Djokic: Visitors can experience the true spirit of Serbian tradition during the holidays in Gracanica

During the Christmas holidays, anyone visiting Gracanica can feel and experience the true spirit of tradition, which has been crucial for preserving Serbian people and culture in Kosovo, says Sandra Djokic, the director of the Tourist Organization of Gracanica. She points out that the number of tourists grows year by year during major Christian holidays.

Mulled wine and rakija, the burning of the Yule log, breaking the Christmas bread (chesnica) on Christmas Eve and Christmas, as well as the hospitality and rich table of Serbian hosts, are just some of the "trump cards" that Gracanica can offer during the holiday days.

Djokic highlights that Gracanica Monastery attracts the largest number of tourists during the major holidays – St. Vitus Day (Vidovdan), the Feast of the Assumption of Mary, and the Feast of the Nativity of Mary.

"Indeed, the number of tourists visiting Gracanica Monastery increases each year. This year, according to unofficial information from the monastery, about 200,000 believers visited the monastery. The largest number of tourists come during the Vidovdan celebrations, the Feast of the Assumption on August 28th, and September 21st when the Feast of the Nativity of Mary is celebrated," Djokic told Kosovo Online.

She adds that on the ground, it's evident that many who visit Gracanica Monastery also tour other monasteries in Kosovo, but the majority of overnight stays are organized within the Gracanica municipality itself.

"Gracanica is most recognized for religious tourism, as we have a monastery that is on the UNESCO list of cultural heritage. We are very recognizable and rank high on the tourist map. In addition, we have numerous religious sites that are very interesting. What has particularly stood out in the last year is the visit to the Monastery of Saint Demetrius in Susica, but we cannot overlook the very significant cultural and religious offerings, which include the church in Dobrotin and the church of Saint Prince Lazar in Gornja Gusterica, which in previous years during the Vidovdan celebrations was the most visited," emphasized Djokic.

The Tourist Organization of Gracanica, in cooperation with the Municipality, has organized the breaking of the Christmas bread over the past three years.

As Djokic notes, this year there will also be a tasting of mulled wine and boiled rakija on Christmas Eve morning and Christmas Eve.

The traditional burning of the Yule log in front of Gracanica Monastery is a given.

"Gracanica Monastery also has a traditional burning of the Yule log in front of the monastery. A large number of believers gather here, so tourists really have something to see and learn about how we traditionally celebrate Christmas. It's important that our tables, in our homes, remain at that traditional level. We nurture tradition and celebrate the holidays as our ancestors did, teaching our generations to celebrate in the same way," highlighted Djokic.

She invites everyone to come and experience the traditional spirit that Serbs in Gracanica continue to preserve.

"And, which actually keeps us and sustains us all these years," Djokic conveyed.