. The most common Slavas are St. Nicholas (Dec. 19), St. John the Baptist (Jan. 20) and St. George (May 6).

While Slavas are celebrated throughout the year, most occur during the winter. The season of Slavas begins in mid-October and lasts until late January. An anecdote humorously suggests that a Serb might gain between 20 to 40 pounds during this period due to the abundance of delicious food prepared for these feasts.

Customs and celebrations  

The celebration typically begins early in the morning with a worship service at a local church. After the service, the father and son participate in the ceremony of blessing the Slava bread (Slavski “kolač”) and “koljivo” (boiled wheat mixed with sugar and walnuts) with the priest.

Following the church ritual, the father and son return home to help the rest of the family with the Slava preparations. Upon their arrival, the Slava candle is lit and is meant to burn until the end of the day.

An icon of the family’s patron saint is also essential for celebrating Slava. It is common for Serbian families to hang an icon of their saint on the living room or dining room walls.

As the day progresses, guests begin to arrive. Upon their arrival, they are offered a piece of Slava bread and koljivo. It is considered polite not to refuse these — as they are symbols of Slava — while bringing a gift to Slava is mandatory. However, the gifts are expected to be modest. They usually include a bottle of wine or brandy, a bag of coffee, or a chocolate bar.

Welcoming and seating guests is a ritual in itself. The oldest family members and friends occupy the most respected places at the table. It is also customary to seat a total stranger at the head of the table to show respect and hospitality.

After everyone is seated, the hosts begin bringing out the delicious food they have prepared. The Slava dinner usually consists of five courses — an appetizer, soup, sarma (a traditional Serbian dish of meat or rice wrapped in cabbage leaves), the main dish (which typically includes roasted pork, lamb or barbecue) and dessert.

While celebrating Slava takes a day, preparing for it can take up to a week. During Slava, the hosts are busy from early morning until late at night. The day’s schedule is packed and leaves no room for other responsibilities. To address this, labor laws in Serbia grant everyone a day off for their Slava.

National identity 

Celebrating Slava is the cornerstone of Serbian Orthodox faith, culture and national identity. The celebration of the family’s patron saint is unique to Orthodox Serbs and is not a custom observed by other Orthodox nations.

Beyond national identity, Slava symbolizes family tradition and heritage. It is traditionally passed down from father to son. According to custom, when a son gets married, the first Slava after the wedding is the last one celebrated with his parents. Buy many Serbian families no longer follow this tradition. Nowadays, the passing of Slava to the next generation is typically decided through mutual agreement between father and son.

Serbian families are not the only ones who celebrate Slavas. Cities, towns and even government institutions also have their own Slavas. One of the most popular Slavas is St. Sava (Savindan in Serbian), celebrated on Jan. 27 as the patron saint of teachers, students and education in general.

In recent years, the concept of Slava has grown more popular among the Serbian public. This has led private companies and even political parties to adopt the custom of celebrating Slavas. In fact, the tradition of celebrating Slava is deeply rooted in Serbian culture. It is not unusual for Slava to be observed as a holiday even by atheist families.

Intangible heritage 

In November 2014, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) officially included the Serbian Slava on its List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

This decision was received by Orthodox Serbs as global recognition of the uniqueness of the Slava tradition.

According to UNESCO, the importance of Slava lies in the transmission of knowledge and customs within families. Additionally, Slava serves as a social hub and a platform for dialogue in multiethnic regions of Serbia.

Have you ever attended a Slava? If not, visit a local Serbian Orthodox Church and make new friends. It won’t be long before you are invited to one.

Jovan Tripkovic is a former editorial fellow at Religion Unplugged. Follow him on X @jovan_tripkovic.