Cutting down the Serbian Christmas trees in central Kosovo: We are sending messages of peace and coexistence

According to a centuries-old tradition, the Serbs start cutting the Serbian Christmas trees on Christmas morning. It is customary to pour wine over the Serbian Christmas tree and cut it down three times. This is how, this morning, the Serbs from central Kosovo gathered in the woods not far from Lake Gracanica to cut the Serbian Christmas tree.

Just like every year, the cutting of the Serbian Christmas tree is accompanied by old Serbian songs and wine. Sirens are heard in the streets of Gracanica, and Serbian flags are fluttering from cars.

Nikola Petkovic from Gracanica came with his friends to cut the Serbian Christmas trees. As he said, it was important to preserve the long-lasting tradition in order for the Serbs to survive in Kosovo.

"I come here every year. The feeling when I come to cut the Serbian Christmas tree is incredible. We must be here today, in order to preserve the tradition. We bring wine and an ax with us, and we cut the Serbian Christmas tree three times. All I want is for us to be unique and to stick together to survive here," Petkovic said.

Peace, health, and happiness are some of the wishes of Serbs, but also to spend Christmas in unity and harmony.

"It is very important that we are here today, we preserve our tradition. I want everyone to be happy and spend the upcoming holiday in good health," Lazar Jovanovic from Radevo said.

"I wish everyone a lot of love and a happy, most joyous holiday for the Orthodox people," Milan Denda from Suvi Dol said.

Among those who got up early this morning and went cutting the Serbian Christmas trees were the youngest ones, who were not bothered by the cold.

"Every year I come with my father to cut the Serbian Christmas tree. I look forward to every Christmas," nine-year-old Andrija Stosic from Badovac said.

Also, for all those who were not able to cut a Serbian Christmas tree, local sellers in Gracanica prepared the Serbian Christmas tree, as in previous years.

The sellers say that they are satisfied with the sales and that they are getting better every year.

"Every year there are more and more customers. People buy. The price starts from 200 Serbian dinars and up, whoever has more - gives more. It is good money," one of the sellers from Gracanica, Samdija Ramic, said.

Fasting food is usually prepared on Christmas Day. Fruit is also bought, which, according to tradition, is on the Christmas table on Christmas Eve.

The consecration and lighting of the Serbian Christmas tree will take place at the gate of the Gracanica monastery tonight from 5:00 pm.