Symbols of Serbia

The national symbols of Serbia are the symbols that represent Serbia and the Serbian people.

Official symbols

Type	Image	Symbol
National flag		Flag of Serbia The national flag of Serbia is a horizontal tricolour of red, blue, and white with the lesser coat of arms placed left of center. The first recorded use of the Serbian tricolour was in 1835.
Coat of arms		Coat of arms of Serbia The national coat of arms of Serbia was adopted in 2004 and is based on the original used during the Kingdom of Serbia (1882-1918).
National anthem		Bože pravde The national anthem of Serbia "Bože pravde" (God of Justice) was first used by the Kingdom of Serbia (1882-1918). It was readopted in 2006 as the official anthem of Serbia.

Other symbols

Type	Image	Symbol
National colours		The National colours of Serbia are red, blue and white, the Flag of Serbia being commonly called trobojka (the tricolour). This flag was adopted in 1835.
Symbol		The Serbian cross is based on the tetragramme, a Byzantine symbol, and is believed to have been adopted at least by the 14th century. It consists of a Greek cross, and four firesteels pointing outwards. It is alleged that the firesteels are acronyms for Only Unity Saves the Serbs.
Heraldic symbol		The Serbian eagle, a double-headed white eagle, is depicted on both the coat of arms and flag of Serbia. The heraldic symbol has a long history in Serbian heraldry. The double-headed eagle and the Serbian cross are the main heraldic symbols which represent the national identity of the Serbian people across the centuries. It originated from the medieval Nemanjić dynasty.
Patron saint		Saint Sava is the founder and first Archbishop of the Serbian Orthodox Church (1219–1233). He is the patron saint of Serbia, and education in the country. He is also a patron saint in Republika Srpska, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Folk costume(s)		The most common folk costume of Serbia is that of Šumadija, a region in central Serbia. It includes the national hat, the Šajkača, and the traditional leather footwear, opanci. Older villagers still wear their traditional costumes.
Cultural practice		Slava, veneration of the family's patron saint. Inscribed on UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists.
National animal		The Gray wolf is greatly linked to Balkan and Serbian mythology and cults. It has an important part in Serbian mythology. In the Slavic, old Serbian religion and mythology, the wolf was used as a totem. In the Serbian epic poetry, the wolf is a symbol of fearlessness. Vuk Karadžić, 19th-century Serbian philologist and ethnographer, explained the traditional, apotropaic use of the name Vuk (wolf): a woman who had lost several babies in succession, would name her newborn son Vuk, because it was believed that the witches, who "ate" the babies, were afraid to attack the wolves.
National tree		The oak is a symbol of Serbia, having been part of the historical coat of arms. In the coat of arms, the oak at one side symbolized strength and longevity, while the olive branch at the other symbolized peace and fertility. At troublesome times, when there were no churches, people prayed under oak trees where they would carve a cross, zapis; some of these oaks are over 600 years old and are considered sacred. The oak is used in the Serbian Christmas tradition of Badnjak.
National fruit		Plum and its products are of great importance to Serbs and part of numerous customs. A saying goes that the best place to build a house is where a plum tree grows best. The fertile region of Šumadija in central Serbia is particularly known for its plums and Šljivovica.
National drink		Šljivovica (Plum brandy) is the national drink of Serbia. The name Slivovitz is derived from the Serbian language. Plum and its products are of great importance to Serbs and part of numerous customs. A Serbian meal usually starts or ends with plum products. Šljivovica is served as an appertif. A saying goes that the best place to build a house is where a plum tree grows best. Traditionally, Šljivovica (commonly referred to as "rakija") is connected to Serbian culture as a drink used at all important rites of passage (birth, baptism, military service, marriage, death, etc.). It is used in the Serbian Orthodox patron saint celebration, slava. It is used in numerous folk remedies, and is given certain degree of respect above all other alcoholic drinks. The fertile region of Šumadija in central Serbia is particularly known for its plums and Šljivovica. Serbia is the largest exporter of slivovitz in the world, and second largest plum producer in the world. It has a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO).
National dishes		Among national dishes are ćevapčići, pljeskavica and gibanica (see Serbian cuisine)
National monument(s)		Serbia has four cultural monuments inscribed in the list of UNESCO World Heritage: the early medieval capital Stari Ras and the 13th-century monastery Sopoćani; the 12th-century Studenica monastery; the Roman complex of Gamzigrad–Felix Romuliana; and finally the endangered Medieval Monuments in Kosovo (comprising the monasteries of Visoki Dečani, Our Lady of Ljeviš, Gračanica and Patriarchate of Peć). There are two literary monuments on UNESCO's Memory of the World Programme: the 12th-century Miroslav Gospel, and scientist Nikola Tesla's valuable archive.
		The Cathedral of Saint Sava is the largest Orthodox church in the world. The church is dedicated to Saint Sava. It is built on the Vračar plateau, on the location where his remains were burned in 1595 by the Ottoman Empire's Sinan Pasha. From its location, it dominates Belgrade's cityscape, and is perhaps the most monumental building in the city.
National art		The Kosovo Maiden, painted by Realist Uroš Predić in 1919, is the central figure in a Serbian epic poem by the same name.
National instrument		The gusle, the national instrument of Serbia, accompanied the Serb bards, called guslari, when they sung epic poetry about medieval Serbia and a better future during the Ottoman period and during war-time.
National poetry		Serbian epic poetry is the national poetry, traditionally transmitted orally by the national bards (guslari, "gusle players"). Vuk Stefanović Karadžić (1787-1864), the father of the study of Serbian folklore and a major reformer of the Serbian language, collected and wrote down epic poems of the Serbs in the early 19th century.
Folk dance		Serbian circle dancing, kolo, includes many varieties (see Serbian dances). The most popular is Užičko kolo. Other popular dances include Moravac, Kokonješte, Žikino kolo and Vranjanka.
Handicraft		The Pirot carpet (kilim) is a GI-protected product from southeastern Serbia.
Script		The Cyrillic script is an important symbol of Serbian identity. Under the Constitution of Serbia of 2006, Cyrillic is the only script in official use. Serbian Cyrillic is in official use in Serbia, Montenegro and Republika Srpska.
Salute		The Three-finger salute is commonly used when expressing Serbian Orthodoxy.
Motto	Само слога Србина спасава	The phrase "Only Unity Saves the Serbs" (Serbian: Само слога Србина спасава / Samo sloga Srbina spasava) is often said to be displayed on the Serbian cross on the Serbian national coat of arms, in the form of four C-shaped firesteels (sr. "ocila"), which form an acronym of the four Cyrillic letters for "S" (written like Latin "C").
Popular music		Balkan Brass.

See also

• Serbs
• National identity of Serbia
• List of World Heritage sites in Serbia