nPostednMay 6, 2015
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Đurđevdanntranslates to “George’s Day”—as in St. George.
Đurđevdanntranslates to “George’s Day”—as in St. George.n
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nAsnin the guy on a horse killing a dragon!
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nSt.nGeorge is considered the patron saint of England, and that is why his feast daynis still celebrated there every April 23. That is the traditionallynaccepted anniversary of his death in 303 C.E. (or A.D.).
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nHowever,nSt. George’s feast day was April 23 on the Julianncalendar. That translates to May 6 on the Gregorian calendar (whichnis the one we use nowadays). n
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Evennthough the people of Southern Slavic nations use the Gregorianncalendar for most purposes, Eastern Orthodox Christianity generallynstill uses the Julian calendar for feast days and other religiousnholidays. So nations like Serbia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Bosnianand Herzegovina, and Kosovo celebrate the feast day today. (I think.nHonestly, I found all of this stuff about April 23 and May 6 quitenconfusing!)
Evennthough the people of Southern Slavic nations use the Gregorianncalendar for most purposes, Eastern Orthodox Christianity generallynstill uses the Julian calendar for feast days and other religiousnholidays. So nations like Serbia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Bosnianand Herzegovina, and Kosovo celebrate the feast day today. (I think.nHonestly, I found all of this stuff about April 23 and May 6 quitenconfusing!)n
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| A Southern Slavic version of St. George killing a dragon. |
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Đurđevdannmarksnthe beginning of spring, and some of the spring celebrations enjoyednin other nations on other days take place today in Southern Slavicnnations. That includes having bonfires and decorating the home withnflowers and blooming twigs, taking baths with flowers and washingnwith water from holy wells. Another slavic tradition is choosingngirls to dress in leaves and play the part of Dodola goddesses bynsinging all through the village.
Đurđevdannmarksnthe beginning of spring, and some of the spring celebrations enjoyednin other nations on other days take place today in Southern Slavicnnations. That includes having bonfires and decorating the home withnflowers and blooming twigs, taking baths with flowers and washingnwith water from holy wells. Another slavic tradition is choosingngirls to dress in leaves and play the part of Dodola goddesses bynsinging all through the village.n
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nEvennthough this holiday has its basis in Christian traditions, with anCatholic saint and feast day, the connection with springtimencelebrations, particularly the Dodola goddesses, comes from paganntraditions. In some areas, such as Bosnia and Kosovo, many Muslimnpeople also celebrated Đurđevdan,nat least in the past. n
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nMorenabout South Slavs…
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nInnthe past, just as in the present, people moved about trying to findnresources and land; as they spread out and moved away from formernneighbors, their languages and customs began to diverge as theynevolved. n
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nTherenare many nations that are settled by mostly “Slavic peoples,”nlargely defined by their Slavic languages. The South Slavs includenthe majority of people in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia,nMacedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia, and a sizable minority innthe Republic of Kosovo (a disputed nation). n
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nNoticenthat the Southern Slavic nations, shown above in green, are cut off from the other Slavicnnations by non-Slavic countries like Austria, Hungary, Romania, andnMoldova.
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nChecknout these flags and photos for each of the Southern Slavic nation:
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nBosnia and Herzegovina:
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nBulgaria:
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nCroatia:
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nKosovo:
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nMacedonia:
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nMontenegro:
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nSerbia:
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nSlovenia:
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nAlsonon this date:
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nTeachernAppreciation Weekn(May 4 – 8)
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nGreat American Grump-Out
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nBenKind to Animals Week (Mayn3-9)
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nNationalnNurses Day
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nAnniversarynof the world’s first postage stamp
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nPlannahead:
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Checknout my Pinterest boards for:
Checknout my Pinterest boards for:
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nMayn holidays
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nMayn birthdays
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nHistoricaln anniversaries in May
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nAndnhere are my Pinterest boards for:
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nJunen holidays
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nJunen birthdays
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nHistoricaln anniversaries in June
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