The three-finger salute (Serbian: три пpcтa or tri prsta) is a salute made by extending the thumb, index, and middle fingers of the right hand almost exclusively used by ethnic Serbs.
Contents |
Origins
One popular theory on the origin of the salute is based on the way that Orthodox Serbs perform the Sign of the Cross, with three extended fingers representing the Trinity. A saying often used by Serbs is: Nema krsta bez tri prsta (There is no cross without three fingers). [1][2].
The gesture in its modern form is attributed to Vuk Drašković, leader of the opposition Serbian Renewal Movement. In a 2007 interview, he explained that he first used it in 1990 at the founding meeting of the movement. Drašković found inspiration in a painting by Paja Jovanović depicting the Serbian prince Miloš Obrenović greeting Serb insurgents during the Takovo Uprising of 1815.[3] 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. [4][5] However there are other meanings of the salute and it is also used by some political opponents of the Serbian Renewal Movement.[6] Srđan Srećković, a vice president of the Serbian Renewal Movement, said in an interview to Kurir that it can also symbolize "one finger for St. Sava, the other finger for Njegoš, and the third finger for Karađorđe". [7]
At the eve of the Yugoslav wars, the salute was popularized by Jovan Rašković, leader of the Republic of Serbian Krajina. His daughter Sanda said that he never gave explanation for using it.[3]
Usage
The three-finger salute is almost exclusively used by ethnic Serbs. It had often been used as a nationalist sign before and during the Yugoslav wars and was often flashed by Serbian soldiers during military operations.
In politics
The three-finger salute was widely used by unionists in Montenegro during their rallies before the Montenegrin independence referendum.
The salute is also used by members and supporters of almost all Serbian political parties (excluding LDP and SPS) on their rallies during election campaigns. It can be seen at all kinds of street demonstrations, notably the Kosovo is Serbia rally.
In war
Three finger salutes with different position of fingers were used in world war II by the Serbian Volunteer Corps, a Fascist organization led by Dimitrije Ljotić, when swearing in. The gesture resembled the Orthodox manner of performing a sign of the cross.[citation needed]
The salute was used by the Ustashe of the Independent State of Croatia, but the modern Serbian salute has no connection to it except their similarity in appearance.[citation needed]
During the Yugoslav wars, Slobodan Milošević, his party comrades and supporters did not use the salute. It was instead used by demonstrators in the events leading to the ousting of Slobodan Milošević
In sport
The salute is often used by sport fans and players when celebrating sport victories. After winning the 1995 European basketball championship, the entire 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. "[8] After Serbia and Montenegro won the World Championship in water polo in the 2005, team captain Vladimir Vujasinović stated "thank you for being there for us in hard times, you gave us the strength to go all the way and win the gold medal. I am proud of you, my country and all my people," and displayed the traditional three-finger Serbian salute.[9]. Mateja Kežman flashed the three finger salute after he scored the goal, which brought Serbia and Montenegro to 2006 World Cup, in the decisive qualification match against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Belgrade. [10] Vlade Divac is also known to have often shown the three-finger salute after wins and scores. More recently, Serbian tennis player Novak Đoković has shown the three-finger salute often after his victories.[11] During the 2008 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony, Serbian president Boris Tadić and Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić saluted the Serbian Olympic Team with three fingers. On November 9, 2008, Standard de Liège striker Milan Jovanović used the three-finger-salute after winning the match and scoring a goal against Germinal Beerschot. The GB-supporters chanted "Kosovo Kosovo" during the match to intimidate Jovanović. After the match Jovanović showed the three-finger-salute to the GB-supporters. In an interview after the match he said that he was grateful because the GB-supporters motivated him.
Eurovision 2007
Eurovision song contest winner, Marija Šerifović, while celebrating the maximum of 12 points that she received from Bosnian viewers displayed the three-finger salute. This caused controversy as some Bosnian viewers saw it as provocation. [12]
Controversial use
Among Serb opponents in the Yugoslav wars – Croats, Bosniaks and Albanians – the three-finger salute is usually perceived as provocation, especially when directed at them personally.[citation needed] In response, their forces used the V sign as a victory/defiance sign during the war.[citation needed]
Rade Leskovac, president of the Party of Danube Serbs, a Serbian minority party in Croatia, caused a controversy in 2007 when election posters featuring him giving the three-fingered salute were posted around the city of Vukovar. [13]
References
- ^ Hajdinjak, Marko. (2000) Yugoslavia - Dismantled and Plundered.
- ^ 1 THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL TRIBUNAL CASE NO. IT-94-1-T
- ^ a b "Tri prsta za pobedu" (in Serbian). Večernje novosti. 2007-11-17. http://www.novosti.rs/code/navigate.php?Id=10&status=jedna&vest=111385&datum=2007-11-17.
- ^ Tri Srbije?. B92 Editorial. 10 October 2002.
- ^ "- 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.". Three fingers are a symbol that was introduced by Vuk Drašković during demonstrations in Belgrade on 13 March 1991. Serbian Renewal Movement had three demands, and one of them was to release all people arrested for 9 March. That was our symbol of fight for change, although it took a lot of time for that symbol to be adopted it is clearly now adopted. I don't mind Serbian Radicals using it today" - says Srećković. [1] from Kurir
- ^ Ni supruga lidera SPO, Danica Drašković, nije bila ništa manje zatečena radikalskim preokretom. Najpre je kroz osmeh konstatovala: "Neka, neka, uskoro će početi i da uzvikuju i "svi, svi, svi", pa dodala da "nema ništa protiv toga da i radikali mašu sa tri prsta". -- The wife of SPO's leader, Danica Drašković, was not less surprised by the Radical's turnaround (usage of salute). She firstly said: "That's alright, everybody will soon start shouting "all, all, all" and said that she "doesn't mind that the Radicals use three fingers salute". [2] from Kurir
- ^ [3] from Kurir
- ^ Prisoners of War by Sports Illustrated
- ^ Swimming-Serbia's water polo team get heroes' welcome by Reuters on August 2nd, 2005
- ^ [4]
- ^ [5]
- ^ Pincom.info: Tajni znakovi Eurosonga: Kome je Marija podigla tri prsta?
- ^ "Nepoželjna "tri prsta" u hrvatskoj izbornoj kampanji" (in Serbian). RTS. 2007-11-16. http://www.rtv.rs/sr/vesti/politika/balkan/2007_11_16/vest_40710.jsp.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
