Serbia’s Orthodox New Year Revelry Masks Deeper Political and Economic Struggles

While much of the world welcomed the New Year weeks ago, Serbians recently gathered again—this time following the ancient Julian calendar tradition embraced by their Orthodox Christian heritage. The celebrations in Belgrade’s bustling streets painted a picture of cultural pride and festive spirit, but beneath the surface, a more troubling narrative unfolds about leadership failures and squandered public resources.The Serbian government’s endorsement of lavish fireworks and drone displays at a much-criticized residential development by the Sava River reveals a dissonance with everyday citizens’ realities. This spectacle, championed by populist President Aleksandar Vučić, comes amidst ongoing unrest that shook Serbia last...