Tucindan in Serbia (Tucindan)

The Tutsindan holiday is both religious and folk. Celebrated on January 5, two days before Orthodox Christmas in Serbia, as well as Montenegro and Bosnia. Literally translated from Seob it means “The Day of the Slaughter of the Christmas Pig.” Although the holiday is officially considered Orthodox, it also retains some pagan elements. This is not surprising, because almost everywhere where Christianity was implanted, it more or less merged with local pagan beliefs. This manifests itself in the form of traditions, folk beliefs, and small local peculiarities that appear during religious rituals. Pagan elements in the rituals of Tucindan have existed since the very beginning of its celebration. The Serbian Orthodox Church was founded in 1219, with Saint Sava as its first Archbishop. This man pursued a competent and balanced policy of attracting his compatriots to the Christian faith. He tried not to eradicate folk customs, but, on the contrary, preserved them, but adapted them to Orthodox traditions. This is what made it possible to attract a large number of Serbs to Christianity. Likewise, some beliefs that run counter to Christian dogmas are associated with Tucindan. For example, on this day it is customary to slaughter a pig. Its blood is believed to have healing properties. Sometimes it is collected and used as a remedy. On a holiday, a pig is not slaughtered, but rather slaughtered. This must be done with one blow, with a mallet or the blunt side of an ax. The instrument is first lubricated with salt. A pig intended for slaughter is called bozhichnyar. It is customary to prepare it the next day and serve it on Christmas Day. The traditional way of preparing bozhicnyar is spit roasting. Then you need to decorate it and bring it into the house. But modern city dwellers often prepare it in other ways, without being able to bake the whole pig. In some areas, the decoration of the Christmas table is not a pig, but a lamb, goose or turkey. There are other customs associated with Tucindan. So on this day: 1. Housewives knead the dough for a holiday pie. This must be done in a good mood and with bright thoughts. Otherwise the dough will not work. The pie will not be baked on the same day, but the next, that is, on Christmas Eve. 2. They don’t take anything out of the house. It is believed that by getting rid of old things in Tucindan, the Serbs will attract misfortune and poverty. 3. Children are not punished for pampering or even serious misconduct. On the contrary, you need to praise children and give them gifts. According to popular belief, if parents punish a child on a holiday, they will face his bad behavior throughout the next year. 4. A young oak tree is cut down for badnyak, which is also called a Christmas log. Moreover, you need to cut down a tree with three blows. If this does not work, the trunk is simply broken off by hand. It will be possible to bring the oak log into the house only the next day. In pagan times, badnyak personified for the southern Slavs the spirit of the passing year, the change of seasons and the renewal of the world. It was ritually burned on the day of the winter solstice. With the advent of Christianity, the tradition was preserved, but was dedicated to Christmas. Serbs burn badnjak in the oven, having previously coated it with honey and sprinkled it with grain bread. In Tucindan, services are held in churches in Serbia and believers are sure to attend them. Parishioners usually come in families. Christmas in Serbia is generally considered a family holiday, just like the days preceding it. It is customary to celebrate it with relatives, gathering several generations under one roof.