Three-finger salute (Serbian)

For other uses of this phrase, see Three-finger salute.
Three-finger salute on 2008 Kosovo is Serbia rally in Belgrade

The three-finger salute (Serbian: три прста / tri prsta, "three fingers"), commonly known as the Serb salute, is a salute which originally expressed Serbian Orthodoxy, that today simply is an expression, a gesture, for ethnic Serbs and Serbia, made by extending the thumb, index, and middle fingers of one or both hands.

“ the salute remains a distinctive sign for the ethnic Serb and a symbol for belonging to the Serbian nation.[1] ”
— Political scientist Anamaria Dutceac Segeste, 2011

Origin

Orthodox symbolism

In Serbian and Orthodox tradition, the number three is exceptionally important.[2] Three fingers are used when signing the cross in Orthodoxy, symbolizing the Trinity. The Serbs, when swearing Oath, historically used the three fingers (collected, as when crossing) along with the greetings "My Holy Trinity" (Svetog mi Trojstva) or "for the Honorable Cross and Golden Freedom" (za krst časni i slobodu zlatnu) during formal and religious events.[2] The salute was often made with both hands, raised above the head.[2] Serbian peasants sealed a pledge by raising three fingers to the face, the face being "the focus of honour" in Balkan culture.[3] A Serbian proverb goes "There is no cross without three fingers" (Nema krsta bez tri prsta).[4] Karađorđe was appointed leader of the Serbian rebels after they all raised their "three fingers in the air" and thereby swore Oath.[5]

The Takovo Uprising (1888), by renowned Serbian painter Paja Jovanović.

The three fingers were viewed of as a symbol of Serbdom in the 19th century. Njegoš mentioned "the crossing with three fingers has not remained" when speaking of the Islamization of Serbs, a central theme in The Mountain Wreath (1847).[6] Paja Jovanović's painting, The Takovo Uprising (1888), depicts Miloš Obrenović holding a war flag and saluting with three fingers.[2] The Serb-Catholic movement in Dubrovnik, which supported that Serbs had three faiths (Orthodoxy, Catholicism and Islam), criticized the Pan-Serbists who according to them only "truly believed those Serbs, who cross with three fingers".[7] A short story published in 1901 surrounds a Serbian despot meeting with a Szilágyi, who has the despot's three fingers cut off by Franciscan friars after discussing the right way of crossing.[8] Serbian Metropolitan Nikolaj Velimirović (1881–1956) called for a Serbian salute in which three fingers were to be raised along the greeting: "Thus Help Us God!".[9] In 1937, Velimirović began a sermon protesting the Catholic support for separation of state and religion in Yugoslavia with "Rise three fingers Orthodox Serbs!".[10]

During World War II, the Catholic church in Independent Croatia sought that the Serbs renounce crossing with three fingers.[11] A letter from the Chetniks to the Yugoslav Partisans stressed that the real government was in London (in exile) and that they would kill all who did not cross themselves with three fingers.[12] An Ustashe song went Nesta krsta sa tri prsta ("Gone is the crossing with three fingers").[13]

Modern form

The first popularized use of the three-finger salute (with fingers separated) was in 1988, when Serbs from Srem, Banat and Kosovo used it to counter the Albanian, Croat and Slovenian use of the V sign, during that time's political events. Historian Dragan Petrović stresses that Vuk Drašković was not the "author" of the salute, but that greater credit belongs to Mirko Jović and Jovan Rašković.[2] Vuk Drašković, the leader of the Serbian Renewal Movement political party, said in a 2007 interview that he first used it in 1990 at the founding meeting of the party, inspired by Paja Jovanović's painting.[14] During the March 1991 street demonstrations in Belgrade, the three fingers were massively used by Drašković's supporters, representing the three demands that the Serbian Renewal Movement had put before the government.[15][16]

Usage

NBA basketball player Aleksandar Pavlović displaying the three-finger salute

During the Yugoslav wars, the salute was widely used as a Serb symbol. Serb soldiers raised the three fingers as a sign of victory.[17][18]

According to political scientist Anamaria Dutceac Segeste, the significance of the salute is diverse: although it has been used by nationalists, it cannot be monopolized as such; it has been used without aggressive nationalist connotations, i.e. at sport events, by opponents of Milošević, by President Boris Tadić during the 2008 Summer Olympics, etc.[1]

The salute is often used by sport fans and players when celebrating victories. After winning the 1995 European basketball championship, the entire then-Yugoslav team displayed the three fingers. Sasha Djordjevic says he flashed the three fingers "not to be provocative. Just: that's Serbia, that's us, that's me – nothing else. It's my pride."[19] Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic raises three fingers after his victories.[20]

The salute is used by members and supporters of almost all Serbian political parties on their rallies during election campaigns. It can be seen at all kinds of street demonstrations and celebrations.

