Slava is an important holiday celebrated in Serbia by Orthodox Christian families to honor their patron saint as their provider and protector. According to historians, the first records of Slava among Serbs date back to at least 1018. It is the most significant and solemn feast day of the year for all Serbs. The tradition has been well preserved throughout the world.
The Slava tradition has its origins in Medieval Serbia, as the first Archbishop of the Serbs Saint Sava is connected with the Slava. According to indications, this is also the basis of the institution of the Slava within the Serbian Orthodox Church.
Saint Sava seems to have found a compromise formula satisfactory to both his people's pagan traditions and the requirements of theology in his understanding and tactful approach to the Serbian folk religion.
It is an evolution of a pagan rite called the ancestor-protector, which was often a Christian saint, usually St. Nicholas, with the pagan rite being transformed into a social event by reducing many religious elements and frequent ceremonies. This ritual involves offering a bloodless sacrifice, and a feast is held for family and neighbors.
The celebration begins with lighting a specially designed candle. Wine is then poured over a Slava cake, traditionally prepared and decorated by the host’s wife. The cake is then cut crosswise, rotated, and split into four parts, before being lifted up. A ritual thanksgiving follows. A cutting ceremony is then performed by the host and the oldest or most important guest of the family, as well as other family members.
An important role is played by the women in passing down knowledge related to the Slava, from which the knowledge about performing rituals, their meaning, and purpose are passed down. The feast is followed by the ceremonial drinking of wine, eating, and toasting for the family and guests' health, fertility, and well-being.
In multi-ethnic and multi-confessional areas, the Slava feast plays an important role in establishing and maintaining social relations. Due to the increased effective mobility that resulted from the post-World War II urbanization of a previously agrarian society, as well as the suppression of Serbian Orthodox customs during Communist rule, certain aspects of the custom have become more relaxed.
The latter half of the 20th century was particularly marked by the increasing separation of traditional patriarchal families, which resulted in Slava being celebrated by members of the same family in several locations. As of today, however, most Serbian communities (villages, cities, organizations, political parties, institutions, companies, professions) do the same.