Useful Tips on Serbian Habits & Customs

Flowers - When buying flowers remember to take an odd number of flowers when visiting or to give to any living being, but an even number of flowers if going to a funeral or to the cemetery.

Slava - A Slava is the celebration of a saint’s day and is one, if not the most important, festivity for every family.  People are given a days holiday from work for their Slava.  When going to a Slava one usually gives flowers to the hostess and a bottle of alcohol to the host.  You will either be invited for a specific time (i.e. either lunch or dinner) or told to come whenever you would like.  Scheduling business/mission dinners on such days should be avoided.  Adage:  one half of Belgrade celebrates St. Nicholas (19 December), the other half goes to it.  Another mass Slava is St George’s Day on 6 May.

Greetings - People kiss three times on the cheek when they haven’t seen each other for a while. Everyday friends usually kiss once.

Business Lunch - Lunch is usually not around 12 a.m. but around 3 p.m.

Eating Habits - Rather heavy meals featuring large amounts of meat with no distinction between supper and dinner (formal, that is sit down, versus informal).  Vegetarianism is a rarity but most restaurants serve salads.

Coffee - Coffee is taken anytime over tea.  No tea drinking culture exists and, consequently, cafes will usually only serve herbal teas such as camomile, linden, mint, rose hip.  Adage: “only drink tea when ill.”  Many Serbians drink Turkish coffee at home, so when visiting a home, you can expect it to be served. Restaurants and cafes serve espresso drinks and Nescafe. Tea is also available – the word for all tea is “chai” not to be confused with the “chai” flavor.

Paying the Bill - It is often the case that one person pays for all and it is always the case that whoever did the inviting to lunch/drinks picks up the bill. The bill will never be brought to you until you ask for it.

Non-smoking – Smoking is cheap and popular in Serbia.  Smoking is now illegal in public places and is slowly becoming adhered to.  However smaller restaurants seem to be exempt from the law.  It seldom happens that people ask for permission to smoke in one’s company – they usually just light up.

Calendar - While the country operates on the globally accepted Gregorian calendar, important church holidays, e.g. Christmas use the Julian calendar and this event occurs therefore two weeks after the Gregorian.   This is often shown in print as both dates (i.e. St. Nicholas, Dec 6/Dec19; Christmas Day, Dec 25/Jan 7; New Year’s Day Jan 1/Jan 14).

The date of Easter is also determined differently, although it can coincide in with the Catholic/Protestant one, the Orthodox celebration is usually between 1 to 7 weeks afterwards.

Children – Serbs love children and children are welcomed everywhere.  If you have a baby in a pushchair don’t be surprised/offended if you are offered a small gift for the child from a complete stranger.  In the market your child may well be given a free carrot or apple from a vendor.  When queuing for things, people with small children are often pushed to the front of a queue.

Serbian Orthodox Religion - Culturally speaking, almost all Serbians consider themselves “Orthodox.” The majority of the population of Belgrade who practice their religion do so within the Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC).  This is from a "family of churches", such as the Greek and the Russian, which share common doctrines and practices.  It is self-governing under its Patriarch. There are some differences between the Orthodox Church and Churches in the western world, which are worth noting.

Fasting - This practice is worth keeping in mind if you invite Orthodox Christians to eat with you.  There are four periods within the year when adherents do not eat meat, dairy products, eggs, chocolate or food prepared with margarine.  These periods of fasting are:

The Christmas fasting period called Bozićni post lasts for six weeks leading up to the Orthodox Christmas - 7 January;

The Easter fast, Veliki post starts seven weeks before Easter.  Easter Sunday, unlike Christmas, is dependent upon the church calendar therefore has no fixed date;

The third fasting period is called Petrov post.  In 2004, it took place from 7 June until 11 July, leading up to St. Peter’s Day on 12 July.  As per Easter, St. Peter’s Day is dependent upon the church calendar and therefore is not a fixed date;

The fourth fasting period is Veliko Gospoinski post.  This fast lasts from 13 to 27 August, leading up to 28 August and the holy day marking the death of the Virgin Mary.  Like Christmas, this date is fixed.

It is sensible to ask what a person is happy or unhappy to eat although no offence is usually taken if you are not aware of their rules.

Liturgy - The main church celebration of the Eucharist (Mass, Lord’s Supper) is known as the Liturgy.  In Belgrade churches Eucharist begins at 9.00 or 9.30 a.m. and will last for up to two hours – though not everyone stays until the end.  Generally men and women stand on different sides of the church, though this is not enforced. Unless you are Orthodox, you will not be expected to receive communion. Ladies are encouraged to wear a head covering in church, and in summer, shorts or sleeveless shirts are unacceptable. This last point is valid even when you visit a church outside of service times.