Controversy

Croats, Bosniaks, and Kosovo Albanians, who have been at war with Serbs, find the salute provocative.[21] A 1998 Politika news article spoke of the "perennial demonization" of the salute, "which had already entered the catalogue of planitarian gestures", together with the closed fist, outstretched palm and V sign.[22]

Yugoslav wars

When Russian peacekeeping troops entered Sarajevo in 1994, they used the salute when greeting the Serb troops,[23] and because of this, they were branded pro-Serb; the UNPROFOR used the Serb salute when greeting the Serbs, and the V sign when greeting the Bosniaks, showing impartiality.[24] There were instances when non-Serb captives were forced to use the salute.[25] During the Croatian War, there were instances of massacred Serb civilians having had their three fingers on the right hand cut off.[26][27] A Croatian Serb woman interviewed by war correspondent Misha Glenny had had her three fingers shot off.[28]

A Serbian nationalistic song went "From Ulcinj to Trieste, the crossing will be with three fingers".[29] In response, Croatian nationalistic songs went "You wanted to reach Trieste, Serb. Fuck your three fingers", and "We'll break all your fingers and not only those three".[30]

During the Kosovo War, Serb refugees led by a NATO convoy were attacked by Albanians when they showed the salute.[31]

Usage in sports

In a famous photograph of the Red Star Belgrade team celebrating their victory at the 1990–91 European Cup, eight players are seen using the Serb salute, while a Croatian player, Robert Prosinečki, is not.[32]

2007 Eurovision winner Marija Šerifović used the salute when celebrating points; controversially, she used the salute when receiving the maximum of 12 points from Bosnian viewers, after which Bosnian media reported it as being used as a direct provocation.[33][34] The Swedish-Serbian National Association called it ridiculous, saying that the salute is not to be mistaken in that way, but viewed of as nothing more than a modified V sign.[35] Aleksandar Šapić said "I know that it was used by soldiers in war, but I do not raise three fingers because I hate someone. I respect all peoples, and know what is in my heart."[36] The salute was met with controversy in Turkey after Duško Tošić, playing for Beşiktaş, used the salute after Serbia won over Albania in the guest match in the UEFA 2016 qualifiers; Beşiktaş fans threatened him through Turkish media.[37]

There has been instances in former Yugoslavia where supporters paradoxically borrow symbols and slogans from the other ethnic groups: in May 2003, Bosnian Croat club Široki Brijeg fans, during a match against Bosniak FK Željezničar Sarajevo, chanted "kill the Turk" and raised the three-finger salute.[21]

Usage in Croatia

Rade Leskovac, president of a Serb minority party in Croatia, caused controversy in 2007 when election posters featuring him with the salute were posted around Vukovar.[38] In 2015, an art-piece mural on a school wall in Umag, Croatia, depicting a hand counting was removed due to likeness to the Serbian salute.[39] Foreigners are warned not to use the salute in Croatia.[40][41]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Three-finger salute (Serbian).

