January 1, 2019 - The Ministry of Health has begun to think about building a new hospital in Kotor, said the Director of the General Hospital of Kotor, Dr Ivan Ilic.

29 December 2018 - In Montenegro, Christmas Eve is celebrated on the 6th January and Christmas Day falls on the 7th January because the main Orthodox Churches still use the old 'Julian' Calendar. In the Orthodox Church, Advent starts on 28th November and last for six weeks. During Advent, some people fast, and they don't eat food that comes from animals (meat, milk, eggs, etc.).

Christmas Eve is called 'Badnji dan' during the day and 'Badnje veče' after sunset. It's a time where families prepare for Christmas. Many don't eat food that comes from animals on Christmas Eve.

On Christmas Eve morning, it was traditional for men to go out into the woods and cut a type of Yule Log called a 'Badnjak' (Christmas Eve tree), generally from an oak tree. Now more people live in towns and cities, and they can buy a Badnjak from the market! The Badnjak is brought into the house on Christmas Eve evening and is meant to burn through the evening and night.

Outside of churches, there are often large bonfires where people gather in the early evening on Christmas Eve. There are sometimes nativity and Christmas plays put on either outside or inside the churches. People can bring special Badnjak to put on the bonfires.

There are two Orthodox Churches in Montenegro, The Serbian Orthodox Church, and the Montenegrin Orthodox Church. They have different main Cathedrals and have two large bonfires outside them on Christmas Eve.

'Česnica' is a special kind of bread made at Christmas and it's made in a round shape. The bread is passed around, and each member of the family gets a piece. There is a coin hidden in it and whoever gets the coin will be particularly fortunate in the next year! At the main Christmas meal you might also eat 'pečenica' (roast pork), 'sarma' (cabbage stuffed with rice and ground meat) and different kinds of cakes!

Under the dinner table, there should be some straw as a symbol of the stable/cave where Jesus was born. When the straw is spread out, some people make the noise of a chicken! Clucking like a chicken symbolises that Jesus wanted people to follow him like one big family (like chickens gather together!). It's also common for a handful of walnuts to be spread on the straw.

In Montenegrin, you wish a Happy/Merry Christmas with “Hristos se rodi” - Christ is born and “Vaistinu se rodi” - truly born (reply).

Source: Why Christmas – Christmas around the world

December 28, 2018 - President Milo Djukanovic presented the humanitarian medal to Konstantina Maraš from Niksic, who donated her kidney to his fellow citizen Ilija Bulajic.

As announced from Djukanovic's office, he said that he was extremely pleased to give her more than a meritorious acknowledgment for a brave, human and humanitarian act, once again affirming the humankind in Montenegro and a solid attitude towards people who need help.

"Such examples confirm that the notion of humanity has not only remained in history but has been living in Montenegro today," Djukanovic pointed out. He emphasized that he is particularly happy that, in the time of alienation and fast life, there are noble people who understand the needs of others and, unselfishly, help solve their problems or reduce them.

By recognizing Konstantina Maras, the state gives recognition and respect for a brave act and sends a message to everyone that we do not have the right to selfishness, but that we have to help people overcome their injuries," the president said. 

The distinguished citizen from Nikšić thanked the President, saying that this recognition would be an incentive for further humanitarian work.

"Maras pointed out that such gestures are recognized even worldwide as a special value of Montenegro, a small country with a big heart," the statement said.

Today's award is another example of the human and humanitarian act, after a recent recognition, also to the citizen from Niksic Tatjana Vukićević, who donated a kidney to his young neighbor Nikola Mijuskovic.

Text by CdM, on December 27th, 2018, read more at CdM

27 December 2018 - The Government passed the Draft Law on Life Partnership of Same-Sex Partners, Blanka Radošević Marović, Director-General at the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights, said at a press conference following the Cabinet session.

She explained that this draft law is based on the most widespread model for the organisation of same-sex life partnership. Before developing the draft law, the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights, as the proposer, made detailed analyses in order to determine the model of arranging the relations of two persons of the same sex in the way that best corresponds to the Montenegrin conditions. The current legal framework regulating those areas that are important for the adoption of this law, in particular the Constitution of Montenegro, the Family Law, the Law on Inheritance, the Law on Health Insurance, the Law on Pension and Disability Insurance, and others, have been thoroughly analysed. The provisions of the draft law contain adequate and acceptable solutions that regulate the life partnership of two persons of the same sex.

Most of the rights and obligations under this this law are related to a set of basic human rights known from everyday life, said Ms Radošević Marović, adding that in many families, marital and extra-marital communities, those members who are not employed are enabled to exercise the right to health care through their spouses who are employed, the right to social protection of persons in a state of social need, the right to a common and special property, and the disposal of the same, the right to inherit the property of the deceased partner, the right to inherit the pension, and a number of others rights and obligations arising from a common life. Enabling persons of the same sex to exercise these rights by no means endangers or diminishes the rights of others, nor will it in any way change or affect the exercise of the rights of other persons who are not members of the LGBTI population.

