The search for a balance between individual freedom and social responsibility - or in other words, between self-expression and respect - finds its particularly eloquent parallel and metaphorical depth in the symbolism and messages of one of the most significant Christian holidays, Christmas.
This universal holiday, which we will celebrate in a few hours, embodies the idea of humility as a path to understanding and mutually created social development.
As the 1961 Nobel laureate Ivo Andrić noted in the novel “The Bridge on the Drina“, which the great author wrote during World War II: “Everything is endured and endured in this world in order to preserve life and the opportunity to move forward.“ /ed. - you can read more quotes from the greatest writer of the former Yugoslavia HERE/
The Drina Bridge, known as the Visegrad Bridge, is a border and at the same time a connection between Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. More precisely, its central part is on Serbian territory, while the eastern end is in Bosnia. It symbolizes understanding - interethnic, interstate, socio-cultural, both human and economic.
In the context of Christmas, this quote by Andrić can be interpreted as a reflection of patience and hope, which are the basis of human unity for the purposes of social development.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nikolay Krushkov - Head of the Department of “Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer” At the UNWE
The Christmas festive event, viewed both as a historical narrative and as a philosophical symbol, presents to believers the meaning of self-restraint, the importance of empathy, love and respect for people. It is important that the Divine expresses itself not through power and wealth, but through the humble image of a child born in ordinary poverty, but with immense love and in social comfort. This incarnation marks the beginning of a universal human ethic, based not on force, but on respect for every human being as a bearer of dignity and opportunities for creating social utility.
In this way, Christmas creates in humanity an education in social responsibility and understanding.
Therefore, the wish for “Bright days“, which often sounds at this season, can be rethought as something more than an emotional wish. It can become a call for a conscious acceptance of the Christmas principles - for patience (as Andrić suggests), for humility, for love and respect, which lead to true human freedom, based on mutual understanding in society.
In this respect, Christmas serves as an annual moral and intellectual reference point, inviting society to rethink and rediscover the boundary where personal self-expression is enriched by the sincere respect that results from the recognition of our common humanity.
Christmas Eve
2025