Google doodle celebrates Serbia National Day

The Serbian National Day that is observed for cultural and historical reasons is the subject of today’s Doodle.

On this day in 1804, the first Serbian Uprising began, which eventually resulted in the country’s eventual liberation from Ottoman rule after more than five centuries.

Additionally on this day in 1835, Serbia enacted its first national parliament and adopted the Constitution of Sretenje. The parliamentary, democratic Serbia of today is the result of these two events.

The folk custom of Sretenje, in which the mythical bear goddess Meka Boana emerges from her winter slumber and leaves her cave, gave rise to the name of the first constitution. She will retreat back to her cave and anticipate more weeks of winter if she sees her shadow. Meka Boana, on the other hand, will take advantage of the warmer weather and search for food if she does not see her shadow.

Serbians believe that if it’s cloudy on National Day, the rest of winter will be beautiful. The days until spring will be cold and bitter if the skies are clear.