WORKING ACROSS CULTURES (SRBIJA) Presented by: Gordana Oehmen

Own only what you can always carry with you: know languages, know countries, know people. Let your memory be your travel bag. - Alexander Solzhenitsyn Southeastern Europe-Serbia Serbia has connected West with East for centuries – a land in which civilizations, cultures, faiths, climates and landscapes meet and mingle.

International roads and railway lines, which run through the country’s river valleys, form the Serbia is a shortest link between crossroads of Western Europe and the Europe and a Middle East. geopolitically important territory. Serbia: Country Background

• Official Name: the Republic of Serbia • Location: the central part of the Balkan Peninsula in Central Southeastern Europe. • Climate: in the north, continental climate (cold winter and hot summers); central portion, continental and Mediterranean climate; to the south, hot, dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfalls inland. • Languages: Serbian (official) 88%, Hungarian 3.4%, Bosnian 1.9%, Romani 1,4%, other 3.4%. • Ethnicity: Serb 83%, Hungarian 3.5%, Romany 2.1%, Bosnian 2%, other 5.7% • Religions: Serbian orthodox 84%, Catholic 5%, Muslim 3.1%, Protestant 1%, Atheist 1.1%. Serbia: Country Background

• Area: 77,474 km2 (excluding Kosovo) • Population: 7,209 million • GDP per capita: $5,924 (excluding Kosovo) • Currency: Serbian Dinar (RSD) ($100 = 10,921 RSD) • Capital: (Beograd) – Land of (JUGOSLAVIA)

• Serbia was the largest of six republics forming a new Yugoslavia that emerged as a federal socialist state after World War II. • However, with the collapse of communism throughout central and eastern Europe at the end of the 20th century, Yugoslavia broke up in a series of wars. • Serbia, led by nationalist strongman Slobodan Milosevic during the wars of the 1990s, remained allied with until June 2006 when the latter voted and declared independence. History of Serbia

• Yugoslavia Serbia • After five centuries of Ottoman rule Serbia’s independence was formally recognized at the Berlin congress in 1878. After World War I, Serbia, along with Croatia and Slovenia, formed a kingdom later named Yugoslavia, which was dissolved after Nazi German, Italian fascist troops and their allies occupied the country in 1941. • Serbia was the largest of six republics forming a new Yugoslavia that emerged as a federal socialist state after World War II. But with the collapse of communism throughout central and eastern Europe at the end of the 20th century, Yugoslavia broke up in a series of wars. Serbia, led by nationalist strongman Slobodan Milosevic during the Balkans wars of the 1990s, remained allied with Montenegro until June 2006 when the latter voted and declared independence. • Serbia lost its southern province Kosovo after a 1998-99 conflict with separatist ethnic Albanians which ended after a NATO air campaign. Kosovo came under United Nations administration in June 1999 and proclaimed independence in 2008. Serbia: History

• Medieval State late 8th century • Serbian Kingdom 1346 • Serbian empire 1346 • Ottoman conquest 1459 • Kingdom of Serbia 1882 • Unification of Yugoslavia 1918 • Independent Republic 2006 Serbia Facts

• Within Serbia, there are several national cultures. • Serbian tradition. • A large Hungarian population in the Northern province of , where Hungarian is the common language and the culture is highly influenced by Hungary (which border the province to the north). • In Southern Serbia, the province of Kosovo, is primarily Albanian, and practices Islamic culture. Serbia Facts

Natural resources: Oil, gas, coal, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, antimony, chromite, nickel, gold, silver, magnesium, pyrite, limestone, marble, .

Agriculture products: Wheat, maize, sugar beets, sunflower, beef, pork, milk, fruits, vegetables, tobacco

Industries: Machine building, metallurgy, mining, consumer goods. Exports: Manufactured goods, food & live animals, raw materials. Serbian Alphabet (AZBUKA- Азбука)

• The Republic of Serbia officially uses the and Cyrillic script. However, on public signs and in the media the Latin script is very often used, and both scripts are taught in school. • The Serbian language is a member of the South Slavic language family. Serbian Cyrillic has 30 characters, and each letter corresponds directly to one sound, which makes it unique in comparison to other writing systems.  write as you speak, read as it is written principle • Ethnic minorities have the constitutional and legal right to officially use their languages and alphabets in the areas they inhabit. In the autonomous provinces of Vojvodina and Kosovo and Metohija the ethnic minority languages of Hungarian, Slovakian, Croatian, Romanian, Rusyn and Albanian are in official use. • Literacy: 98% Serbia: Society & Population

