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Family roots

Discover your Serbian roots

A landlocked land of great rivers, where the Sava meets the Danube, with painted medieval monasteries, Roman palaces, grilled meat, plum brandy and famously warm hospitality.

Serbia lies in the heart of the Balkans, with no coast of its own. In the north, the province of Vojvodina is flat farmland on the Pannonian Plain, crossed by the Danube, the Sava and the Tisza. South of Belgrade the land rises into green hills, and the south and east are mountainous, with the Balkan Mountains along the border with Bulgaria. The Danube flows 588 km through the country and forces its way through the dramatic Iron Gates gorge on the Romanian border.

People have lived here for thousands of years. Roman emperors were born on this soil, Constantine the Great among them. A Serbian kingdom was founded in 1217 and became an empire in 1346, and its rulers left behind monasteries full of frescoes. After centuries of Ottoman rule, the Serbian Revolution began in 1804, and independence was recognised in 1878. In the 20th century Serbia was part of Yugoslavia, and it became an independent state again in 2006, when Montenegro left their union.

Questions to ask the older generation

Memories fade faster than photos. Ask these over a meal or a phone call, and write the answers down.

  1. Which town or region of Serbia did our family come from? Was it near Novi Sad, Niš, Kragujevac?
  2. Who was the first in the family to leave Serbia, when, and why?
  3. Which dishes from Serbia were cooked at home? Did anyone make Ćevapi (grilled minced meat) or Pljeskavica (grilled meat patty)?
  4. Does anyone in the family still speak Serbian, or use a few words of it?
  5. Were there songs, prayers, games or holidays from Serbia that the family kept?
  6. Are there old photos, letters or documents from Serbia? Who has them?
  7. If you could visit Serbia together, where would you go first?

A short history of Serbia

Serbia's story runs from Stone Age farmers on the Danube and Roman emperors' palaces, through a medieval kingdom and empire, centuries under the Ottomans and an uprising for freedom, to Yugoslavia and a return to independence in 2006.

  1. 5400 BC

    Vinča culture by the Danube

    From about 5400 BC, Neolithic farmers of the Vinča culture built some of the largest settlements in prehistoric Europe. The culture is named after Vinča, a site on the Danube just outside today's Belgrade.

  2. 1166

    Stefan Nemanja comes to power

    Stefan Nemanja became Grand Prince (Grand Župan) of Serbia and founded the Nemanjić dynasty, which ruled Serbia until 1371. He founded Studenica Monastery around 1190, and after giving up the throne in 1196 he became a monk there.

  3. 1219

    Sava heads an independent Church

    Stefan's brother, the monk Sava, was recognised as the first Archbishop of an independent Serbian Church. Saint Sava is the patron saint of Serbia.

  4. 1389

    Battle of Kosovo

    On 15 June 1389 a Serbian-led army under Prince Lazar fought an Ottoman army under Sultan Murad I. Both leaders were killed. The battle holds a central place in Serbian memory, song and legend.

  5. 1835

    First Serbian constitution

    Serbia's first constitution was adopted in Kragujevac on 15 February 1835, the same day of the year on which the First Serbian Uprising had begun in 1804. That date, Sretenje, is celebrated every year as Statehood Day.

  6. 1914

    Austria-Hungary declares war

    After the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on 28 July 1914, the start of the First World War. Serbia won its first battles but suffered enormous losses.

  7. 1945

    A republic within Yugoslavia

    After the Second World War, Serbia became one of the six republics of socialist Yugoslavia, with Belgrade as the federal capital.

  8. 2008

    Kosovo declares independence

    On 17 February 2008 the Assembly of Kosovo declared independence. Serbia rejects the declaration and regards Kosovo as its province, while many other countries recognise Kosovo. Talks between the two sides are mediated by the European Union.

Family recipes to cook together

Sarma (stuffed cabbage rolls)Sarma (stuffed cabbage rolls) 3 h 30 min · serves 6PasuljPasulj (bean stew) 3 h · serves 4GibanicaGibanica (cheese and egg pie) 1 h 15 min · serves 8Proja (cornbread)Proja (cornbread) 50 min · serves 6

Serbian words to teach the grandchildren

Basics

  • daDAHyes
  • neNEHno
  • hvalaHVAH-lahthank you
  • molimMOH-leemplease, and also 'you're welcome'
  • zdravoZDRAH-vohhello

Food and drink

  • hlebKHLEHBbread
  • vodaVOH-dahwater
  • kafaKAH-fahcoffee
  • pivoPEE-vohbeer
  • vinoVEE-nohwine
  • sirSEERcheese
  • računRAH-choonthe bill

Towns and regions

  • Belgrade, City of Belgrade: The Belgrade Fortress and Kalemegdan Park, Knez Mihailova, the main pedestrian street.
  • Novi Sad, Vojvodina: Petrovaradin Fortress across the river, European Capital of Culture in 2022.
  • Niš, Nišava District: The birthplace of Constantine the Great, Skull Tower.
  • Kragujevac, Šumadija: Serbia's first constitution, 1835, The Šumarice memorial park.
  • Subotica, Vojvodina: The Art Nouveau City Hall, Its Hungarian name, Szabadka.
  • Kraljevo, Raška District: Žiča Monastery, where kings were crowned, Studenica Monastery nearby.
  • Novi Pazar, Raška District: The Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, The Altun-Alem Mosque.
  • Smederevo, Podunavlje District: Smederevo Fortress, Vineyards and the Smederevka grape.
  • Užice, Zlatibor District: Užice smoked ham, pršuta, The Republic of Užice of 1941.
  • Zaječar, Zaječar District: Felix Romuliana nearby, Gitarijada rock festival.
  • Sremski Karlovci, Vojvodina: The Treaty of Karlowitz, 1699, The Karlovci Gymnasium.

A heritage evening with the family

Cook one of the recipes, print the large-print pack about Serbia, and finish with the big-screen quiz or the words crossword. Grandchildren can colour the flag.

More about Serbia