How will we spend the holidays?

Holidays have always been celebrated in different ways, shaped by personal choices, family traditions, and inner states rather than external conditions. Saint Nicholas will still leave gifts in children’s boots, Santa Claus will still find his way to doorsteps, and Božić Bata will still quietly place presents under pillows. The true experience of the holidays lives within us — we celebrate them the way we choose to.

“This time of year can be an opportunity to slow down and reconnect with inner peace,” sociologist Vedran Francuz told Hedonist. “Modern life has accelerated our routines, often turning people into automatons. The holidays remind us that kindness and goodness are still at the heart of human connection.”

Kindness does not reveal itself through expensive gifts, but through the act of giving itself — through the desire to bring joy to both the youngest and the oldest, and especially to those who need it most. In the Christian tradition, the holidays are about good deeds, shared joy, and offering both emotional and material warmth to others.

People are increasingly rediscovering the importance of health, family, and home as the core of everyday life. Many will celebrate Christmas, New Year, and family patron saint days more modestly, within close circles. Yet the joy brought by a Yule log or a festive bread is not diminished by fewer guests — it often becomes more sincere.

“The most joyful time of the year may not always come with grand celebrations,” says psychologist and psychotherapist under supervision Mirjana Lukić. “But those who truly cherish the holidays know how to create warmth and happiness for themselves and their households. There is comfort in knowing that joy doesn’t depend on excess, but on presence.”

Alongside Christmas and Easter, the family patron saint day (krsna slava) remains one of the most important holidays for Orthodox Christians. Clergy often remind believers to celebrate spiritually rather than extravagantly — through prayer, breaking bread, lighting candles, and sharing joy within the household.

Festive decorations play a key role in creating a holiday atmosphere. Homes are carefully cleaned, tables are set with the finest dishes, and candlelight fills rooms with warmth.

“By decorating their homes, people aim to create a festive environment and welcome a better year ahead,” says designer Maja Gavrić. “Traditional colors such as red and gold remain popular, along with pastel shades of blue and pink. Those who prefer softer tones can find beautiful decorations in figurines and glass ornaments.”

Jewelry and handcrafted decorations further enrich the festive mood. Christmas trees are traditionally adorned with glass ornaments, pearls, golden beads, and feathers — details that evoke nostalgia and elegance.

The Enduring Symbol of the Yule Log

According to old beliefs, planting a plant on Christmas Day ensures it will thrive, while Christmas Eve is meant for reconciliation — forgiving debts, settling disputes, and restoring harmony. The Yule log (badnjak) continues to endure despite globalization’s pressure on national traditions. This oak branch, decorated with red ribbons and wheat, has warmed Orthodox homes for centuries, symbolizing the birth of a new era and spiritual renewal.

More Needed Than Ever

Perhaps more than anything, holidays symbolize warmth, joy, togetherness, hope, and optimism — values that never lose relevance. There is hardly a person, hedonist or not, who does not long for happiness and meaningful connection.

May the holidays — and the days that follow — be filled with joy, optimism, and faith in better tomorrows.