Yugoslavia's socialist government suppressed or discouraged public religious celebrations until the early 1990s. Since then, the Serbian Orthodox Church has, together with local communities, organized public celebrations on Christmas Eve. There are typically three elements to such celebrations: the preparation, the ritual, and the festivity. The preparation consists of cutting down the oak sapling to be used as the "badnjak", taking it to the church yard, and preparing drink and food for the assembled parishioners. The ritual includes Vespers, placing the "badnjak" on the open fire built in the church yard, blessing or consecrating the "badnjak", and an appropriate program with songs and recitals. In some parishes they build the fire on which to burn the "badnjak" not in the church yard but at some other suitable location in their town or village. The festivity consists of gathering around the fire and socializing. Each particular celebration has its own specific traits however, reflecting the traditions of the local community.