5/6 – Slava (Serbian Saint’s Day), St George is the patron saint for Helen’s family. A Kolach (sweet bread cake) is made and decorated with four apples on perimeter holding scripture passages, center one reads “Christ is Risen” in Cyrillic. Grapes and Barrel of Wine for blood of Christ, bird of peace, and cherries for health.
Candles are lit for those who have passed as well as the living.
Serbian Tort for dessert!
Serbian Trip to attend Wedding
5/15-5/25
Belgrade Market – Helen bought and traded for carpets and purchased other crafts.
Gypsy band looking for tips
Newly restored St Sava Orthodox Cathedral
St Sava is the patron saint of Serbia
We discovered that Helen’s grandmother’s and mother’s gravestone and base had collapsed. We arranged for it to be rebuilt and paid the cemetery for one hundred more years of “rent.” If plots are not paid for, the remains will be removed to a mass grade and the plot sold.
Three-day wedding of Helen’s cousin Zoran’s son in Velika Plana. First day, dinner/drinks/dancing at groom’s family restaurant and event center on the Green Morava River – Dragan, Biljana, Nikola, Ivana, Kate, Damir, and Helen.
5/18 Sa – Wedding events started at the events center, more food, drinks, music, socializing.
Local band
The groom (Nikolas) was then taken to pay the dowery to his fiancé’s family and pick up the bride.
Arriving to bands playing (hired and Gypsy)
Serbian Orthodox Church
1.5hr wedding
Men and women standing on opposite sides
Hands bound by linen and crowns placed on heads.
Celebrants
Eight-hour reception (~300 people) with constant food, drinks, music, and dancing. Helen with parents Zoran and Dalfina
Kate and Helen
Cutting the cake, accompanied by fireworks –
Day after wedding, more food, drinks, music at family events center. Family members – Ivana, Kate, Daniele, Noah, Nikolas, Sonja, Zoran, Zoki, Dalfina, Ana, Ljsa, Helen, and Tom
Trip to family (Helen’s mother’s grandmother’s) cemetery in Veliko Selo. Cleaned plot (1800s) and lit candles.
Trip to family (Helen’s father’s father’s) estate in Ub. It was taken by communists after WW II, split up, with the house and surrounding land turned into an agricultural school. The house is now in shambles.
Many of the farm buildings were sold and are still operational.
Some of the land was purchased and is a pheasant farm with lodge, dog breeding kennels, and elite clients.
Lodge interior
Serbian lunch before returning to Belgrade.
Farewell dinner on the Sava River with Maja who helped and entertained us while in Belgrade.
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