Opening hours:
Tuesday - Sunday: 10:00-18:00
Opening hours:
Tuesday - Sunday: 10:00-18:00
Bethlehem, the glorious city of God,
you are the mightiest of all cities,
for a king came to us from you,
beloved Jesus of David's descent,
Virgin Mary gave birth to him,
and laid him on the straw in the manger.
All the birds sing her song,
and angels are rocking him from heaven.
Sleep, sleep our Jesus on the straw,
for you reign in the heavens above us.
Bethlehem
There are several Christmas Eve and Day customs that remind us that Christ was born in a cave, on straw. "Vertep" among the Orthodox, "Bethlehem" or "Bethlem" among the Catholics and Greek Catholics in Vojvodina, means the reenactment of the Nativity scene and is known in several forms. In many parts of Vojvodina, processions of actors called ''vertepaši'' were known. On Christmas Eve they would visit houses and perform plays dedicated to the birth of Christ. On this occasions, a ''vertep'' was carried - a model of a church with a representation of Christ's birth. A candle was often lit inside the church.
Such processions were known among Serbs, Hungarians, Ruthenians and Romanians. It is believed that they were originally Christianized versions of the ancient winter rites. The performance of ''Vertep'' plays was known as early as the first half of the 18th century, while after the Second World War it began to die down. Nevertheless, in many places the ''Vertep'' processions have been preserved, and are organized again. Other types of ritual processions existed as well: ''zvezdari'' and ''korinđaši'' performed ritualized visits of houses. Songs were sung as an obligatory part of all these processions and, as a rule, Christ's birth on straw was mentioned.
Vertepaši, Mihajlovo (Hungarians), around 1950.
A ''vertep'' is made out of wood, covered with paper and painted. The walls are painted white, and the roofs of the bell towers in copper color. It represents a church with two towers - a model of the church in Srbobran. In the interior, the birth of Christ is presented.
Srbobran (Bačka), Serbs, 1930. Inv.
Ceremonial Cakes
Ceremonial cakes have a special place among Christmas customs. While in some regions one large Christmas cake was made, in others several ceremonial breads were baked. Each one had a special shape, name and meaning. Different opinions can be found in literature, which say that ritual breads used to be made of grain from the last harvest. In some villages in western Bosnia, grain from the harvest wreath or the last sheaf was kept until Christmas, when it was used for a ceremonial type of bread called ''česnica''. The basis of such customs is the belief in the grain demon and his effect on the fruitfulness and fertility. They hoped that through magic the effects of being fertile would transfer to the crops and ceremonial breads.
Christmas cake with grains of various cereals.
A round Christmas cake with dough figures and decorations. In the middle there is a "flower" with a sprig of basil, and around it four birds, four impressions of a seal ''poskurnik'' and representations of crops.
Platičevo (Srem), Serbs, 1959. Inv. item 3759.
Wheat subsoiler
On St. Barbara's Day (the Orthodox Church) or on St. Lucia's Day (Catholic Christians), the custom is to sow wheat into a dish, where it turns green until Christmas. It has a special place on the table on Christmas Eve and Day. In the central part of the plate, there is a place for a candle or a lamp that burns on these occasions. After the holidays, this wheat was most often given to poultry or cattle, but in some places it was also stored in a special way. It was twisted and pressed into the shape of the sun, and a container with holy water was kept on it. It was beleved that this would help the household in times of need (inv. no. 2055). Other customs performed on this day are also known, such as cooking ''varica'' - wheat or wheat with grains of other plants grown in the household, the arrival of the first guest (''položajnik'') and others.
The coaster is made from raw, knitted and pressed young Christmas wheat. The hair is tied with woll. It was used as a coaster for a container holding holy water.
Bački Vinogradi (Bačka), Hungarians, 1955. Inv. brochure 2055
''Poskurica''
Among Orthodox and Catholic Christians in Vojvodina a large Christmas cake is most often decorated with symbols of fertility: the dough symbolically represents crops, fruits, and tools. Basil, walnuts, red thread and candles are often added. Later, figures representing the birth of Christ were added. To decorate the Christmas cake, Serbs also used stamps ''poskurniki'', to press the letters IS HS NI KA (Jesus Christ Triumphs) into the dough. They were also used for the preparation of ritual cake.
The ''poskurnik'' seal is made of wood, decorated with fine carvings. It is in the shape of a complex cross. At the bottom, in four square fields, the letters IS HS NI KA are engraved.
Pećinci (Srem), Serbs, circa 1880. Inv. brochure 1923
The ''poskurnik'' seal is carved from soft wood. At the top there is a cross, placed on a profiled plinth in the form of a column, and at the bottom, in four square fields, are engraved the letters IS HS NI KA.
Kraljevci (Srem), Serbs, 1933. Inv. item 2539
Bringing Straw into the House
Before dinner straw was brought into the house. Traditionally it was brought in by the host or hostess, accompanied by the symbolic clucking and chriping of children. Firstly it was spread across the table and then covered by a bag and a tablecloth. People used to eat their Christmas Eve meal on the floor - on the straw. Straw was spread across the whole room and people used to sleep on it. In many areas it was costumary to tie all the eating utensils together after dinner and leave them like that overnight. Some Serbian families tied their cutlery with straw.
The Carrying of the Christmas Straw into the House, Begeč, 1959.
Spreading Christmas Straw on the Table, Begeč, 1959.
