INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF SERBIA
The traditional knowledge and skills, recognized by communities in Serbia as an indicator of their identity and continuity and showing vitality and perseverance to the modern times, are included in the National register of intangible cultural heritage. Its elements are either widespread or present throughout Serbia or territorially limited to a narrow geographic region, and their importance not only to the local community but also to society as a whole contributes to the richness of intangible cultural heritage of Serbia. One part of the National register are craftwork skills transferred from one generation to the other in certain families, as well as some of the customs and skills testifying that intangible cultural heritage lives with its carriers and may be present in several different environments or transferred from one environment to the other. Elements of intangible cultural heritage included in the National register present the richness and diversity of the cultural heritage present in the territory of the Republic of Serbia, and at the same time, they are a constant reminder that different communities living in the same cultural area can share and exchange the traditional forms of activities, preserving them for the generation yet to come.
Burning of “Lila” torches in the eve before the day of St. Apostles Peter and Paul. Loznica, Serbia - 11 July 2021. The customary practice of burning “Lila” torches in the eve before the day of St. Apostles Peter and Paul which is celebrated on 12 July each year, locally known as “Lilanje” exists for centuries in shepherd communities of Western Serbia. In the weeks before Petrovdan, people prepare lila torches from birch or cherry bark. The biggest event of burning “Lila” torches takes place in front of the Church of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin in Loznica. Today, this ancient ritual is primarily practiced by children and teens that burn the torches and celebrate for several hours each year on 11 July after the sunset.
Mavanje kumbara is performed in multiple locations around the settlement. Strpce, Kosovo* - 14 March 2021. Procka or Prince Marko’s Wedding is part of collective custom rituals performed during the celebration of White Shrove in Strpce, a major town of Sirinicka Zupa region in Shar Mountains, Kosovo*. It includes a procession of masked participants that symbolically presents the wedding of Prince Marko, a famous epic character in Serbian tradition. It symbolises the transition from winter to spring season through the play of wedding roles, aiming to affect the fertility of crops, cattle, and local population.
Mavanje kumbara represents driving out of the evil forces. Strpce, Kosovo* - 14 March 2021. Procka or Prince Marko’s Wedding is part of collective custom rituals performed during the celebration of White Shrove in Strpce, a major town of Sirinicka Zupa region in Shar Mountains, Kosovo*. It includes a procession of masked participants that symbolically presents the wedding of Prince Marko, a famous epic character in Serbian tradition. It symbolises the transition from winter to spring season through the play of wedding roles, aiming to affect the fertility of crops, cattle, and local population.
Masked participants preparing for the procession that passes through the streets of town. Strpce, Kosovo* - 14 March 2021. Procka or Prince Marko’s Wedding is part of collective custom rituals performed during the celebration of White Shrove in Strpce, a major town of Sirinicka Zupa region in Shar Mountains, Kosovo*. It includes a procession of masked participants that symbolically presents the wedding of Prince Marko, a famous epic character in Serbian tradition. It symbolises the transition from winter to spring season through the play of wedding roles, aiming to affect the fertility of crops, cattle, and local population.
A dozen men carrying young, leafy branches catch another group of about two dozen men acting “wild horses”, bringing them to the “market“. Velika Hoca, Kosovo* - 04 May 2021. Each year on the third day of Easter, a complex customary ritual known as “White fairy“ takes place in Velika Hoca, an isolated Serbian enclave in Southwestern Kosovo. Due to its importance for preserving national culture and bringing the community together it is inscribed on the list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Serbia. White fairy consists of several elements, among which the main ones are the dance of peacock and peahen, hunt of wild horses, and building the town.
Local women decorate elderly women with flowers as she will take the role of a peacock. Velika Hoca, Kosovo* - 04 May 2021. Each year on the third day of Easter, a complex customary ritual known as “White fairy“ takes place in Velika Hoca, an isolated Serbian enclave in Southwestern Kosovo. Due to its importance for preserving national culture and bringing the community together it is inscribed on the list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Serbia. White fairy consists of several elements, among which the main ones are the dance of peacock and peahen, hunt of wild horses, and building the town.
