In Europe, Christmas begins when the city squares smell of sweets and mulled wine, and bright light decorations transform them into bustling gathering places. The winter atmosphere takes over, people suddenly become inexplicably excited, turning December into the time of year when you can rejoice with the whole family, look back on the long year, expressing gratitude for the little things in life. The capital of Serbia, Belgrade, is no different from other cities in Europe, whose winter transformation reminds us of the coming Christmas.
On the eve of the holiday, the main square, called "Open Heart", is transformed into a busy venue that supports various charitable events and encourages people to participate in a fun and unobtrusive celebration. Each year, visitors can help provide educational materials for students with disabilities or bring old toys and clothes to a specially designated wooden hut at the center for children from orphanages across the country.
The charity sites are simple wooden huts and houses that are decorated with colorful lights, Christmas music and delicious winter treats. Visitors can sip mulled wine or enjoy street food such as kurt pie or a variety of cookies and sweets decorated with festive decorations. In addition, children will undoubtedly have the best time on the square, as the central stage is dedicated to various games and musical programs.
Preparations for Christmas begin on November 28, when Orthodox Christians begin a 40-day fast that excludes meat, dairy products, and eggs. So by the time Christmas dinner arrives, the fast is broken, the feast is in full swing, and the main dish is pecenica, or roast pork.
Orthodox Christmas in Serbia comes in January, guaranteeing a long holiday. Namely, the Serbian Orthodox period is marked according to the Julian calendar, not the Gregorian calendar as in most Christian countries. This means that the gap between Catholic and Orthodox Christmas is 13 days. So, Christmas comes on January 7. However, all the city's festive celebrations start around November 28 and continue until January 7, satisfying both Catholics and Orthodox.
Apart from the Christmas fair, which shows generosity, Belgrade has another important holiday event. The annual Belgrade New Year's Fair is held in the second half of December and includes food exhibitions, a beer festival, an amusement park, an ice rink, various musical events and performances for all tastes.
Another interesting event, especially suitable for children and Christmas lovers, when you can feel like a child again, is the annual Santa Claus race. The competition takes place at the end of December and gathers more than 3000 people dressed as Santa, who then cross the entire city. The main ideas of the race are the symbols of Christmas - charity events and fun.
An interesting tradition in Serbia is Badnjak. It is a symbolic oak branch that is burned in houses on Christmas Eve and on Christmas. Nowadays, people can see a public ceremony, and the largest one is held in the Church of St. Sava.
Following the Julian calendar, New Year's Eve in Serbia is actually celebrated twice: first on January 1st and then on January 13th. During this time, Belgrade is full of fireworks, festivities and celebrations. Thus, Serbia has two New Years and a long winter holiday season with fun events, certainly guaranteeing a fantastic holiday for every tourist.