• Serbia has always been pulled between East and West, not only in a geographical sense, but also politically and culturally. • between the Byzantine and Roman empires. • a frontier between the Ottoman Empire and the Christian West. • The ethnic makeup of Serbia’s population is diverse, with around 40 nationalities living side by side with the Serb majority. • comprise 82.86% of the population, Hungarians 3.91%, 1.81%, Roma 1.44%, Yugoslavs 1.08%, Croatians 0.94%, 0.92%, Albanians 0.82%, Slovaks 0.79%, 0.53%, Romanians 0.46%, Macedonians 0.34%, Bulgarians and 0.27% each, Muslims 0.26%, Rusyns 0.21%, Slovenes and Ukrainians 0.07% each, Gorani 0.06%, Germans 0.05% and Russians and Czechs 0.03% each. Serbia: Religion

• The majority of the population of Serbia is of the • Ckve dzamija Christian Orthodox faith. The , has played an important role in the development and preservation of the Serbian national identity. • The majority of religious believers in Serbia are Orthodox Christians (84.98%), followed by Roman Catholics (5.48%), Muslims (3.2%) and Protestants (1.08%). Other religions are also present in Serbia. • the Serbian Orthodox Church • the Roman Catholic Church • the Slovakian Evangelical Church • the Reformed Christian Church • the Evangelical Christian Church • the Islamic Religious Community • the Jewish Religious Community People in Serbia

• Serbia is generally perceived a s being a land of “warm hearted people” where the hospitability and catering to the guests is of central importance. • Serbian people are generally open, friendly, and direct . • Shaking hands is essential, when you first meet someone and every time you see the person again. • Eye contact is valued . • Hand gestures are very common when speaking and people are very entertaining and will joke frequently. • Three kisses on the cheek is usually common among very good friends or relatives, but not at work. • It is common to hear people speaking in loud voices. This does not signify anger, people just to be very expressive. Serbia: People Belgrade (Beograd): something for everyone

• Old and new, past and present, come together in Belgrade. • The capital that lies on two rivers – the and the Sava. • Belgrade is one of the oldest cities in Europe, first settled in the 3rd century BC by the Celts, before becoming the Roman settlement of Singidunum. • It was destroyed and rebuild 40 times. Serbia: Belgrade

• Knez Mihajilova Street • Skadarlija Serbia: People

• Explain which goods and • Picture services are produced in your country. How do people typically provide for the needs of themselves and their families? Serbia: Monasteries

• The building of Serbia’s numerous monasteries, which are often surrounded by serenity and green forests, is also closely connected with the establishment of the Serbian state, founded on a tradition of monastic life and spirituality. • For the most part, the Serbian monasteries were built in the Middle Ages, when the overall • European culture was being developed under the aegis of the church, so the monasteries transformed themselves from places of praying and pilgrimage into important national anchorages and hotbeds for education and culture. • As master-pieces of medieval art and architecture, our monasteries represent a valuable part of the European cultural heritage. • Today, there are more than two hundred monasteries in Serbia; 54 of which have been declared cultural monuments, while importantly, (Old Ras) with Sopoćani, Studenica and medieval Serbian monasteries in Kosovo and Metohija – namely Dečani, Gračanica, Pećka patrijaršija (Patriarchate of Peć) and Bogorodica Ljeviška (Our Lady of Ljeviš) are listed as UNESCO world cultural heritage sites. Serbia: Fortresses

• In Serbia, there are the remains of nearly forty fortified medieval cities and fortresses. They were built at strategically important geographical points alongside rivers, key roads or on the defense borderlines. They were raised to be impossible to conquer; however, their ruins tell the story of the invasion and the appearance and disappearance of the cultures they once defended. • Some fortresses were only military outposts while others protected manor-houses and their squires’ estates and some fortresses were intended for defending the monasteries. Many fortresses were the root of contemporary cities. Their tower and defensive-wall systems encompassed the whole settlements – houses, shops, public buildings and churches. • As the significant monuments of the European military architecture, today, Serbia’s fortresses are part of the rich cultural heritage and an inevitable ‘must-see’ tourist destination in their own right.

