A family celebration named the slava or krsna slava (celebration/glorification or christened celebration) is a unique custom within the tradition of the Serbian Orthodox Church, when each family annually celebrates its patron saint. Besides Christmas and Easter, slava is the most important celebration in the life of every family. Although its roots reach as far back as medieval times, the slava and its role in family tradition were neglected and marginalised during the communist period of Serbian history. With the revitalisation of religion, and especially the reaffirmation of the Serbian Orthodox Church at the end of the last century, the slava has regained its significance and recognition, and even transcended the private family sphere. Today, it is often used as an indicator of one’s ethnicity and status with little real connection to its authentic religious meaning and purpose. Additionally, what was originally a family tradition has become a festival for many public institutions, companies, and professional associations. This paper aims to present the slava’s distinctive structure and features, as well as to explore ways in which this transformation is related to the revitalisation of religion and the growing nationalism in transitional Serbian society.