1. sezona – 1. epizoda – 26 minuta
Serbian Christmas Podcast for learning Serbian
“Božić u Srbiji danas”
So many memories, so many traditions… What we actually do for Christmas and what traditions we still keep in Serbia – that’s a burning topic in this time of the year. Because many traditions are dying away in the new age. In this Serbian Christmas podcast, I’m talking about what we did when I was a child and what traditions we still keep alive. I also explain the pagan symbolic behind some of the customs.
Some of the topics covered:
- old pagan practices kept until today,
- Serbian Christmas Eve and Christmas tree,
- what we did in my family when I was a child,
- and what we do now,
- typical food served on Christmas,
- fasting and non-fasting food…
If you’re a beginner, maybe you’ll want to read more about the Serbian Christmas traditions on my blog or learn basic Christmas vocabulary first.
This episode is best followed with some mulled wine or “šumadijski čaj” (boiled rakija) – a typical winter souldrink in Serbia.
Check out the Serbian vocabulary and expressions listed below that will help you understand more when you listen to this Serbian Christmas podcast episode.
Serbian Christmas Podcast Vocabulary
Religion
običaj (custom)
praznik (holiday)
Nova godina (New Year)
Badnje veče (Christmas Eve)
Božić (Christmas)
Bog (God)
hrišćanstvo (Christianity)
hristijanizovati (christianize)
hristijanizovan (christianized)
krst (cross)
post (lent, fast), postiti (to fast)
pravoslavac (orthodox man)
vernik, vernici (believer)
predak, preci (ancestor)
Home
ćebe, prekrivač (blanket, cover)
jastuk (pillow), jastučić (cushion)
stolnjak (tablecloth)
pribor za jelo (eating utensils)
kašika (spoon)
viljuška (fork)
činija (bowl)
tanjir (plate)
opasač, kaiš (belt)
mrak (darkness)
sito (sieve)
pod (floor)
prag (doorstep)
vrata (door)
ugao (corner)
Nature
jelka (fir tree) Kitim jelku za Novu godinu. I ornament fir tree for New Year.
drvo (tree) Domaćin seče drvo. Head of the family cuts a tree.
hrast (oak) Hrast je sakralno drvo. Oak is a sacral tree.
grana (branch)
grančica (little branch)
šuma (forest)
slama (hay)
zrno (grain), zrnevlje (seeds)
orah, orasi (walnut)
kukuruz (corn)
žito (wheat)
Aspect Pairs of Verbs Used
razumevati razumevam – razumeti razumem (to understand)
vezivati vezujem – vezati vežem (to tie, bond)
seći sečem – iseći isečem (cut, cut off)
PITANJA – Questions About Your Christmas Traditions
Kako u tvojoj porodici slavite Božić (ili neki sličan praznik)? – How do you celebrate Christmas (or another similar holiday) in your family?
- Koji su vaši običaji pre Božića? – What are your costumes before Christmas?
- Šta radite na Badnje veče? – What do you do on Christmas Eve?
- Koju hranu spremate? – What food do you prepare?
- Koji su vaši rituali? – What are your rituals?
- Gde slavite Božić? – Where do you celebrate Christmas?
- Da li negde idete? Gde? – Do you go somewhere? Where?
- Da li imate goste? Koga? – Do you have guests? Whom?
- Koja je razlika između Nove Godine i Božića? – What’s the difference between New Year and Christmas?
- Kakve ukrase i dekoracije imate? – What ornaments and decorations do you have?
Meet The Host of the Serbian Christmas Podcast

Magdalena Petrovic Jelic
Dedicated Serbian language teacher with a mission to create the best place on the web for learning Serbian. Polyglot and perpetual language learner. True grammar lover. Mother of a 3 years old Viktor and tireless story-teller.
Posvećena profesorica srpskog jezika sa misijom da stvori najbolje mesto na internetu za učenje srpskog jezika. Poliglota i večiti učilac jezika. Iskreni ljubitelj gramatike. Majka trogodišnjeg Viktora i neumorni pripovedač.
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