Božić je

"Божић је"
Still from the official music video.
Song by Баја Мали Книнџа
from the album Стан'те паше и усташе
English title	It's Christmas
Released	1992 (1992)
Genre	Novokompovana
Length	4:00
Label	Nina Trejd
Producer(s)	Жељко Грујић

"Božić je" (Serbian Cyrillic: "Божић је", lit. "It's Christmas") is a song written and performed by prominent Serb war singer Baja Mali Knindža. Originally appearing in Stan'te paše i ustaše, live renditions would be featured in Sve za Srpstvo, Srpstvo nizašta, Još sad pa ko zna kad! vol. 2 and Gara iz Nemačke The track would appear in the CD version of Pobediće istina, the 1998 compilation The Best Off, the 2003 compilation Krajiški vitez, and as a bonus track for Lesi se vraća kući. Since its release, it is a setlist mainstay with live performances, as well as TV performances being as far back as 1993.

Music and lyrics

Earliest recording of a televised performance. (ЗК TVB)

The song opens up with a sample of Hilandarska zvona. The instrumentals of the song are sentimental and dramatic. "Božić je" is about how it is Christmas, but no one is there to celebrate due to the war. It is speculated that the song itself was influenced by Baja's personal experience as his brother and cousin were on the battlefield and one of his aunts and uncles died when the conflict began.

Music video

The video opens up with of crosses atop churches as the bells ring. Various shots of Knin castle and the surrounding area are shown with a car driving by in one of the shots. Baja, once again in the suit he wore for the first version of Ne dam Krajine wanders the castle grounds. Shots of Baja from afar and close up interchanged when he sings. After the chorus, shots of the area are seen with parts of the castle, churches in the ruins, and other buildings in the area being showcased.

Lyrics

Lyrics: Sjećam se kao da gledam, baka me u crkvu vodi kraj mene ljudi se ljube i viču Hristos se rodi Božić je, Božić je, pucaju prangije, i česnicu baka sprema, a mene tamo nema Stari otac badnjak nosi, ko sada vidim tu sliku, beli se inje u kosi zvonaru na zvoniku Božić je, Božić je, pucaju prangije, i česnicu baka sprema, a mene tamo nema Drhte mi maleni prsti, baka me u crkvu vodi hajde se, sine, prekrsti i reci Hristos se rodi Božić je, Božić je, pucaju prangije, i česnicu baka sprema, a mene tamo nema

Lyrics (English): I remember as if I’m watching, my grandmother leads me to church, Next to me, people are kissing and shouting "Christ is born!" It’s Christmas, it’s Christmas, the guns are firing, And grandmother is preparing the Christmas bread, but I’m not there Old father brings the yule log, I can still see that picture, Frost is in the hair of the bell ringer on the bell tower It’s Christmas, it’s Christmas, the guns are firing, And grandmother is preparing the Christmas bread, but I’m not there My little fingers are trembling, grandmother leads me to church, "Come on, son, cross yourself and say 'Christ is born!'" It’s Christmas, it’s Christmas, the guns are firing, And grandmother is preparing the Christmas bread, but I’m not there