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While Serbia is primarily a religious country and approximately 85% of Serbs are Serbian Orthodox,[1] they also believe in superstition. Serbia was a Pagan country before the 9th century, which is when superstitious belief was formed.[2] After the ending of the Cold War and the subsequent finish of communist rule in Serbia, religion flourished again, and with it, superstition. Serbian people share common superstitions with other European countries, especially around the Balkan area. However, Serbia also has national superstitions that have been created and believed throughout its own cultural history. These superstitions have influenced the actions and thoughts of the Serbian population.
History
[edit]The people of Serbia first arrived to the country in tribes that spread across the peninsula in the 6th and 7th centuries.[2] Due to Serbia's location as a frontier to Rome and Byzantine, their religion eventually changed from Pagan to Christian and Orthodox in the 9th century. In June of 1389, there was a battle fought between the Serbian and Ottoman forces at Kosovo Polje, named the Battle of Kosovo.[3] It was a draw, but is now most remembered for beginning the Ottoman's 500-year rule. This battle was considered by the Serbs as fighting for their national identity. The Ottomans ruled in Serbia until the 19th century, and did little but collect taxes. In the late part of the 17th century, a belief rose that St Sava, the first archbishop of the Serbian Orthodox Church, was coming to save the people of Serbia.[4] They thus rose in rebellion against the Ottomans, who defeated them. Serbia gained independence in 1877. With Western influence as Serbia became politically influenced with the West, there was a desire to identify Serbian culture. It was agreed that Serbia's culture was rooted in folk culture and peasant customs.[2] In this folk culture, superstition was included.
Vampires
[edit]Vampire belief is present in Serbia, as well as in the neighbouring countries in the Balkans.[5] This belief began in the 16th century, though died out when education surrounding causes of death spread throughout the Balkans. Instead of the traditional story of victims being sucked dry of blood, in Serbia they are said to be physically beaten up. Flares of vampire sightings have come around when there have been cases of tuberculosis and other deadly types of plagues in Serbia. Vampires were a way for peasants in the Middle Ages to understand plagues that often killed entire families.[5]
Folk Wisdom
[edit]In Serbian superstition, folk wisdom is heavily believed, especially by older generations. Some of these beliefs include:
- There are no baby showers held in Serbia, and no gifts are given to the mother. When the baby is born, friends and family are required to call it ugly. If not, the baby will be vulnerable to the evil eye.[6]
- Women wishing to get married in Serbia are required to sit at the corner of the table at meal times. If not, they will be single forever.[7]
- When someone is travelling, a person back home cannot wash their clothing that was left behind. If they do, the traveller will never come back.[7]
- If an unwanted visitor comes to the house, Serbian folklore requires that the home owner wash the floor after they visit, so that they will not come back.[7]
- Women who expose their stomachs to a cold draught will obtain frozen ovaries, and are never be able to fall pregnant.[6]
- It is bad luck to offer an empty wallet to someone.[7]
- When toasting, it is important to look at someone straight in the eye. Otherwise, there will be seven years of bad luck in the bedroom.[7]
- 'Cheers!' is only exclaimed when drinking alcohol. Any other type of drink is excluded from this phrase.[8]
Promaja
[edit]Promaja is the term used for the cold draft generated by opening two windows in a room. Superstitious Serbians believe this cold wind, known as promaja, poses serious health risks such as stiffened muscles, colds and a numb feeling in the body.[9] It is also said to cause sorrow and misfortune to the person who has opened both of the windows.[10]
Death
[edit]Superstitious Serbians believe that death and place of burial has importance in how the afterlife will fare.
Relocation of Burials of Famous People
[edit]
It is common for a famous person's body to be relocated to Serbia. It is not only reserved for those who lived in Serbia; the body of Serbian U.S. electrical engineer Nicola Tesla was relocated to Serbia in 1957 after he died in New York after being hit by a taxicab.[11] The first known relocated burials in Serbia were the bodies of the ruling families. These families were a part of the church, and were buried in various monasteries around the country. One monk was transferred 15 times. Saints who died outside of the country were included in the reburial ceremony.[11]
Popular Culture
[edit]Even celebrities have fed into superstitions. Ana Ivanovic, a Serbian female tennis player is deeply superstitious. In an interview to the Telegraph in 2010, she said that she does not step foot on tennis court lines before her match, otherwise she believes she will lose the game.[12]
Kleopatra in the 1900's
[edit]Kleopatra was the name given to a transvestite prophet in the 1900's. She became famous for predicting the future for those who would call in to her national television show.[13] Her predictions covered everything from marriage to the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia during the Kosovan war.
Milan Tarot and 'Tarot Srbija'
[edit]Milan Tarot (real name: Milan Radonjić) was born in Belgrade in 1973. He is a television personality and tarot card reader in the Belgrade area. After finishing high school, Milan worked on late night TV stations and gradually gained popularity through interviews. Milan will only take a call from a follower if they repeat the word 'Tarot' several times after greeting him. He will take part in a reading, and then impulsively hang up the phone after giving his answer. He will often give ridiculous advice, mentioning famous names that middle-aged Balkan women would not recognise, and asking callers to run around their house three times, or break eggs on their heads.[6]
Due to his growing fame and comical advice, Red Productions, a Balkan film company, have created a documentary titled 'Tarot Srbija'. In the documentary, Milan tours around the Balkans and gives advice to mostly rural people, who are his most dedicated fans. The film premiered in 2010 in Belgrade with mostly positive reviews.[14]
See Also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Pike, John (2019). "Serbia - Religion". Global Security. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
- ^ a b c Goransson, Markus (2013). "A Cultural History of Serbia". Balkan Insight. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
- ^ Bunting, Tony (2019). "Battle of Kosovo". Britannica. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
- ^ Agustyn, Adam; et al. (2019). "Saint Sava". Britannica. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
{{cite web}}: Explicit use of et al. in:|last=(help) - ^ a b Ingber, Sasha (2012). "The Bloody Truth about Serrbia's Vampire". National Geographic. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
- ^ a b c Mangat, Mona (2010). "Superstitious Serbia". Balkan Insight. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
- ^ a b c d e "Christian Serbia maintains its faith in folklore". BBC News. 2010. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
- ^ Bjelotomic, Snezana (2018). "What did the Serbs from the olden days believe? – Strange beliefs, customs and superstitions". Serbian Monitor. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
- ^ Hoxha, Kreshnik (2012). "Promaja - The Wind of Change". Balkan Insight. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
- ^ Bills, John William (2017). "11 Things You Should Never Do in Serbia, Ever". Culture Trip. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
- ^ a b Rotar, Marius (2011). Death and Dying in the 18th-21st Century in Europe. Cambridge Scholars Publisher. ISBN 9781443832083.
- ^ Hodges, Vicki (2010). "Getting to Know: Ana Ivanovic". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
- ^ Mangat, Mona (2010). "Superstitious Serbia". Balkan Insight. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
- ^ "Tarot Srbija (2010)". IMDb. 2019. Retrieved 27 April 2019.