On the day before Christmas, the 6th of Januray, Serbs celebrate Badnje Vece. The Christmas Eve got its name from the badnjak tree. Actually badnjak is the most beautiful young oak that one can find in the woods. When the right one is found, it is necessary to cut it and bring it to the door of the home and to leave it there. Kissing the Badnjak In the villages, where one still can find homes with old-fashioned hearths, the custom is that the father and the oldest sun go out to pick up the badnjak and to nock on the door of their home.
Mother opens the door.
The custom is also to put straw around the fireplace, to simulate the connection with the earth. Usually, Serbs put coins, walnuts, almonds, dry figs on the straw, all the gifts for the children. The traditional January 6th supper for Serbs is religious diatary meals, usually fish. Christmas Eve supper is very interesting. It is very rich even if it is always meatless meal.