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In Serbia, socializing isn’t just a pastime; it’s a way of life. And while not all folks are party animals, hanging out with friends and family is a big thing for most. So, if you’re curious about Serbian social culture and want a taste of that friendly, relaxed atmosphere, you’re at the right spot!
Pour yourself a coffee (Turkish, of course), and let’s dive into the eventful world of Serbian socializing!
It’s no secret that Serbs love to relax and hang out. Consequently, they spend a good chunk of their waking hours with friends and family, shooting the breeze or knocking down shots of good old rakija. So, how do Serbs find time for all this?
Simple: they make it a priority. While you may choose a good hike over hanging out with your friends, most Serbs would go with the latter — every single time.
But what do people do at all these hangouts, and how do they not get bored? The secret lies in creativity and passion for relaxation. Serbian social culture is varied and full of laughter, with numerous ways to connect and interact.
Are you a caffeine addict with plenty of free time? Then, you’ll fit right in!
Cafes in Serbia are lively, loud, and — always full. There, you’ll find a variety of coffees, other beverages, and desserts. Another thing you’ll see are groups of friends of all ages sitting there and enjoying banter, sometimes for hours.
Luckily, coffee is relatively inexpensive, so teenagers and students can partake in this culture as well, not just work in cafes like elsewhere.
Cafes are great, but if you wish to relax even more with good food, loud music, and booze, we recommend kafana. These places offer a more ethnic vibe and a mellow atmosphere, where locals relax with their friends and often make new ones.
In addition, the clubbing scene is just as lively — especially in the capital. With places open until the early hours, many young people spend their weekends partying and socializing.
The fact that you’re a homebody in Serbia doesn’t mean you don’t have a social life. Lazy to go out? Invite people to your place!
Throwing a kućna žurka (house party) or sedeljka (sit-down party) is an ideal way to catch up with your crowd in a casual setting.
These parties can be game nights, movie marathons, or dinner parties — whatever you like. Of course, such events go hand in hand with copious amounts of food and alcohol, which leads us to our next point.
Most Serbian gatherings involve food and drinks in some form. The more important the event, the more bountiful servings you’ll find. For instance, a Friday night gathering might include pizza or snacks.
But when there’s something big to celebrate, Serbs often have BBQ cookouts (roštiljanje) or — prepare yourself — an entire pig on a stick (prase na ražnju). Yes, spit roasts are a big thing in Serbia. Significant events, like the birth of a child, graduation, or Christmas, gather whole families who roast the pig together and then devour it from head to tail — nothing goes to waste.
In Serbia, social life doesn’t decline with age — quite the contrary. As folks get older, especially after retirement, they have plenty of free time.
Thanks to that, many Serbian elderly boast a more vibrant social life than their kids and grandkids. Each morning, the local grandpas and grandmas gather at one of their homes for a cup of coffee and a daily gossip session. When it’s fine weather, you may find them sitting in the front yard looking at passers-by and, again, spilling the tea on the entire neighborhood.
In Serbia, family matters — big time. Because of that, many people hang out with their immediate (and not so immediate) family each week.
Even those who’d rather stay away usually can’t due to numerous family events. Weddings (svadba), first birthdays (prvi rođendan), eighteen birthdays (punoletstvo), christenings (krštenje) — there’s always a cause for celebration.
On the upside, you get to spend time with friends and relatives and relax with food and music. As a downside, though, all these events take plenty of time and money, especially if you have a large family and attend a different party every weekend. But, as they say, family comes first.
There are around a dozen public holidays in Serbia. This doesn’t sound like much, but when combined with the minimum of 20-day annual leave, it’s not bad either.
Most Serbs use their paid holidays to travel around the country or abroad.
On the other hand, religious holidays are for family. So, on slava (patron saint day), Božić, Uskrs, and similar days, Serbs spend time among relatives, enjoying casual banter and eating like there’s no tomorrow.
Who says Serbs don’t like nature? When the weather is fine, many folks go on outings (izlet) to scenic spots like rivers, mountains, or lakes. Of course, they bring their BBQ gear and a mountain of meat and veggies because there’s nothing like fresh air to ignite your appetite.
On a similar note, have you heard about uranak? On May 1st, Serbs celebrate Labor Day (Praznik rada). Many people rise early and head to picnic spots, like Avala or Zlatibor, and spend the whole day eating and hanging out — hence the name uranak (early rising).
But since starting the day at dawn may sound more like torture than a holiday, many people take a different route. Instead of rising early, they start partying the night before and stay up until dawn. Which uranak do you choose?
If you’d like to socialize in Serbia but don’t know the manners and unspoken rules, here’s a quick cheat sheet to help you connect and make friends.
When greeting your Serbian friends, get physical. In other words, follow your ćao with a firm handshake or a quick hug. Even a peck on the cheek is acceptable, depending on how close you are to the person.
Generosity is a big thing in Serbia, so people rarely go Dutch. Your Serbian friends may insist on footing the bill at restaurants and cafes, but don’t let them — at least not every time.
If you want to leave a nice impression, pick up the bill every once in a while. Your friends will appreciate the gesture.
Likewise, when invited to someone’s home, bring a small gift. Of course, there’s no need to break the bank. A chocolate or a bottle of wine is more than enough.
Another thing Serbs value deeply is hospitality. If you want to impress, try hosting a get-together at your place! Be a warm, attentive host, and you may make lasting friendships and score plenty of invites to future gatherings.
Once you enter local social circles, you can expect tons of small talk since Serbs are a chatty bunch. Admittedly, shooting the breeze in a foreign language is easier said than done. Luckily, you can work on that skill with our video on small talk.
You may know that Serbs are less keen on punctuality than your average German. This goes double in a casual social context.
So, be aware that your Serbian friend might be a few (or 15) minutes late whenever you’re meeting them. It may sound annoying, but hey, it just means you can relax and not worry about time so much.
So, how does Serbian social culture compare to your own? Are hours-long coffee sessions and family-oriented weekends too much for you? Or are they just what the doctor ordered? Either way, embrace what resonates with you and add a dash of the Serbian mingling spirit to your life. And remember, take every opportunity to unwind — like a true Serb!
Want to up your social game? Our Serbian group classes will give you the language skills and cultural insights you need to shine in any gathering. Join us now and start making connections! Živeli!
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