View of the circular formation consisting of two rows of participants of building the town ritual. Velika Hoca, Kosovo* - 04 May 2021. Each year on the third day of Easter, a complex customary ritual known as “White fairy“ takes place in Velika Hoca, an isolated Serbian enclave in Southwestern Kosovo. Due to its importance for preserving national culture and bringing the community together it is inscribed on the list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Serbia. White fairy consists of several elements, among which the main ones are the dance of peacock and peahen, hunt of wild horses, and building the town.
Local women sing while playing daire tambourines. Brod, Gora region, Kosovo* - 05 May 2021. Despite the ongoing situation with the pandemic and official ban imposed by the local authorities in Kosovo’s Gora region, Gorani people managed to mark Saint George’s Day, their most important annual celebration which is commonly known as “Djurdjevdan”. The central location for celebration of Djurdjevdan is Vlaska clearing near Vraniste village each year on 6 May.
Young women dressed in Gorani ethnic costume dance traditional kolo. Brod, Gora region, Kosovo* - 05 May 2021. Despite the ongoing situation with the pandemic and official ban imposed by the local authorities in Kosovo’s Gora region, Gorani people managed to mark Saint George’s Day, their most important annual celebration which is commonly known as “Djurdjevdan”. The central location for celebration of Djurdjevdan is Vlaska clearing near Vraniste village each year on 6 May.
Gorani girl in national costume poses with a jar filled fresh water from the mountain river. Brod, Gora region, Kosovo* - 05 May 2021. Despite the ongoing situation with the pandemic and official ban imposed by the local authorities in Kosovo’s Gora region, Gorani people managed to mark Saint George’s Day, their most important annual celebration which is commonly known as “Djurdjevdan”. The central location for celebration of Djurdjevdan is Vlaska clearing near Vraniste village each year on 6 May.
Man blows a traditional wind instrument named “borija” which is made from the fresh tree crust for Saint George's Day, the most important celebration among Gorani ethnic minority. Vlaska, Gora region, Kosovo* - 06 May 2021. Despite the ongoing situation with the pandemic and official ban imposed by the local authorities in Kosovo’s Gora region, Gorani people managed to mark Saint George’s Day, their most important annual celebration which is commonly known as “Djurdjevdan”. The central location for celebration of Djurdjevdan is Vlaska clearing near Vraniste village each year on 6 May.
Production of jewelry inside one of the last filigree workshops in central Prizren. Prizren, Kosovo* - 21 March 2017. The art of filigree, a delicate lace-like kind of jewelry metalwork made with tiny beads and twisted threads brought a great deal of renown to Prizren over the centuries. This town became the main center for jewelry makers since the 18th century, where jewelers carefully passed on the secrets of the trade from father to son. Back in the 1980s, when the filigree trade flourished there were around 200 active artisans in Prizren while nowadays remain only around 10 families that are actively involved in filigree production.
Celebration of Auntie Bibi, a non-canonized saint venerated by Romani local population. Belgrade, Serbia - 02 April 2021. First time since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the feast dedicated to Auntie Bibi was celebrated among the Belgrade Roma population. Auntie Bibi or Bibijako Djive is one of the most important feasts celebrated by Eastern Orthodox Christian Roma. The belief in Bibi and the celebration of her feast, Bibijako Djive, is linked to Romani communities in Serbia, south of the Sava and Danube rivers and north of the city of Niš. Bibi is celebrated as a healer and protector of the family, and above all as a protector of children's health. The presence of a priest is obligatory, although Auntie Bibi is a non-canonized saint. The event was organized within the premises used by local Romani organisations since the early 20th century, located in Belgrade’s Voždovac municipality.
Celebration of Auntie Bibi, a non-canonized saint venerated by Romani local population. Belgrade, Serbia - 02 April 2021. First time since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the feast dedicated to Auntie Bibi was celebrated among the Belgrade Roma population. Auntie Bibi or Bibijako Djive is one of the most important feasts celebrated by Eastern Orthodox Christian Roma. The belief in Bibi and the celebration of her feast, Bibijako Djive, is linked to Romani communities in Serbia, south of the Sava and Danube rivers and north of the city of Niš. Bibi is celebrated as a healer and protector of the family, and above all as a protector of children's health. The presence of a priest is obligatory, although Auntie Bibi is a non-canonized saint. The event was organized within the premises used by local Romani organisations since the early 20th century, located in Belgrade’s Voždovac municipality.
