Montenegro - Keeping the Traditions Alive

09.05.2024

Montenegro, a country steeped in a rich tapestry of history and culture, continues to preserve several ancient traditions that are as vibrant today as they were centuries ago. Here are some of the most enduring traditions that form the cultural backbone of this fascinating Balkan nation.

1. Slava – The Celebration of Family Patron Saints

One of the most cherished traditions in Montenegro is the celebration of Slava. This unique Serbian Orthodox Christian practice involves families commemorating their patron saint's feast day annually. The tradition is a familial legacy, passed down through generations, where the family gathers for a day of feasting, prayer, and unity. The ritual includes the preparation of special foods like "koljivo," a dish made of wheat and honey, and the lighting of a candle in honor of the saint, symbolizing eternal light and blessing.

2. Gusle – The Epic Storytelling through Music

The gusle, a single-stringed musical instrument, accompanies the oral tradition of singing epic poems and tales. This form of musical storytelling is deeply rooted in Montenegrin culture and is a revered art form that recounts the history, myths, and heroic deeds of the Montenegrin people. The guslar, or the player, often performs at gatherings and community events, preserving the nation's history and conveying moral and ethical lessons through verses.

3. Krsna Slava – Village Patron Saint Days

Similar to the family-based Slava, Krsna Slava involves the celebration of a village's patron saint. This communal event fosters a strong sense of community and belonging among the villagers. It's a day marked by a communal feast, traditional music, and dance, with rituals that bless the village and its inhabitants with health, prosperity, and peace. The celebrations are both a spiritual observance and a social event, reinforcing communal ties.

4. The Traditional Montenegrin Wedding

Montenegrin weddings are grand, vibrant affairs that blend ancient customs with modern festivities. Traditional weddings can last several days, featuring a series of rituals that include the firing of guns, the performance of traditional dances like the "oro," and the wearing of folk costumes. These weddings are not just a union of two individuals but a communal celebration of heritage and joy.

5. Podgorica’s Vasilica Day

Every January, the capital city of Podgorica celebrates Vasilica Day, a tradition that dates back centuries. The day is marked by a large fair where artisans, crafters, and traders from across the country come together. It's a day of cultural significance, showcasing Montenegrin crafts, culinary delights, and performances, drawing people from all walks of life to participate in the festivities.

These traditions, deeply embedded in the cultural fabric of Montenegro, not only highlight the country's rich historical legacy but also its ongoing commitment to preserving its cultural identity. Through these practices, Montenegrins connect with their past, celebrate the present, and pass on a rich cultural heritage to future generations.

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Reviews

• In period May-August 2022 we sold our flats in St-Petersburg Russia and  have bought two  ones here in Montenegro, Becici. We decided to move here and make new home and business with my husband. Our agent Milica Zugic  is really became our angel - provider here in Montenegro. She is very reliable, responsible , professional  employee of CMM Budva department. She has developed intuition and found very fast necessary properties which we needed. Also she helped us to speed up the process of registration documents in MUP.( list nepokretnosti, etc). She was our real provider here. Very appreciated her and all staff of Budva department for there assistance. Separately to lawyer Ivan and his legal team. Very recommended choose Milica Zugic as real estate manager when you search for assistant in this complicated and important field as buying property in Montenegro.

  Liudmila Nosova St-Petersburg Russia , 13.09.2022 09:20:09

• At the beginning of April 2022, our family living in Prague bought a house in Sutomore with the assistance of your company.
  Let me express my gratitude to the management of your company for the service provided, and especially to your employees - Anastasia Zeyak, Alexei Grachev and Elena Bozhovich for their attention, patience and even care for the whole time of buying real estate and the services provided after the purchase.
  I would really like all companies to work with the same quality of service. After coming into contact with this kind of attitude towards the client, all our environment, if necessary, will refer to your company only.
  With gratitude on behalf of our family.

  A.V. Ter-Gazaryan, 12.07.2022 10:32:19

• Based on my experience with CMM in Budva, Montenegro, I can say that they are reliable, fast, and they deliver what they promise. They take really good care of their clients. For instance, I was offered a lift from the airport, and they would take me back and forth from Tivat to Budva and Becici to see various properties. They would answer all of my questions and respond promptly. They have an excellent team: Katarina, Alexander, Natasha, Martin and some other guys whose names I don’t remember. Katarina, my wonderful agent, went to every length to help me find a perfect home. Unfortunately, my situation changed and I had to postpone my relocation to Montenegro.
  I would strongly recommend this company to anyone who is looking for a property in Montenegro.
  

  Val , 13.05.2022 02:18:13

• We were introduced to CMM by friends who had already done research on Montenegro and CMM. We purchased our apartment in Dobrota, just outside Kotor, all remotely from South Africa, during the lockdown. Everything was seamless without any problems at all. All the CMM departments work together well from the sales team, head office, legal, interior design and rental department. Every detail was well communicated with an abundance of zoom meetings, videos, emails etc
  We are thrilled with the outcome and enjoyed working with the CMM team. They were incredibly professional.
  After sales service is also excellent as we move into the rental phase of the apartment and over all management of the apartment including maintenance.
  We have been directly and indirectly involved with many houses/apartments all over the world and this was the up there with the best service we have received.
  Thanks to everyone we dealt with at CMM it has been an absolute pleasure dealing with you all. We look forward too many happy years working with you on our rental.
  

  Mandy and Antoine, 06.10.2021 08:56:22

• Biz Montenegroda CMM komandayla  tanish olmushug. Snejana ve Milan bize cox  yaxshi destek olublar. Artig bizim burada evimiz de var. Bize gosterdiler cox yuksek service, ve artig butun bizim senedler de gaydasindadir. Boyuk hormetle onlara Cox sagol bildiririk!

  Dilara, 01.10.2019 06:17:27

• Last year we decided to find a new home close to the sea. It was quite difficult in the beginning to make the right choice. Once we found CMM Company was a great luck! We immediately received detailed consultation on the country and purchase opportunities. Being attracted by Kotor - one of the most amazing parts of the coast, we decided to take a family trip and maybe make our dream of new home come true. As just discoverers of Montenegro, we were accepted like at home which was a one more pleasant surprise. The most important, we received all detailed information about country regions and procedure of buying property during the first few days. And how beautiful the car journeys were! Difficult choice, but when you find the home you want you can't refuse it. CMM did best to help us with this finding! All the purchase procedure passed well with CMM professional work! Now we are happy owners of a wonderful house with a Kotor bay view, being perfectly served by CMM Management company (of course, we've chosen CMM as professional house manager). Hope our friends and relatives would also move to Montenegro with the CMM help soon !!!

  Kate, 22.03.2019 11:06:21