Meaning
The start of the calendar year.
Cultural Background
The 'Repriza' on January 2nd is a unique tradition where the party continues for a second night with the same intensity. Many Serbs celebrate the 'Serbian New Year' on January 14th according to the Julian calendar, though it is not a public holiday. Brass bands (trubači) are almost mandatory for a 'real' New Year's Eve celebration, especially at midnight. Deda Mraz (Grandfather Frost) is the secular gift-bringer who arrives on New Year's Eve, a tradition solidified during the socialist era.
Shorten it!
Use 'Srećna Nova!' with friends to sound more like a native speaker.
Capitalization
Remember: Nova (capital), godina (lowercase). This is a common test question!
Meaning
The start of the calendar year.
Shorten it!
Use 'Srećna Nova!' with friends to sound more like a native speaker.
Capitalization
Remember: Nova (capital), godina (lowercase). This is a common test question!
The Greeting Window
You can say 'Srećna Nova godina' up until about January 10th.
Test Yourself
Fill in the correct form of 'Nova godina'.
Gde ćeš za ____ ____?
After the preposition 'za' (meaning 'for/at the time of'), we use the Accusative case.
Which is the correct way to write the holiday name?
Danas je...
In Serbian, only the first word of a holiday is capitalized.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Srećna Nova godina! B: ________!
'Hvala, takođe' (Thanks, likewise) is the standard response to a holiday greeting.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You are at a party at 00:01 on January 1st.
This is the specific greeting for the moment the new year begins.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
New Year Essentials
Food
- • Ruska salata
- • Sarma
- • Pečenje
Music
- • Trubači
- • Narodna muzika
- • Pop
Practice Bank
4 exercisesGde ćeš za ____ ____?
After the preposition 'za' (meaning 'for/at the time of'), we use the Accusative case.
Danas je...
In Serbian, only the first word of a holiday is capitalized.
A: Srećna Nova godina! B: ________!
'Hvala, takođe' (Thanks, likewise) is the standard response to a holiday greeting.
You are at a party at 00:01 on January 1st.
This is the specific greeting for the moment the new year begins.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questionsNo, in Serbia, New Year (Jan 1) is a secular holiday, while Christmas (Jan 7) is religious.
It refers to the New Year according to the Julian calendar, celebrated on January 14th.
No, only the first word 'Nova' is capitalized in holiday names.
Ruska salata (Olivier salad) and sarma are the absolute staples.
Želim Vam srećnu Novu godinu.
Related Phrases
Doček Nove godine
specialized formNew Year's Eve celebration
Novogodišnji praznici
builds onNew Year holidays
Srećna Nova
similarHappy New [Year]
Stara godina
contrastThe Old Year