The principle that all people are equal without regard to any personal property (race, skin colour, nationality, language, religion, political affiliation, disability, marital status, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, etc.), in modern societies represents more than a legal standard, Ms Radošević Marović stressed. She also added that national LGBTI policy had made significant progress in recent years. We still have a lot of work to do, because the protection of human rights, especially vulnerable groups, is a social process that requires time. The legal framework has been improved, policies for the protection of human rights of vulnerable groups have been created, and programmes of support for members of the community regarding their social inclusion have been developed. The partnership with the non-governmental sector in the area of protection of the rights and freedoms of LGBTI people has been strengthened.

Radošević Marović underlined the active commitment and readiness of the LGBTI community and NGOs dealing with this area in the process of developing this law, as well as the realisation of joint activities.

December 27, 2018 - NVU Karampana, in cooperation with the co-organizer the Tourist Organization Kotor, and under the sponsorships of the Kotor Municipality, organizes a series of events within the project "From Christmas to Christmas" from December 23^rd to January 8^th, 2019.

"This year we are presenting a rich program of twelve manifestations and events that will be organized in our city," said the NGO "Karampana". The event began with the New Year's concert by Kotor City Music, and it continued on Christmas Eve on December 24^th, when “priganice” were served in front of the city's main gate to all citizens and guests.

Friday, December 28th is reserved for the cutest and the youngest. At 10:00 am, the Children's New Year Bazaar will be held in front of the main city doors, where the children from the kindergarten and Kotor schools will present the works that they prepared with their teachers. In case of rain, the location for the bazaar will be the Shopping Center "Kamelija". On the same day in the Church of St. The Ghost at 8 p.m. there will be a concert by the quartet "Lords of the Strings".

Saturday, December 29^th is the New Year's Bazaar of Crafts at the Riva promenade at 10 a.m. The big New Year's Tombola will be organized on the same day in front of the city tavern "Dojmi" at 11 am, and the organizers have provided valuable prizes for all participants. In case of bad weather for both events, the host will be SC Kamelija.

At the Piazza from 8 p.m., visitors will hear the famous tones and hits “Anđele moj” and “Aj ća volin’ te” by klapa "Kampanel". An alternative location in case of bad weather will be JU Cultural Center "Nikola Đurković" at the same hours.

Santa Claus and his elves have prepared a variety of surprises, which the youngest must not miss. The students of the Vida Matjan Music School will participate in the reception for the children. They will also have the opportunity to enjoy an interactive show titled "Let's Love - This is the Year of Love."

"Like every year, the unavoidable part of the Children’s New Year's program is the distribution of New Year's packages, which Kotor’s Santa Claus will distribute for all the present children," Karampana.

For children who, due to health problems, cannot attend the reception, NGO Karampana has organized the delivery of the New Year's packages at 12 pm at the Kotor General Hospital. It is a continuation of the "Fairytale for Health" action which started in 2015 as part of the project "From Christmas to Christmas."

The Children’s New Year will be followed by a musical happening entitled "Kotor- City of Good Music." The audience will be entertained by Who See, Niggor & Jelena Kženegra.

"The beginning of the New Year will be marked on January 3, 2019, under the title “Experience the Hundred,” where we will organize a special music program and the New Year's tombola with various prizes," said Karampana.

The Christmas Concert of the Serbian Singing Society "Jedinstvo" is scheduled for the 4 January in the church of St. Nicholas at 6 pm.

"Karampana" invites citizens and guests of Kotor to join the event announced for 5 January. "A humanitarian evening is dedicated to all Kotor originals, and all the proceeds from the sale of sausages and wine will be intended for the purchase of new instruments for Kotor City Music," the organizers said.

As for the Catholic Christmas Eve, Kotor will prepare “priganice” to celebrate the Orthodox Christmas Eve, which will be served in front of the central city gates on January 6 at 10 am.

The sixth “From Christmas to Christmas" manifestation ends on January 8th with the gastronomic specialities of Kotor hosts, which will be presented within the framework of the "Papalada ala maka."

"Thanks to the support we received, without which this project could not be so successful, we owe the first place to Luštica Bay, which already traditionally helps the project “From Christmas to Christmas.” Also, thanks for the support and infrastructure assistance of the Municipality of Kotor, La Mia Casa from Podgorica and our colleagues by enthusiasm - Ocean Lava Montenegro," said Karampan with the invitation to attend the programs and the message “the New Year's Magic can begin."

Text by Boka news, on December 25th 2018, read more at Boka news