The Serbian Orthodox Church celebrates the Day of the Holy Forty Martyrs on March 22nd, a holiday popularly known as Mladenci. This Orthodox holiday symbolizes love, happiness, and a sweet life.
The Serbian Orthodox Church will celebrate Mladenci tomorrow, in memory of the Holy Forty Martyrs of Sebaste who suffered for the Christian faith in 320 AD. All the martyrs were young men, so our people took that day as a holiday on which young spouses/newlyweds receive guests into their home, and they bring them gifts, thus helping them at the beginning of their married life.
The holiday is celebrated by married couples in the first year of marriage, by receiving guests into their home, who bring gifts and thus help the newlyweds at the beginning of their life together. It is considered that everyone who attended the wedding celebration must come to Mladenci. On this day, newlyweds are usually given more modest gifts than for the wedding. Usually, for Mladenci, small household items are given as gifts – such as plates, vases, dishes, or small household appliances – or home decorations.
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This is a holiday with many customs in the Serbian people. On this day, women get up early and knead forty cookies that are coated with honey. They are called “mladenčići” and symbolize a long, happy, and sweet life. On Mladenci, it is good to eat honey, cooked nettles and greens to purify the blood. Mladenci always falls during Lent, so the food prepared on that day must be lenten for the health and progress of the children of the young spouses.
Among our elders, there is a belief that whatever the weather is tomorrow, it will be like that all spring: so if it is sunny, we have good weather and a lot of sun ahead of us, until summer, and if it rains, the wind blows and the weather conditions are not good, we have a turbulent period ahead of us.
Therefore, “it is advisable” to look out the window as soon as you get up and see what the weather is like outside. If you smile brightly and have positive thoughts, it is believed that the young woman may even succeed in dispersing the clouds. Therefore, put a smile on your face and believe that everything will be well.
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Source: Kurir, Photo: Wikimedia Creative Commons