The religion is, of course, Greek Orthodox, with the independent Servian Church, while the population of Servia is about three millions. Some of the characteristic traits of the Servians are curious and interesting. Every Servian family has, each year, its saint’s day, and in every Servian drawing-room one finds a small wood panel with the image of that saint painted thereon. The day usually falls upon that of some great fête such as that of St. Nicholas, the Archangel Michael, etc., which are perhaps the two most fêted. The day in question is called the _Slava_ (fête of the patron saint of the family). The saint fêted by the head of the family is also fêted by his wife, children, and servants. Some days before the fête the priest visits the house for the benediction of water placed in a basin, after which he sprinkles with a bunch of basil all members of the family, as well as various rooms, and the image of the fêted saint. All the household regard the week prior to the fête as a fast. The eve of the day of the _Slava_ the lamp is lit before the image of the saint, and is burnt for two days. A couple of days before the anniversary a tasty dish is prepared, called the _Koljivo_, mainly composed of wheat, nuts, and almonds. Those families, however, who fête the Archangel Michael do not prepare this cake, for the people believe that the Archangel still lives, and cakes are only offerings to the dead. [Illustration: HIS EXCELLENCY DR. MILENKO VESNITCH, Servian Minister of Justice. ] On the morning of the fête the head of the family lights a taper, and the priest, after a ceremony, cuts a kind of bread specially prepared and bearing a cross; after which he sprinkles wine upon it and upon the _Koljivo_. Everybody, from early morning, salutes the head of the family with the words, “Sretna slava” (a happy fête), and grasps his hand. If the visitor is a man, he embraces the husband; if a woman, the wife. The daughter of the house offers the _Koljivo_ to the guests, and everyone takes a spoonful of _slatko_—a kind of fruit preserve—brandy and coffee. At noon, wine is also drunk. To the houses of the better class telegrams and letters arrive all day. In the country districts the day is given up to eating, drinking, singing, and toasts. The fêted saint is considered to be the protector of the family, to whom daily prayers are said and mediation asked with the Almighty. Next to the _Slava_, the fête most widely celebrated is Christmas. There is a Servian couplet that runs— “_As there’s no day without light, So there’s no rejoicing without the Servian Christmas._”