A great man is one who collects knowledge the way a bee collects honey and uses it to help people overcome the difficulties they endure - hunger, ignorance and disease!
- Nikola Tesla

Remember, remember always, that all of us, and you and I especially, are descended from immigrants and revolutionists.
- Franklin Roosevelt

While their territory has been devastated and their homes despoiled, the spirit of the Serbian people has not been broken.
- Woodrow Wilson

Serb families honour their saints with slava celebrations

Slava is the celebration of the patron saint for each family in Serbia. Different families have different saints, handed down through the generations.

The tradition is a centrepiece of family life - festivities last three days, and include feasts and dancing as well as religious ceremonies.

The BBC's Guy De Launey joined one family as they marked the day of St Sava, also the patron saint of Serbia.

The Close-up series focuses on aspects of life in countries and cities around the world. What may seem ordinary and familiar to the people who live there can be surprising to those who don't.

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People Directory

Dan Tana

Dan Tana (born in 1933 as Dobrivoje Tanasijević; Serbian Cyrillic: Добривоје Танасијевић) is an American actor and producer, restaurateur and former professional footballer from Yugoslavia. Tana is the proprietor of an eponymous restaurant, Dan Tana's, in West Hollywood, California, as well as being closely associated with football clubs Red Star Belgrade and Brentford F.C.

Tana was spotted playing football at 12, and offered an apprenticeship with Red Star Belgrade. He spent five years at Red Star, developing as a striker. His restaurateur father had been arrested by the new communists authorities established at end of Second World War and led by Marshal Tito, and his restaurants nationalised.

Tana was aged 17 when he toured Belgium in 1952 as part of the junior squad of the Yugoslav football team Red Star Belgrade to play R.S.C. Anderlecht. While in Brussels, Tana abandoned the team and stayed in Belgium.

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Publishing

All Roads Lead to Jackson

Serbian American Contributions in Amador County, California, since the Gold Rush
Milina Jovanović offers a unique compilation of individual and family immigration stories that include enormous contributions to the development of California and significant community involvement. In this version of people’s history she chronicles how Serbian Americans have strengthened community, region, state, and country through the endeavors and struggles of 150 years. This book also focuses on women’s contributions that are too often overlooked. Ms. Jovanović’s study reveals that Jackson not only remains an original and symbolic home to Serbian Americans and Serbian Orthodox religion, but also an oasis where the Serbian community has preserved its positive reputation and social influence.

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