St. George’s Day (Djurdjevdan)

St. George’s Day (Djurdjevdan)  in Sumadija

          St. George's Day , which is celebrated on May 6, is one of the biggest feast of the Serbs. The tradition of celebrating St. George's Day  is rooted in the consciousness of the Serbian people .

This day marks the numerous rituals , whose roots originate from pre-Christian era . According to popular belief, St. George’s Day  represents the transition from  winter and welcoming spring . Since the nature of that day transformed , according to the custom of the venue of reveille, and people spend the night in the foothills or mountains . It is believed that is not good to sleep in the open air before this holiday . In the past, the robbers were in the woods just met from St. George . Because  is the feast dedicated to the birth and flourishing of nature , and the welfare of the people , therefore the once and now St. George's very common  with herders , with many customs and rituals . Among Vlach people St. George ‘s  Day is known as Herbal Friday.

           Throughout Sumadija  St. George's Day  is celebrated, with many customs that are made , both for the holiday and ahead of him . And this versatile herb plays an important role , especially flowers that symbolizes prosperity and health. According to belief , the day before St. George's youth are leaving the forests around the river where they collect helleborus , fiddle , hornbeam, geranium and other plants , which will be decorated with their house. Since these plants are weaving the wreaths that adorn the gates or doors of the houses , and according to the custom of these wreaths symbolizing progress does not removed until next year . It is represented by the custom of decorating the gate willow and other flowers , because the very willow symbolizes prosperity and fertility . Therefore, it is used by herders , there used to be when guarding the St. George’s Day necessarily carries crude rod such as willow , because it was believed that then , and cattle will become  thicker and more progressive  and will not be dry and thin. According to custom , each goat , sheep or cow should  be milked at least a little on this day , so that during the year could give plenty of milk . In some areas, there was  a custom that housewives  choose two young port in the garden , which would align the tops of a pair of scissors on the eve of St. George . One of them was a chance , a second accident. The next day, housewives must compare which of them is more grown , and according to belief, depending on which is more onion grown more, household will follow more fortune or misfortune during the year.

           For St. George 's used to all household members know how the water in which the submerged  flowers , helleborus  symbolizing prosperity , lily , milkweed and the health of its geranium .

It is recommended to everyone in household to lave with the water which is prepared the night before the holiday, because of what they will be healthy as a cornel tree , to take off  all crusts from themselves  that have been exposed since the beginning of the year .  The landlord of the house shall wash face with water, which will enable  healthy and well kept  for his household. Youth often practiced and to bathe in the water , and often to swim and the river , which was believed to be doing right by St. George .

         For  St. George’s day , in some areas of Sumadija there are many humorous traditions , such as the custom of removing the gates from  houses where there are young and unmarried girls the night before St. George  . The symbolism is clear, and it is primarily a message addressed to their elderly relatives , in order to better keep an eye on them . So in St. George’s  night circumvention occurs between those who embark on a campaign to other people's gates and those of others who are trying to protect them . It often happens that many yards dawned without their gates, regardless of the efforts and work of the household to save them during the night.  

Someone still be more skilled than them . It is believed that the girl who was taken off the gate of the year to get married . Of course this custom , which is still practiced , is more used to in a purpose of  making jokes even on this  day. About an incident when a group of outraged girls stripped gates guys from the same place specifically talk , talk about it spread rapidly and amused the locals of a small town near the Morava . And next year, come the new gates , new stories and experiences . The objective of customs is not to inflict damage to anyone , on the contrary,  aim is to bring a good mood , it seems , as all other rituals .

          When evening comes families gather  with their guests,  and celebrate St. George's with all the gifts that he has given in the past year. With a prayer for the health and well-being, and the desire to do so and continue in that, and in the years that will come.