Serbia: Customs and Traditions

• Hospitality • Traditionally, honored guests in a Serbian home are greeted with a spoonful of “Slatko”. Furthermore, it is common for guests to bring something sweet to the host when going on a visit, even if they're only stopping by for a short time. • The Serbs have many traditions. The SLAVA is an exclusive custom of the Serbs, each family has one patron saint. Serbian households gather around in order to celebrate one of the most important dates of the year - a patron saint. 78 home patrons are celebrated by Serbian people. • Serbian Orthodox Church uses that is late 13 days. For example, St. Nicholas date is December 6, but by Julian calendar this date is 13 days later, December 19; Christmas Day (December 25) the Serbs celebrate Christmas on January 7 Slava (Serbian: слава), also called krsna slava (крсна слава)

• Slava (Serbian: слава), also called krsna slava (крсна слава) • is the Serbian Ortodox tradition. All Serbs celebrate Slava, every family has their own patron saint that they celebrate on the feast day.  The celebration of the home Patron Saint-is the greatest characteristic of the national and religious life of the Serbian people. It is a beautiful and unique expression of the Orthodox faith that is deeply implanted in the Serbian Christian soul. • The most common feast days are St. Nicholas (falling on December 19), St. George (May 6), St (January 20). Serbia: Christmas - Bozic

• • The Serbs celebrate Christmas – Bozic for three consecutive days, beginning with Christmas Day. Serbian Ortodox church uses the traditional Julian calendar (as per which Christmas day – December 25 falls on January 7) . During this festive time, one is to greet another person with "Christ is Born," (Hristos se rodi) which should be responded to with "Truly He is Born” (Vaistinu se rodi). • Christmas dinner is the most celebratory meal a family has during a year. A special, festive loaf of is baked for this occasion. The main course is roast pork (whole pig) which they cook whole by rotating it impaled on a wooden spit close to an open fire. • It is not a part of Serbian traditions to exchange gifts during Christmas. Easter (Vaskrs or Uskrs)

• The archaic term for Easter is Velikden (Great Day) while Vaskrs/Uskrs is officially in use. In these times people greet each other with the terms "Hristos vaskrse" (Christ is risen) and the reply "Vaistinu vaskrse" (Indeed, He is risen). • Egg tapping, or also known as egg fight, egg knocking, egg pacqueing, egg boxing, egg picking. • The rule of the game is simple. One holds a hard boiled egg and taps the egg of another participant with one's own egg intending to break the other's, without breaking one's own. As with any other game, it has been a subject of cheating; eggs with cement core, alabaster, wooden, etc. Nature of Serbia Serbia: Food – Serbia’s turbulent history has left its mark on the country’s food, a cuisine which derives from the four corners of the world.

• Serbs are hospitable nation, so from elegant restaurants of the capital, through the lively inns and taverns in the rest of the country, to the modest households in the poorest villages, your hosts will do all they can to make you feel welcome.  Meats: • Cevapcici are small sausage-like grilled portions of minced meat. Serbian cevapcici are made from either beef, lamb, or pork, or mixed. They are usual served as 5-10 pieces on the plate of in flatbread (lepinje), often with chopped , sour cream, , kajmak, red peper and salt. • : Serbian hamburger. It is often served with kajmak cream, ajvar sauce of peppers and mixed spicy sauce. Leskovacka pljeskavic is usually made of beef or pork, very spicy and served with onions. • Pecenje mens roasted meat (whole roosted pork, lamb, or goat), and it’s one of the most popular dishes in Serbia, especially during all types of celebrations such as weddings or Slava. Food: Serbia

• : Ground beef and rice rolled into cabbage or grapevine. • Punjene paprike (stuffed peppers): is dish made of , stuffed with mix of meat and rice into sauce. • is a pie typical of Serbia. It’s one of the most recognizable types of Serbian pastry. It is made of layers of thin dough with cheese and eggs. • Proja: is Serbian dish made of . • Salads: (sprska salata) • Sweets: • Ustipci are doughnut-like balls, fried in oil and served with jam, or cheese. • The best known Serbian drink is Rakija, a strong brandy. Sljivovica from plums; Kajsijevaca from apricot; Viliamovka from pear. The alcohol content is usually between 30-40%.