References

  1. 1 2 Anamaria Dutceac Segesten (16 September 2011). Myth, Identity, and Conflict: A Comparative Analysis of Romanian and Serbian Textbooks. Lexington Books. pp. 145–. ISBN 978-0-7391-4867-9.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 A. Palić (2013-12-07). "Prkos raširio tri prsta". Novosti.
  3. ↑ Traian Stoianovich (1 September 1994). Balkan Worlds. M.E. Sharpe. p. 48. ISBN 978-0-7656-3851-9.
  4. ↑ Vladimir Ćorović (1921). Pokreti i dela. Izdavačka knjižarnica Gece Kona. p. 9.
  5. ↑ M. Đ Milićević (1876). Knez̆evina Srbija. 1. Sloboda. p. 251.
  6. ↑ Лазо М Костић (2000). Његош и српство. Српска радикална странка. p. 250. ISBN 978-86-7402-035-7.
  7. ↑ Izviesca brzopisna i analiticna ... zasjedanja zemaljskoga sabora dalmatinskoga od dneva ... do ... 18 ... , u koji dan zasjedanje bi odgodjeno. (Stenograph. und analyt. Mitteilungen der ... Session der dalmatischen Landesversammlung.)- U Zadru, Narodnogo Lista 1870-(serbocroat. et ital.). Narodnogo Lista. 1899. p. 604.
  8. ↑ Brankovo kolo za zabavu, pouku i književnost. 7. 1901. p. 103.
  9. ↑ Радмила Радић (2006). Живот у временима: Гаврило Дожић 1881-1950. Институт за новију историју Србије. p. 178. ISBN 978-86-7005-047-1. Тако нам Бог помогао!
  10. ↑ Vjekoslav Perica (2002). Balkan Idols: Religion and Nationalism in Yugoslav States. Oxford University Press. p. 18. ISBN 978-0-19-517429-8.
  11. ↑ Ivan Cvitković (1986). Ko je bio Alojzije Stepinac. Izdavačka djelatnost. p. 113.
  12. ↑ Hodimir Sirotković; Institut za historiju radničkog pokreta (Zagreb, Croatia) (1964). Zemaljsko antifašističko vijeće narodnog oslobodenja Hrvatske: zbornik dokumenata 1943. Institut za historiju radničkog pokreta. p. 458. U tom pismu se naglašava, da četnici imaju vladu u Londonu i da će ubijati sve one koji se ne krste s tri prsta.
  13. ↑ Jozo Tomasevich (2001). War and Revolution in Yugoslavia: 1941 - 1945. Stanford University Press. p. 353. ISBN 978-0-8047-7924-1.
  14. ↑ "Tri prsta za pobedu" (in Serbian). Večernje novosti. 2007-11-17.
  15. ↑ "Tri Srbije?". B92 Editorial. 10 October 2002.
  16. ↑ "3 PRSTA". Kurir. 11 November 2006. Lepo ste se toga setili! Podignuta tri prsta jesu simbol koji je u masovnu upotrebu uveo Vuk Drašković na mitingu u Beogradu 13. marta 1991. godine. Tada je SPO imala tri zahteva, a jedan od njih je bio da se puste svi pohapšeni 9. marta. To je bio naš simbol borbe za promene, a iako je trebalo dosta vremena da se taj simbol prihvati, očigledno je da je uspelo. I kada ga danas koriste radikali, nemam ništa protiv – kaže Srećković.
  17. ↑ Danas. 494–504. 1991. p. 37.
  18. ↑ Martin Grgurovac (1992). Vinkovački ratni dnevnik: dnevnički zapisi od 30.IV.1991. do 16.V.1992. Slavonska nadlada "Privlačica". p. 131.
  19. ↑ "Prisoners of War". Sports Illustrated. 1996. Archived from the original on 17 July 2007.
  20. ↑ "Lekar iz Tuzle: Otvoreno pismo Novaku Đokoviću". Story.
  21. 1 2 John Hughson; Fiona Skillen (14 October 2015). Football in Southeastern Europe: From Ethnic Homogenization to Reconciliation. Routledge. pp. 47, 90. ISBN 978-1-317-74929-5.
  22. ↑ NIN. Nedeljne informativne novine. 2454–2465. Politika. 1998. p. 41. Ријеч је о вишегодишњој демонизацији „поздрава с три прста", који је већ ушао у каталог планетарних геста, заједно са стиснутом шаком, испруженим дланом, и прстима у положају за слово В, а првим се означава „љевичарски" ...
  23. ↑ "A Three-Finger Salute". The Christian Science Monitor. 2 February 1994.
  24. ↑ United States. Congress. House. Committee on National Security (1 January 1997). United States Policy Toward the Former Yugoslavia: Hearings Jeld June 7, 1995, July 11, 1995, October 17, 18, 1995, November 2, 8, 15, 30, 1995, December 6, 1995 and September 25, 1995. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 149. ISBN 978-0-16-054094-3.
  25. ↑ Michigan Law Review. 96. University of Michigan, Department of Law. 1998. p. 2049.
  26. ↑ Станко Нишић (2004). Од Југославије до Србије. Књига-комерц. p. 162. одсечена три прста десне руке
  27. ↑ Petar V. Grujić (18 September 2014). KOSOVO KNOT. Dorrance Publishing. p. 133. ISBN 978-1-4809-9845-2.
  28. ↑ Martin Gilbert (1997). A History of the Twentieth Century: 1952-1999. HarperCollins. p. 794. ISBN 978-0-688-10066-7.
  29. ↑ Matica: časopis Hrvatske matice iseljenika. 47. Hrvatska matica iseljenika. 1997. Od Ulcinja pa do Trsta, krstiće se sa tri prsta
  30. ↑ Institut za etnologiju i folkloristiku (Zagreb, Croatia) (1998). Music, politics, and war: views from Croatia. Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Research. p. 17. ISBN 978-953-6020-09-6.
  31. ↑ Miron Rezun (2001). Europe's Nightmare: The Struggle for Kosovo. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 81. ISBN 978-0-275-97072-7.
  32. ↑ Jonathan Wilson (9 April 2012). Behind the Curtain: Football in Eastern Europe. Orion. p. 74. ISBN 978-1-4091-0904-4.
  33. ↑ "Tajni znakovi Eurosonga: Kome je Marija podigla tri prsta?". SINA. Archived from the original on 8 October 2007.
  34. ↑ Georg Cederskog (13 May 2007). "Schlagertävlingen hotar bli politiserad". Dagens Nyheter.
  35. ↑ Serbernas riksförbund i Sverige; et al. (17 May 2007). "Missförstå inte våra serbiska tre fingrar". Aftonbladet.
  36. ↑ NIN: nedeljne informativne novine. Politika. September 2007. Знам да су то користили војници у рату, али ја три прста не ди- жем зато што неког мрзим. Ја све љу- де поштујем, и знам шта ми је у срцу
  37. ↑ "NE PRESTAJU DA PRETE TOŠIĆU Tri prsta su zabranjena u Turskoj!". Alo.
  38. ↑ "Nepoželjna "tri prsta" u hrvatskoj izbornoj kampanji" (in Serbian). RTS. 2007-11-16.
  39. ↑ "Zbog tri prsta sa škole uklonjen mural ekološke tematike" (in Croatian). Tportal. 27 June 2015.
  40. ↑ "How NOT to behave in 15 countries around the world". Business Insider UK. 7 May 2015.
  41. ↑ "Cultural Information - Croatia". Centre for Intercultural Learning. 15 October 2009.
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