Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano
(Aliquippa, Pa.) Today is Christmas Eve (Badnjidan) to those celebrating Serbian Christmas . in Aliquippa, all church services will be livestreamed on Facebook. Diving Liturgy begins at 9:30 q.m. at St. Elijah Church. At 3:45 p.m. a parade to the church’s picnic grounds located behind the church cemetery will take place. The men of the church will cut down the young oak tree for the Yule Log celebration and the Yule Log parade will return to the church. Blessing and burning of the Yule Log will take place at 4:30 p.m.. All activities will be held outside. There is no children’s program., according to Father Branislav Golic, church pastor
Today those observing the holiday strictly will fast eating (pogaca) the traditional fasting bread, fruits, vegetables, bakala (salted cod),grai crumpir (soup made with kidney beans and potatoes), and other foods,according to tradition.
At 10 p.m. tonight the all night Christmas vigil will be live streamed, along with all other services
Serbin Christmas traditions include: the men of the family roasting a pig on a spit, straw under the family table symbolizing Christ’s birth in the manger, the woman of the household and other family members do the cooking and baking. A chesnica(coin bread ) is blessed, broken by each family member to see who will be lucky in the coming year. The first dark haired male to visit the home (polaznik) receives a coin from the family for good luck.
Roast pig with the apple in its mouth, chicken, , chicken noodle soup, sarma, Serbian potato salad, other salads,, apple and cheese strudel, Serbian butter cookies and other pastries will grace the table. The man of the house gives the blessing and a toast is made to Christmas:”Mir Bozi Hristos Se Rodi. The table is not cleared during the celebration, foods are replenished, a custom that originated from Serbia..
To everyone celebrating tomorrow ‘ MIR BOZI, HRISTOS SE RODI!