Slava (tradition)

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Slava (Serbian: Слава, lit. 'Celebration', Serbian pronunciation: [ˈslâʋa]) is an old tradition among Serbian Orthodox Christians (Serbs) involving the social gathering of one's family for the feast day of its patron saint. It is an annual ritual ceremony where the family's saint–guardian, passed down patrilineally through the generations, is venerated on a specific date according to the Orthodox calendar. The celebration connects Christian and folklore tradition and varies from stricter church rules to a family holiday centered on hosting for guests. The ritual items include a specific bread, candle, koljivo, red wine, and incense. It is one of the most important traditions and an ethnic and national marker, being practiced by all Serbs. The custom was inscribed on UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists in 2014.

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