Long ago, as the oldest residents of Novi Bečej still remember, the town was home to as many as 58 barbers—and every one of them had work. In a time when the barber shop was far more than a place for a haircut or shave, the craft held an important role in everyday community life. Among those masters of scissors and straight razors was Nikola Petrović Brica, a man whose name today symbolizes perseverance and devotion to tradition.
Nikola Petrović was born in 1936 in the village of Kuman, and he began practicing his trade in 1950. He still remembers the days when barbers went from house to house, shaving customers in their own homes, as well as the harsh years when a shave was paid for not with money, but with a measure of wheat or corn. Despite the poverty and difficult circumstances, barbers never lacked work, as their services were an essential part of daily life.
As the decades passed, habits began to change. Fewer people regularly visited traditional barber shops, and the number of craftsmen steadily declined. Although Nikola Petrović spent 13 years working at the Home for the Elderly and later retired from that position, he never gave up his craft. Unlike many others, he continued working, guided by a deep love for the trade that had defined his entire life.
In time, he became the only remaining old-style barber in Novi Bečej—a living witness to a bygone era and a guardian of a craft slowly disappearing. He passed his knowledge and skills on to his grandson, who continues in his footsteps, ensuring that the barbering tradition of the Petrović family lives on in the modern age.
On January 3, 2020, Nikola Petrović Brica marked an extraordinary 70 years of work in his profession. Seven decades of dedication, patience, and skill stand as proof that true crafts are not measured only in years, but in the lasting imprint they leave on a community. In a world that keeps turning ever faster, Nikola Petrović Brica remains calm, steadfast, and faithful to enduring values—an enduring symbol of an older, quieter Novi Bečej.
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