In the text "History, culture and tradition of Romani women" (https://romadaje.org/istorija-kultura-i-tradicija-roma-i-romkinja) about the most important Roma holiday, Vasilica, he writes: "Vasilica, their greatest holiday, the Roma explain it in different ways, and its celebration shows complex layers of numerous cultures. Vasilica consists of two segments. The first segment is the preparation, welcoming and celebration of Basil and is strictly structured according to the calendar from January 12 to 17, with January 14 being marked as Basil and the second segment - sending a goose - is celebrated by each household. on the day he chooses. There is no unified attitude among the Roma, nor why this holiday is celebrated - is it related to the Christian faith and the celebration of Saint Basil or is it an autochthonous Roma holiday. It is reliably known that it was also celebrated in Muslim houses, as evidenced by written traces from the time of the Turks, when the Roma accepted Islam.
Characteristic of this holiday is that it is celebrated for three days, poultry is ritually slaughtered, an important role in the holiday is played by the attendee - the person who first comes to congratulate you and bless all the members of the household. the table is extremely rich and cheerful.
"The old Roma families still celebrate Vasilica according to the customs they learned from their parents and look forward to the cheerful atmosphere that this holiday brings."
However, like Gjurdjevdan, Vasilica is slowly ceasing to be a part of the Roma identity. The reasons can be found in the perfect lifestyle, the separation of families, economic migrations, in the activities of religious communities that consider this way. of the pagan celebration, in the disunity of the Roma community... Young people especially, and not only in the Roma community, they do not see the purpose of celebrating something that is not clear to them and is not close to them, therefore the elders, if they want to preserve the traditions to their people, they should bring the essence of the holiday to the younger generations.
Link: https://romaworld.rs/bahtalo-vasili/
