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06.05.2026.

11:45

Today is St. George's Day: The holiday with the most customs, and one of them is especially important

The Serbian Orthodox Church and its believers today celebrate Saint George, one of the nine great martyrs and the first sufferers for the Christian faith.

Izvor: Novosti/I.Č.

Today is St. George's Day: The holiday with the most customs, and one of them is especially important
Spiritia/Wikipedia

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St. George’s Day is a holiday with many associated customs and magical rituals for protection, health, and fertility, which are performed on this day. The customs and beliefs of the Serbian people related to Djurdjevdan certainly existed before the adoption of Christianity. Saint George, through his feast day, has in some way taken the place of the old Serbian fertility deity Jarilo and his festival.

The Church commemorates on this day the martyrdom of Saint George, which took place on April 23, 303 AD.

In Serbian tradition, Djurdjevdan is the holiday with the greatest number of customs, which vary in content from region to region.

Today is St. George
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Flower wreaths

Wreaths are woven from “Djurdjevdan flowers” such as lily of the valley (djurdjevak), spurge (mlečika), and other plants, and used to decorate the front doors of yards and houses. These wreaths remain above the doors for an entire year, until the next Djurdjevdan. Many people make crosses from hazel branches and place them in fields, gardens, and buildings to protect them from hail (similar to the use of Christmas yole crosses).

It is also customary to weave wreaths from medicinal herbs and then throw them into running water. The main customs include weaving wreaths from plants, washing the face with herbs, and bathing in rivers.

Today is St. George
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Why are wreaths made?

It is believed that the wreath, as a kind of symbol, brings health to the household, fertility to the fields, protects from evil eyes, grants prosperity, and restores love.

Djurdjevdan is also a holiday of herders, so its customs have been best preserved in mountainous regions.

Roma communities traditionally celebrate Đurđevdan as one of their biggest holidays, symbolizing the arrival of spring.

The holiday is one of joy and celebration and is accompanied by many customs.

Willow branches are cut and placed on houses. In the evening, children often come and remove those wreaths. A wreath stolen from a girl’s house symbolizes that the person who took it may one day become her future husband.

Even today, people believe that if the weather is clear and sunny on this day, the year will be fertile and successful, but if it rains on the holiday and the following day, it is believed that the summer will be dry.

Today is St. George
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Djurdjevdan is celebrated by both Catholics and Orthodox Christians, each according to their own calendar, as St. George’s Day. Among Serbs, it has also taken on additional characteristics, blending with pre-Christian Balkan cults, which is why the feast of St. George among Serbs is not celebrated in the same way as in other Christian countries.

Today is St. George
Spiritia/Wikipedia

Tagovi

Folk customs and beliefs

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