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Introduction

Fairs represent noteworthy events of our traditional culture. They were not only popular festivals held in church or monastery yards, but spiritual, social, economic, theatrical and folklore, even political events.
Fairs had been held from ancient times, but medieval fairs were in a certain degree different from those in later centuries. In medieval Serbia fairs were political institutions, gatherings on which significant church, state, county of village decisions were brought.

A fair near the town of Ćuprija		 After decline of Serbian medieval state, fairs lost their importance; they were rarely held and attended by few people. Later, especially in 19th century, fairs reappeared, now as a complex cultural form, and they acquired conspicuous ceremonious character. Important decisions were no longer brought on them; however, important social processes started taking place. One of them was gathering and meeting of people from a wider region, who otherwise do not see each other every day, the consequence of which was hidden process of social integration.

A fair near the town of Paraćin		 Fairs were usually held in spring, summer and early autumn, on days of great church festivals, such as Annunciation, 'Cveti', Whitsuntide, Transfiguration, Nativity of the Virgin Mary, Assumption etc. They were held in church or monastery yards or in their vicinity. 
People attended fairs once or twice a year. Since these were very important events in their lives they put on the best and the most beautiful clothes. Preparations for a fair started a few days before. When the day came, people started gathering, unhurriedly, from early in the morning.

Selling goods on a fair		 The first to come were traders, tavern keepers and landlords who organized large feasts for their relatives and friends from distant villages. People from a distance came later during the day, since in those days they travelled mainly on foot. Traders immediately exposed their goods since the sale was done mainly during morning hours. Common peasants also sold the goods but they spent the earned money immediately on buying home necessities. Traders sold salt, pottery and other household items, while peasants bought various agricultural tools they could not make themselves.

Preparing cook on a fair		 Fairs were occasions for meeting godfathers, distant relatives and friends. Sometimes old enmities reconciled during a fair. Landlords chatted about life in other regions and made agreements and contracts. Those who had unmarried sons and daughters inquired about prospective in-law relatives. Young men and maids courted, especially during songs and dances.

People surrounding begpiper		 The whole day long fairs were full of dance and song. Festive mood slowly built up and it reached the culmination in the late afternoon and in twilight, when the merriment was hurriedly interrupted since people had to go home. On fairs good singers and players often competed, and gusle-players used the occasion to sing-recite their new verses. Yong men contested, and children played aside. Festive mood sometimes became rakish and with elements of vulgar. The unwritten rule was that in 'kolo' (folk dance) one could stand only next to his or her relative or acquaintance, but young men often ran away from kolo, taking with them the girls they fell in love with.

Coming back from a fair		 In church and monastic yards, well-off landlords built 'sobrašice' (trpeze, kolibe, sofre, čardake) in which, on festival days, they arranged rich meals for their cousins and friends. Sometimes sobrašica had a room, where those who came from far away could stay during night and go home the next day.

When a fair was over, people returned to their homes and ordinary chores.
Three-level permanent exhibition of Ethnographic museum, begins with the story about a fair, aiming primarily to demonstrate collectivity of people who for centuries gathered around Serbian Orthodox Church - a thread which united people on the whole Balkans, in various historical, social, economic and political circumstances and mishaps. Then, on second and third level, the exhibition goes on to show everyday life, i.e. traditional culture on the whole.

A detail from the permanent exhibition

Viewing the exhibition, from the beginning to the end, a visitor first encounters a magnificent national fair, them slowly, "approaching home" he meets one of the most important folk activities - production of textile. In the end, the visitor "comes home" to learn something about the old way of dwelling and economy. On the way, he can find out something about celebrations of slava - protector saint's day, Christmas, Easter, Đurđevdan - St George's day, and other noteworthy church and family festivals. 
This is a rare opportunity to see in one place the wealth of tradition, huge areas, and history of ordinary people, which is usually not recorded in thick books.
 
 
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