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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 25, 2011)
community january25 2011 A Serbian Christmas in Vernonia 9 sings traditional, religious Christmas “ G u e s s carols in the old, old Slavic languages, who got the piece meanwhile throwing walnuts and wheat with the coin?” on the head of the household. The asks Jacimovic throwing of the walnuts and wheat was with a big grin. one tradition the Tierney’s and Jacimovic “Me!” skipped. Jacimovic Once Badnjak is brought inside, says he does not no one from the family is suppose to believe his family leave the house or come into the house in Serbia has even until the next day. Very early on the done the tradition morning of January 7th, a special, of the Cesnica. invited guest arrives. This person, called “My mother has “Polazajnik,” is traditionally a relative never made it and or close family friend, and is invited I’m not sure if I into the home to bring good luck and ever did it with Colin Tierney, Aleksa Jacimovic, Jim Tierney and Casey Mitchell roasting the holiday pig. joy for the upcoming year. According my grandparents to Jacimovic, it is a great honor to be when I was very compromise because many Serbs were Polazajnik for someone’s family. “Once young. It is a common tradition but at resisting conversion, so they let us keep Polazajnik arrives, things go back to our house there is just never enough time most of our old pagan, Slavic traditions normal,” explains Jacimovic. “Once for all the preparation.” and just adapt them to Christian needs. Badnjak is brought into the house the The Tierneys and Jacimovic So almost all our Christmas traditions night before, no one leaves and no held a large party on the afternoon of date back to those pagan times.” one enters, because the first person January 7th that extended until around A Serbian Christmas in Vernonia who enters the house automatically midnight. Family friends, along with is exactly what the foreign exchange becomes Polazajnik,” explains many of Aleksa’s school friends, arrived student program is all about-- a chance to Jacimovic. “You don’t want a member to take part in the festivities. “There learn and share traditional customs and of the household to be Polazajnik, nor were so many people here, we ate the learn about other cultures. Thank you to do you want someone you didn’t invite whole pig all in one evening!” says Aleksa Jacimovic for sharing this story to be your Polazajnik-- you invite Jacimovic. about his country and his holiday with someone in advance that you believe Jacimovic says there are many us and to the Tierney family for taking will bring your household good luck.” more traditions around a traditional their role as a host family seriously and When Polazajnik arrives, he Bosnian Christmas-- he and the Tierneys helping Aleksa feel welcome in our burns at least part of the Badnjak and is only celebrated a handful of them. community. served breakfast and the family gives Jacimovic says his family doesn’t always him some presents. The Tierney’s celebrate all the traditions. And with the invited their friend, Casey Mitchell, help of the Tierneys, this ended up being to be Polazajnik, who arrived early one of the most traditional Christmases on January 7th, and did his duty of Jacimovic has ever celebrated. “My Aleksa Jacimovic (center) and Colin burning a few leaves of Badnjak host parents wanted it to be proper Tierney (left) watch as honorary and wanted to see all the customs and “Polazajnik”, Casey Mitchell ceremonially before breakfast. Christmas day is very festive I wanted them to see how it originally burns oak leaves during a Serbian and usually includes a feast at used to be, and how it is still celebrated Christmas celebration in Vernonia. lunchtime and many other special in the countryside and somewhat in the says follows the old-style Julian calendar foods, including sweets. Traditionally, cities,” explains Jacimovic. for holidays. That calendar is two weeks a family will roast a pig on a spit over a Jacimovic says the Serb different from the regular calendar, so, fire, which the Tierneys did. They also tradition of bringing a tree into the home “That’s why we celebrate Christmas on prepared Baklava, cabbage rolls and at Christmas goes back to old Slavic January 7th,” says Jacimovic. other traditional soups and foods. Kim times when the Eastern Europeans were Made with fresh Serbian Christmas has many Tierney even improvised and baked a still pagans. Jacimovic says it wasn’t ingredients in Vernonia interesting customs which the Tierneys traditional bread, “Cesnica,” which has until the 13th and 14th centuries that the Not just a salad dressing and Jacimovic enacted during their a coin placed inside the bread. “During Serbs converted to Christianity, under Delicious as a dip for wings & vegies celebration. First of all, on January 6th, one of the meals, everyone is suppose to threat by the Pope and the Bishop of Try it on chicken or steak the day before Christmas, the head of grab the bread at the same time and break Constantinople of a Crusade. “Serbs the household-- usually the oldest male a piece from it,” explains Jacimovic. were among the last Slavic peoples An experience you (but that can vary from region to region, “And the one who gets the piece with the to be converted to Christianity,” should not miss! according to Jacimovic), goes into the coin is considered the luckiest one.” says Jacimovic. “But they made a woods and cuts a branch from an oak tree and brings it back to the house, leaving it outside the front door until dark. “That’s how it should traditionally be, but in modern city conditions you just go to the marketplace and buy an oak branch instead of going in the woods and cutting it,” explains Jacimovic. That oak branch will be the “Badnjak”-- Even though our local emergency teams are equipped for the the Christmas tree. Jim Tierney was unexpected, severe winter weather could leave your family stranded for days. Columbia 9-1-1 urges your family to prepare responsible for and brought home an oak a 72-hour kit to help you survive up to three days. Find a branch to serve as Badnjak. detailed list at www.redcross.org, but here are some basics: Jacimovic says the rest of • One gallon of water a day for each person. January 6th is spent preparing food • Canned and dried food for family members and pets. • Flashlights, cell phones, portable radios and batteries. for Christmas day. In the afternoon, • Warm clothes, blankets and first aid. everyone attends the church service, Talk with your family and neighbors about what to do and which is followed by a celebration where to meet when disaster strikes. Columbia 9-1-1 asks for which includes food, music, singing and your help in keeping emergency lines clear and following official instructions the crisis is over. dancing. “It’s a Fair-like event, very festive,” says Jacimovic. Jacimovic was able to attend a Serbian Orthodox Columbia 9-1-1 Church service in Milwaukie, Oregon, Communications District. Always there. where he says he was able to meet with other local Serbians, and celebrate the holiday Once back home, traditionally, P.O. Box 998 St. Helens, OR 97051 Administrative Office: (503) 397-7255 Non-emergency Dispatch: (503) 397-1521 1-800-696-7795 the head of the house brings Badnyak www.columbia911.com into the house after dark, while everyone Aleksa Jacimovic is a foreign exchange student from Serbia who is attending school at Vernonia High School this year. One of Aleksa’s goals as a foreign exchange student was to make sure to share some of his culture with his hosts and friends while visiting the United States. On January 6th and 7 th , Jacimovic had a chance to do just that. Jacimovic is living with Jim and Kim Tierney, who decided to help Aleksa feel at home and helped him put together a traditional Serbian Christmas celebration, complete with a “Badnyak” and “Polazajnik.” Jacimovic attends a Serbian Orthodox Church in Serbia which, along with other Slavic Orthodox churches, he Now Available at Sentry Market The longest 72 hours you’ll ever spend at home. Are you prepared?
