WHAT TO BRING AS A GIFT TO THE HOST OF A TRADITIONAL SLAVA CELEBRATION

The season of Slava celebrations has begun, so it's worth knowing what is appropriate to bring as a gift to the host. Ethnologist Vesna Marjanović recently provided an answer to this question.

She mentions that in the old days, it was customary to bring an apple as a symbol of good wishes and a cube of sugar for the children during Slava celebrations, while in the winter season, guests would bring a handful of walnuts for the host.

Gifts such as sugar, coffee, brandy, and anything needed for the celebration were common. These were rural customs, and in the city, it was perfectly normal to attend a Slava celebration empty-handed.

However, as more people from rural areas moved to the city, bringing a gift for Slava became customary even in urban settings. Additionally, hosts began keeping records of what each guest brought to reciprocate in kind.

In the 1990s, Slava celebrations became a status symbol and gradually started moving into cafes, accompanied by a much larger number of gifts.

So, there is no official rule. Bring something you think will please the host and don't forget chocolate for the children.