• http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=food+for+soul+serbia Interesting facts about Serbia

The Serbian clock-making industry is even older than the world-famous Swiss one. The • Serbs had their own clock 600 years before the Swiss did. Most Serbian last names end with the letters “ic”. The very first video transmission between North America and Europe that took place in 1963 featured the White Angel from the Serbian fresco at Monastery Milesevo. Gordana PAVLOVIC Serbia is the largest raspberry exporter. Even in 2012, almost 95% of the world’s raspberries came from Serbia.

In 274 AD, Constantine the Great, the Roman Emperor was born in the Serbian city of Nis.

Europe’s largest hydropower plant, the Djerdap is situated in Serbia. The mighty Danube river flows through it. Between the 3rd and 4th centuries, a total of eighteen emperors were born on what is modern day Serbia. That number accounts for a fifth of all Roman rulers.

The only Serbian world that is accepted and used across the world is “vampire”. (vampir) Interesting Facts about Serbia

• Serbia has the highest number of refugees and internally displaced persons in Europe, a total of approximately 340,000. • The Cathedral of or Hram Svetog Save in Belgrade is the largest Orthodox Church currently in use. • Over 30% of the land is covered by forest, with 5 national parks and 22 nature reserves. • The Miroslav , written in 12th century, is the oldest preserved Serbian Manuscript. Meet the Serbs

• – The Great Serbian-American Inventor • Serbian-American inventor and engineer who discovered and patented the rotating magnetic field, the basis of most alternating current machinery. He also developed the three- phase system of electric power transmission. He emigrated to the United States in 1884 and sold the patent rights to his system of alternating-current dynamos, transformers, and motors to George Westinghouse. In 1891 he invented the Tesla coil, an induction coil widely used in radio technology. • Mihailo Pupin - In 1896 Pupin discovered that atoms struck by X- rays emit secondary X-ray radiation. He also invented a means for taking short-exposure X-ray photographs. In 1901 American Telephone and Telegraph Co. and some German telephone interests acquired the patent for his invention of long-distance telephony. • Novak Djokovic: Novak Djokovic is a Serbian professional tennis player who is currently ranked world No. 1 in men's singles tennis by the Association of Tennis Professionals. He is considered to be one of the greatest tennis players of all time Country Comparison: Serbia vs United States

•Capital: Washington D.C. •Population: 321,410,000 •Surface Area: 9,831,510 km2 •Capital: Belgrade •Currency: United States •Population: 7,129,428 dollars (1 EUR=1.1374 •Surface Area: 88,360 km2 USD) •Currency: Serbian dinars (1 EUR=119.9419 RSD) U.S. is 127 times bigger than Serbia Compare the US to Serbia If Serbia were your home instead of The United States you would...

• be 83.33% less likely to have HIV/AIDS The percentage of adults • be 2.8 times more likely to be unemployed Serbia has an living with HIV/AIDS in Serbia is 0.10% while in The United States unemployment rate of 20.10% while The United States has 7.30% it is 0.60%. 100 people in Serbia and 17,000 people in The United States die from AIDS each year. • make 78.98% less money The GDP per capita in Serbia is $11,100 while in The United States it is $52,800 • be 0.16% less likely to die in infancy The number of deaths of infants under one year old in a given year per 1,000 live births in • spend 93.69% less money on health care Per capita public and Serbia is 6.16 while in The United States it is 6.17 private health expenditures combined in Serbia are $561.10 USD while The United States spends $8,895.10 USD • have 31.97% fewer babies The annual number of births per 1,000 people in Serbia is 9.13 while in The United States it is 13.42. • consume 82.91% less oil The United States consumes 2.4822 gallons of oil per day per capita while Serbia consumes 0.4242 • be 60.53% less likely to be murdered 1.50 in every 100,000 people are murdered annually in Serbia compared to 3.80 in The • use 68.08% less electricity The per capita consumption of United States electricity in The United States is 12,185kWh while in Serbia it is 3,889kWh • experience 15.56% less of a class divide The GINI index measures the degree of inequality in the distribution of family income. In Serbia it is 38.00 while in The United States it is 45.00. HVALA - Thank You

• http://www.bing.com/videos/se arch?q=youtube+one+journey+ million+impressions&FORM=VIR E1#view=detail&mid=83356C5E 2AF41975012383356C5E2AF419 750123 Licidersko Srce- Licider Hearts

Licider hearts (gingerbread or honey cakes) have always been a token of affection and love. Young man gave them to girls in order to show them their affection.  Today, by giving it to someone special you can revive this old custom and show that person how much you care.  All the licider cakes are decorated with traditional colors and patterns.