You know that there is Christmas, and there is “Serbian Christmas”. Also, everyone knows about the New Year, but have you heard about the Serbian New Year? In Serbia, everything is a reason for celebration, so tonight, we are waiting for the Serbian New Year. Why and how? Let us explain!
Serbian New Year – January 14th
We told you why we celebrate Christmas on January 7th. The reason why we celebrate Serbian New Year 13 days after the “worldwide” New Year is the same. Due to the difference between Julian and Gregorian calendars, and the Serbian Orthodox Church still using the older, Julian one, such a gap happens and Serbian holidays are celebrated a bit later. That’s the reason it is also called Orthodox New Year. January 14th is the first day of the church calendar.
Other than that, the Serbian New Year is just ceremonial in nature. It is not an official holiday and has no legal significance. In earlier times, it was more significant than it is today. Still, it is a good reason to celebrate and to party. In normal circumstances, the cities were organizing modest entertainment programs, such as concerts on squares and fireworks. They were of course on a smaller scale than for the regular New Years’ Eve, but they are still fun to attend. Many churches also organize the night prayers. Unfortunately, due to current circumstances, there will be no organized events this year.
However, do not let that deter you. We have some fantastic ideas on how to spend this interesting night.
Where to celebrate
Our recommendation is definitely to rent a cottage with a fireplace. You might come alone, with a partner, or a group of friends. As all venues are working until 20:00 only, we strongly advise you to spend the evening at the cottage or your hotel. Bring a guitar or board games, or make a “movie marathon”! We guarantee that you will have a good time, recharge your batteries, and bond with your loved ones, far away from the crowds.
Of course, you can use the day and have a delicious lunch at one of our iconic restaurants. They all adhere to the highest safety standards, so you don’t have to think about anything – just make a reservation and enjoy the traditional Serbian cuisine.
As we already mentioned, this is a regular working day, so museums, galleries, theatres, and cinemas are operating as usual (until 21:00). So you can spend your day enjoying everything Belgrade has to offer. Walk around the city, enjoy the snow and decorations, warm up in one of our cozy cafes and we are sure that your trip to Belgrade during Serbian New Year will be memorable!
We wish you a great night tonight!
