Christmas is the most delightful Christian holiday. It is a day celebrating birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the beginning it was celebrated together with the holiday of Christ's christening - Appearance of the Lord. Since the IV century it has been celebrated as a separate day and it becomes one of the twelve important great holidays.
The six week Christmas fast begins forty days before Christmas. In the last three weeks Children's Day, Mother's Day and Father's Day are celebrated and many folk customs relate to these holidays. Two days prior Christmas is Tucindan when roast meat is prepared.
Day before Christmas is Christmas Eve. The host then cuts an oak or bitter oak tree branch by three strokes of a hatchet and kindles the branch in the evening. In the earliest twilight, the host brings in straw and the hostess layfast dinner. At early dawn of Christmas special bread decorated by Christian tokens is made and a metal coin is put in it. At Christmas lunch members of the family take pieces of the bread. In the early morning they welcome the first person visiting the house, usually a child, bringing peace and Christmas delights.
During Christmas season the believers greet one another saying: „Peace of God, Christ is born - Indeed He is born"
Graphic realization: Dajan Spiric of Banja Luka
Publisher: POSTE SRPSKE a.d. Banja Luka
