Why Do Serbians Put Up 3 Fingers? The Origins and Symbolism of Serbia‘s Most Defiant Gesture - 33rd Square (2024)

Hey there! If you‘ve seen recent news footage of Serbian protests, you may have noticed demonstrators holding up three fingers in a distinctive salute. While this gesture is practically synonymous with Serbian identity today, you may be wondering – what‘s the deeper story behind the three raised fingers? What does it really symbolize for Serbs?

I‘m going to walk you through the origins and evolving meaning of Serbia‘s most famous hand sign. From its religious roots to its emergence as a nationalist call, this compact gesture packs a punch on the world stage.

The Holy Trinity at the Heart of Serbian Identity

Let‘s rewind to the early days of Serbian Orthodoxy. Christianity came to medieval Serbia by way of Byzantine missionaries who spread Orthodox doctrines across the region. When Serbs converted from paganism in the 9th century AD, they readily embraced the Orthodox veneration of the Holy Trinity.

For Orthodox Christians, the Trinity represents the three divine persons united as one God – God the Father, the Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. The number three holds potent religious significance.

So in venerating the Trinity, Serbians began holding up three fingers when swearing religious oaths, praying, and making the sign of the cross. The three upraised fingers visibly symbolized their devotion to the three persons of God in the Orthodox faith.

Over the centuries, this gesture became ingrained in Serbian culture. It transcended its specific religious meaning, simply becoming a symbol of Serbian identity. An ethnographer in the early 1900s commented that the three raised fingers "…contains in itself the quintessence of the nation‘s thought and life".

So while Catholic Croats use one finger to cross themselves, and Bosnian Muslims use their open hand, Serbs continue to identify with the three fingers representing the Trinity.

The 3 Fingers Become a Symbol of Serbian Defiance

Fast forward to the early 20th century, when Serbia was battling for liberation from the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian empires.

The Chetnik guerilla forces fighting for Serb independence appropriated the three-finger salute as a symbol of their resistance. It was meant to invoke the Orthodox Christian trilogy to protect Serb fighters as they faced imposing odds.

During World War I, the salute gained widespread popularity when Serbian commander Voivode Živojin Mišić reportedly used it to defiantly retort to Austro-Hungarian demands for surrender. This legendary tale cemented the gesture as a sign of Serbian resilience.

In World War II, the 3 fingers were used by Chetnik fascist fighters, representing the ideals “With Faith in God, Freedom or Death” – their motto led by nationalist leader Draža Mihailović.

So beyond its religious significance, the salute took on a broader meaning of Serbian patriotism and self-determination in response to foreign domination. Both Orthodox Christianity and Serbian nationalism became inextricably linked through the enduring 3 finger symbol.

Surging Popularity During the Yugoslav Wars

The next pivotal moment for the 3 finger salute came during the Yugoslav Wars of the 1990s, when Slobodan Milošević rallied Serb nationalism in opposition to Yugoslavia‘s disintegration.

As ethnic tensions tore Yugoslavia apart, the Serbian 3 finger salute exploded in popularity as a sign of solidarity and defiance against rival ethnic groups demanding independence, like the Croats and Bosniaks.

Serbs once again felt threatened by the possibility of foreign control amidst Yugoslavia‘s dissolution. And the salute powerfully evoked Serbian sovereignty at a time of turmoil and instability in the region.

The gesture‘s appeal grew when Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadžić frequently displayed it during the Bosnian War. And throughout the Yugoslav Wars, the salute was commonly used by Serb paramilitary groups as well as peaceful protesters and civilians.

It became so ubiquitous that the ICTY war crimes tribunal banned defendants from using it, given its connotations of ethnic pride. But this only reinforced it as a symbol of Serb collective identity and opposition to international meddling.

Why Serbians Still Raise 3 Fingers Today

Today, the Serbian 3 finger salute remains deeply meaningful as a marker of Serbian ethnicity, often used at events like sports games, military ceremonies, protests, and political rallies.

Polling suggests around 60% of Serbian citizens have displayed the salute at least once, indicating its widespread appeal. It provokes a sense of solidarity and community among Serbs from all walks of life.

But why does this simple hand gesture still carry so much symbolic weight for Serbs in the 21st century?

There are a few key reasons:

• Cultural tradition: After centuries of ingrained meaning, it‘s an automatic part of Serbian identity.

• Religious significance: The Trinity still holds important meaning for practicing Orthodox Serbs.

• Defiance against "oppressors": It represents rebellion against foreign interference, now embodied in the EU and NATO.

• Ethnic pride: It‘s a way for Serbs to visibly express their distinct national identity.

• Rallying call: It unites Serbs around common grievances of injustice and marginalization.

The salute allows Serbians to non-verbally communicate these sentiments in a single hand movement – one that‘s provocative yet ambiguous enough to resonate across diverse political views.

No matter one‘s ideology, displaying three raised fingers lets Serbs proclaim “I’m Serbian, this is my identity, and we won’t be intimidated or controlled.”

The Ongoing Protests – Three Fingers for Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity

Now let‘s connect the dots to those viral photos of Serbian protesters you may have seen recently.

Serbia‘s latest pro-democracy movement is a response to governmental repression and corruption under president Aleksandar Vučić. Protesters claim Vučić is dismantling democracy and suppressing liberties. But they‘re using that same 3 finger salute to oppose him.

What gives?

Well, the demonstrators are evoking the French revolutionary values of liberty, equality, and fraternity – ideas they feel Vučić threatens.

So the 3 fingers in this context symbolize freedom and justice. While the government brands the protesters as radical nationalists, they see the salute‘s meaning differently:

• Liberty – from oppression by a dictatorial regime
• Equality – in rights and political power
• Fraternity – unity against injustice

By co-opting such a familiar Serbian gesture, they hope to generate wide appeal. But it risks muddling the intentions of their pro-democracy efforts.

Regardless, the defiant spirit of the 3 finger salute still rings true. Though originally meant to oppose foreign rule, many now view the autocratic Vučić as the oppressor Serbians must resist.

The Enduring Legacy of Serbia‘s Defiant Gesture

There you have it – the centuries-long story arc of the Serbian 3 finger salute, from religious relic to political protest.

This humble hand sign has assumed many layered meanings – faith, identity, resistance. However its symbolism evolves in the future, the raised fingers will likely remain an emblem of Serbian perseverance and pride.

So next time you come across someone flashing this cryptic gesture, you can appreciate its historical significance, rather than just writing it off as another strange fad!

Let me know if you want me to breakdown any other perplexing hand signs or viral trends. This digital archaeologist is always happy to decrypt the hidden stories behind today‘s web phenomena!

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