Tonight, following the tradition, they will burn oak firewood – called 'the badnjak', during a Christmas Eve celebration. The festive kindling of the badnjak commemorates the fire that-according to Serbian folk tradition - the shepherds of Bethlehem built in the cave where Jesus Christ was born, to warm the Baby Jesus and his mother throughout the night.
The custom that a family brings a log into the house and burns it on Christmas Eve is attested among Orthodox Christians in Slovenia, too. This custom has also been recorded in other parts of Europe.
According to Serbian Orthodox Church paroch in Slovenia Peran Bošković, Christmas is a family holiday for them, celebrating joy, aimed to connect and pray, and avoid the over commercialization of Christmas.