In this blog post, we are going to cover 5 things only Serbian people do. It ranges from their greeting culture, through their homes and dinner-time manners, to superstitions and life philosophies. If you always wanted to learn more about how Serbian people behave in the wild, this article is going to show you just that!
1. Meeting and Greeting
There are a few ways Serbian people love to greet each other. We are going to present it in bullet points:
- Kissing on the cheek three times. You do this by switching the cheeks with each kiss. For example: left cheek, right cheek, left cheek, or vice versa. This is usually done whilst also shaking hands.
- Ajde… Ajde can be used in many different ways: as a hello, a command, or a way to end the conversation: ‘Ajde…ajde…ajde…’
- Instant connection. Serbian people make it easy. They are quick to address you as a ‘brate’ (brother, bro) or ‘rođače’ (cousin).
2. Food and Drinks
When Serbian people celebrate, immense amounts of food and drinks are indispensable.
- Slava. Numerous types of meat, dishes, cakes, salads, and desserts. Not to mention ‘zdravica’ with the host, where if you don’t drink one short rakija, you are offending the whole house.
- ‘Da ti spakujem nešto da poneseš?’. This is a very common phrase, and it translates to: Do you want me to pack you something to take? – meaning, Serbian people always offer to pack you some food before you leave. Expect to leave with +3kg and at least 2 bags of food.
- ‘Hajmo na kafu’. Meaning: Let’s go grab coffee. – The only thing is, this is not going to be just one coffee. Sometimes, it’s not even coffee that you will drink. It can be beer, wine, or a cocktail instead. Serbian people love coffee, but they also love using it as a metaphor for any drink really.
- Bread with everything. They love bread. They eat it even with potatoes, rice, and some eat it with pasta, too!
3. Domestic Life
When it comes to Serbian domestic life and living spaces, there are some core details to bring up.
- House shoes – papuče. They are a non-negotiable; you must wear them around the house. If you don’t, terrible things might happen to you.
- Balcony. You might think to yourself: Hey, yeah, balcony, that’s pretty standard. But, oh no, friend. Usually, the balconies they have in Serbia are used for storage, and as space for a second fridge in the winter. Serbian people love to stack their food, especially their meats.
- Room that you can’t use. A lot of homes have that one room that you are just not allowed to use. It’s there to look pretty, to have sitting areas, but no one actually uses it.
4.Superstitions
We can’t say that Serbian people are superstitious, but they do have a lot of superstitions and beliefs.
- Breaking a glass. If you break a glass, it means good luck.
- Putting a purse on the floor. You will be financially doomed.
- Wedding customs. It’s quite common to ‘buy the bride’, shoot from guns and hire musicians in front of the church.
- Kuc-kuc. Or familiarly known as: knock on wood. It’s to chase away bad spirits when you are stating some good news, or fortunate events.
5. Serbian Life Philosophy
Last, but not least, we have to include the Serbian way of living, logic, and philosophy.
- Polako. Although Serbian people are mostly dynamic and passionate, they also love to carpe diem a lot – they enjoy and savor their time. Drinking a cup of coffee for 2-3 hours: SIGN THEM UP!
- Bureaucracy as an Olympic sport. If you need things done, good luck. Your patience with the bureaucratic system in the country will be tested. Severely.
- Fatalism and optimism. Saying: ‘Biće kako bude’ – or: ‘It will be what it will be’ is a very Serbian thing to say. It beautifully translates how being Serbian feels: both upsetting and freeing.
Would You Like to Try It Out?
If you want to try some of these Serbian ways out, what better way than to get to know the culture and the language more? We are here in case you want to give it a try. You can check out our materials, some of which we offer free of charge! Our blog is a great place to learn more, or simply take a look at what kind of classes and lessons we offer, and choose one for yourself today!
