The 46-day Lenten fast for Serbians and other Orthodox Christians is strict. Western Christians, for whom Sundays are exempt, fast for 40 days unlike Orthodox Christians who also fast on the six Sundays in Lent.
Followed by the New Year celebrations and Orthodox Christmas, the religious observances finally wrap up on January 20th with the day of St Jovan (John), who baptized Jesus Christ in the Jordan River.
The politics of Serbia function within the framework of a parliamentary republic.