Serbian culture celebrated at kids' fest

LAKE VILLA, Ill. (WLS) -- This weekend, many are celebrating a patron saint of children at an annual event that gives a new generation a taste of Serbian culture.

A group of young musicians is practicing for a performance at the Saint Sava Children's Festival at Monastery Gracanica. Saint Sava is considered the patron saint of children.

"He was a monarch and he was a prince, and then he left his title to become a monk," said 14-year-old Nikki Medanovic. "Then he helped the poor, and he's like our children protector. So we celebrate him."

They are playing traditional Serbian love songs in his honor. Many admit they don't understand the lyrics, but they know it connects them to the homeland of their ancestors.

"Most of the music is really old Serbian music, but sometimes we put American music so we can have diversity," 16-year-old Nikolas Vukotic said.

"It is very nice to see kids that never heard these songs actually," said Mirosalv Medanovic. "They barely know what these songs are talking about. These songs are three, 400-years-old. And they're talking about how our great-great-great-grandfathers used to live."

Younger children sing the songs of their forefathers. The hope is they will remain connected to their heritage while embracing a new culture in America.

"We just want to show people that we are very good people. We are people who understand culture. We are people who are living a regular normal life," Medanovic said. "We would like to be loved as everybody else."

For over 25 years, New Gracanica Mother of God Serbian Orthodox Monastery has been promoting Serbian culture and heritage. Their goal is to keep their heritage alive in their children, as well as show its beauty and meaning to other cultures.