Traditions

This is a small Serbian Orthodox chapel in a park near the center of town.  It does not show in this picture, but just to the right is a big burned place in the grass where they had their Christmas Eve bonfire.  There is a difference between Serbian Orthodox and Montenegrin Orthodox.  I am not sure what it is, but there are very strong opinions here as to the "true" church. 

The tradition of burning the oak branches can find it roots in pagan worship long ago.  Even to this day they pour wine and honey on the tree as it burns.  But, now the ceremony has been "Christianized" and sanctioned by the church.  The tree stands for the cross on which Jesus died and the wine represents the blood of Christ.  This is much the same way that the Christmas Tree is in western traditions.

What do you think?