Worshipers gathered at St. Nicholas Serbian Orthodox Church in Monroeville to celebrate Orthodox Christmas Eve Jan. 6. According to the Julian Calendar, it is a Serbian tradition to attend vespers on Christmas Eve, participating in an evening of praise, prayers and sacrifice. At the end of the service, parishioners gather outside around the badnajk, an oak log or branch similar to the Yule log in other European churches. The badnjak represents a tree of happiness and sweetness. Members of the St. Nicholas Choir participate in the 2019 Christmas Eve service.