The 25 Strangest days of Christmas Day 22 - Fire, Faith, and Oak Branches: Serbia’s Fiery Christmas Ritual

0:00 Speaker 1: Hello, and welcome back to the Strange History Podcast and

0:03 Speaker 1: day twenty two of our Victorian Christmas countdown the twenty

0:07 Speaker 1: five Strangest days of Christmas. Almost there only three days

0:12 Speaker 1: till Santa makes all your dreams come true. Maybe today

0:17 Speaker 1: we travel to Serbia. In Serbia, Christmas Eve means chopping

0:21 Speaker 1: down a young oak tree called a baden jock, bringing

0:24 Speaker 1: it home, and burning it in the fireplace. The crackling

0:28 Speaker 1: wood symbolizes health, prosperity, and apparently excellent fire safety insurance.

0:35 Speaker 1: The ritual predates Christianity and honors pagan fire gods. Priests

0:40 Speaker 1: now bless badenjock branches at churches across the country, and

0:44 Speaker 1: families collect the ashes afterward as good luck charms. It's

0:48 Speaker 1: the only time of year when setting a tree on

0:50 Speaker 1: fire in your living room is not only acceptable but encouraged.

0:55 Speaker 2: Bad jock firewood burn safely, blessed deeply, and smell well

1:00 Speaker 2: like spiritual success. Pick up yours now wherever Serbian Christmas

1:05 Speaker 2: rituals are sold.

1:06 Speaker 1: Tomorrow is Day twenty three. TikTok Christmas lovers, hope you

1:11 Speaker 1: got all your gifts wrapped unless you're like me. Last

1:15 Speaker 1: minute Lizzie. There you go, a fun nickname my mom

1:18 Speaker 1: gave me when I was almost on time for everything.

1:20 Speaker 1: Don't forget to subscribe. Missus Closs would approve.