Milos and Stefan Stojanovic came for the Christmas branch this year as well: Life has triumphed; we stay at our hearth

Despite being wounded on Christmas Eve last year, Stefan and Milos Stojanovic from Gotovusa in the municipality of Strpce went to get the Christmas Eve branch early this morning. Accompanied by family members and the mayor Dalibor Jevtic, they cut the Christmas Eve branch and sent a message that life had triumphed and they were determined to stay at their hearth and live in peace.

Respecting tradition and customs, twelve-year-old Stefan Stojanovic cut the first Christmas Eve branch this morning, followed by Milos.

Milos Stojanovic, who was wounded last year upon returning from cutting the Christmas Eve branch, emphasizes that this is a significant holiday, and he wanted to celebrate it properly.

"Despite what happened last year, Stefan and I came for the Christmas Eve branch again. After all, this is our happiest holiday, and we intend to celebrate it properly," Stojanovic said.

Mayor of the municipality Strpce Dalibor Jevtic, who went for the Christmas Eve branch with Stefan and Milos, first wished everyone a happy Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Christmas. He conveys the message that they are sending together, that life has triumphed, and that they want to remain themselves and live in peace with everyone.

"First of all, I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Christmas. We all know what happened a year ago, and today we came here together to get the Christmas Eve branch to send a message that we do not give up on life and survival in these areas. I think that is the main message. Despite what happened to Stefan and Milos and their families last year, which left a great mark on all of us, regardless of that, we are determined to stay here and live in peace. Along with the message that life has triumphed, the message is that we want to be ourselves and live in peace with everyone," Jevtic said.

He emphasizes that on this holiday, they also celebrate the fact that the first baby born this year is from the municipality of Strpce and the village of Gotovusa.

"The first baby born in Kosovo and Metohija is a baby born into the Jovanovic family from the village of Gotovusa, and I think this is not accidental, considering everything that happened to us last year and in the years before. We start this year in a nicer way, and I hope to believe that it will be like that throughout this year and in the coming years and that the bad times are behind us. That is why today, together with our guests from Belgrade, whom I want to thank, we celebrate Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and tomorrow's Christmas holiday," Jevtic said.

He pointed out that today's Christmas Eve branch cutting was attended by water polo players from the "Tasmajdan" water polo club from Belgrade, who are located in the municipality of Strpce, as part of their season preparations.

Club coach Drazen Rajkovic emphasizes that he is pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere.

"The atmosphere here with you is incredible, very pleasant, and different from what we hear and the message sent to us who live outside the borders of Kosovo and Metohija. To say that I am pleasantly surprised is an understatement, I feel good here. Of course, the people from the municipality made it even better and brought it to the point where we feel like we are something important," Rajkovic said.

Last year on Christmas Eve, Stefan and Milos Stojanovic were wounded at the entrance to the village of Gotovusa when they were returning from cutting the Christmas Eve branch, and Azem Kurtaj shot at them from a vehicle.

The security for today's Christmas Eve branch cutting was provided by members of the Kosovo Police.