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Symbolism

Wolf represented a totem of Serbian tribes since the times of old Slavic pagan religion to the appearance of Christianity.

Different cultures had the different feelings for wolf. In some he was considered for a divine force, in some he was highly respected, in some he was hated and feared.

Peoples on the Balkans peninsula had the respect for a wolf. Old Slavs represented their highest God in a form of a limping wolf. This animal had the strong symbolic that was preserved throughout the centuries, and later on transferred into the Christian era.

In a Serbian culture, a wolf has always been taking the important role in folklore, customs and tradition. There are examples which show that numerable names in a Serbian people derive its roots from a word “wolf” (in Serbian “Vuk”) like it is a case for the names Vuk, Vukašin, Vujadin, Vuka, Vukosava… It was considered that the wolf will keep away the evil spirits and fairies and that he will protect the young ones from illness, and so to the children were given the names with wolf prefix, as a protection.

Many toponyms and other geographical elements were also named after the wolf (Vučje, Vučkovica, Vučica,Vučitrn…).

There is a Serbian saying : ”a wolf changes his fur but never changes his nature”, and so the wolf is a symbol of a brave but tricky man.

There is also a saying that refers to the importance of blood relation between the people: “ It’s good to have your own wolf regardless to the fact that he’s in a deep forest”.

There are numerous latin saying like: “homo homini lupus est”, “lupus in fibula” or the ironic one “lupus ovium custos” that testify that the symbolism of wolf was very important not only in Serbian but in the world culture.

According to the roman mythology Romul and Rem were raised by the wolf. A similar belief existed in Slovakia, and a founder of Persian imerium, named Kir, was raised by the wolf, by a belief.

A wolf is also a symbol of fidelity and loyalty. Wolf mates with one female only for whole his life.

Heraldically speaking, our emblem represents the following:

• The wolf that symbolizes wild and unrestrained forces of nature
• The moon that symbolizes a deep unconscious part of human mind, in which blends our Slavic heritage before the Christianity
• The shield in which encircles the wolf and the moon represents our defense from enemies and evil forces
• The cross, as a symbol of Christ, tames the wild forces and redirects them toward the higher purpose, community and love.