Cult of Fertility Among The Bosnian People

Raif Esmerović encourages fertility and creates
life. Remnants of the once

extremely widespread cult of the
Cult of fertility snake among the Bosnian people are

demonstrated in numerous beliefs.
among the Some of them have been preserved

and documented and are a type of
Bosnian People reminder of our ancient past.
To represent all the beliefs of

our people about the snake itself
more credibly, and to bring them
in connection with the Illyrian
Cult of the snake
cult of fertility, it is necessary
to cite what has been written down
In order to write credibly and
by Augustin Krstić in his work
in detail about the cult of
"Urežnjaci from folk healing of
fertility of the Bosnian people,
Bosnia and Herzegovina":
it is necessary to start from the
beginning which goes back to the
ancient times and speaks about our
famous forefathers the Illyrians,
and one of their most important Snake skin as a cure
deities - snake. Namely, Illyrian
cult of the snake as a primary Though not many, in Bosnia, I
symbol of fertility in folk stumbled across some female
religion of the Bosnian people, is (rarely male) hands which had
not only noticeable in the belief "punctuated" snake tattoos. When
about the home snake - protector asked: why are the snakes
of the family, i.e. totem of the punctuated? - I didn't receive
head of the family, usually a male, equal or similar answers. Usually
i.e. father, but also her sacred I have been told, that it should
meaning. The snake cult, on which be like that (They often say:
the genesis of the grandfather of "It's a custom since the old
our forefathers is based on, has days"). These three answers are
an even wider meaning and perhaps the meaning of those
significance. In archetypal snakes: "Brings good luck -
beliefs the snake is probably the Defends from spells - Won't be
personification of life force and bitten by a snake". People spoke
without a doubt a personification timidly about the tattooed snakes
of the spirit of the nature which and snake skin, only in some
Raif Esmerović Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People

villages I heard accusation about discretion I received some data on
some women because "they carry carrying "snake waist", such women
snake skins". are called in the village snake
woman or girl woman.
Snake skin as medicine is usually
taken in powdered form by folk, To kill a snake which bit you and
mixed with almost anything, while crush her head, place it over the
I barely came across a few cases wound will draw out the poison!
of it being worn around the waist
as a means of some help. Through the mentioned data it is
evident that the ancient beliefs
Snake skins are gathered in about the snake have been
paramljeće (spring), when snakes preserved, a symbol of fertility,
change their skin! They are found the snake also had the role of
in thorns, fences, etc. since deity which enabled a girl to get
snakes then move through something married, start a family i.e. give
tight, in order to get rid of the birth and feed her children. The
old skin. act of tattooing the snake among
women has the same purpose since
"Crush the skin" and drink in milk it is familiar through the history
- and a nursing lady will get her of religion that various people
milk. It is a cure for those women, usually tattooed symbols of gods,
which nurse children but which their protectors, with the goal of
don't have milk of their own. achieving a more intimate
relationship with them with the
Crush the skin and rub your hands purpose of getting benefits which
and feet with it, cure for those is evident by the statements of
with sweaty palms and feet! the snake defending from spells
and snake bites. We should
Women which can't get pregnant certainly take into consideration
need to drink marigold herb, that the text originated in the
teucrium herb and a bit of the first half of the twentieth
crushed skin, and she will get century, which by itself creates a
pregnant! She will achieve the large continuity and testifies
same effect if she carries the about traditional conservation of
skin around her waist. Illyrian traditions and beliefs
among our people.
A woman carrying snake skin around
her waist will marry the person
that she wants! With a lot of

above the hole in order to stop
the penetration of the water in
the ship.
Primeval connection of the snake,

divine totem of the Illyrians, and
the Bosnian people themselves was
never interrupted, despite bloody
and painful parts of our history.
Even with the advent of the
Bogomils, whose religion was
dominant in the middle ages in
Bosnia, there was a special
reverence towards the snake and
unlike other directions of the
Bogomil faith, the character of
Satan was not seen in the snake.
Sin which got Adam and Eve ejected
Snake - keeper of worlds
from heaven was not caused by the
snake, but a sexual act of the
It is impossible to assume that
first people, according to
the cult of fertility could exist
monotheistic belief.
without the snake which proves
that numerous examples where it is
represented as a kind of life
carrier, since it takes care of
the preservation of the human race
which can be confirmed through a
few examples from the Bosnian
tradition (1). According to the
legend which can be heard today
from the older population in the
northwest part of Bosnia during
the time of the flood the mouse
drilled a hole at the bottom of
Noah's ark, bringing everyone in According to a Bogomil legend,
danger from water penetrating when god drove out people from
inside the ship. The snake was the heaven, he gave them various
only one that noticed it and diseases, from which we still
quickly threw itself onto the suffer. But God, in his vast mercy
mouse, swallowed him and curled created an herb for each disease,

so that humans can cure themselves is so and so, and I'm a cure for
when sick. Numerous legends speak such and such disease, another
of this, about a mysterious doctor said a similar thing, etc." When
called Lokuman or Lacmanin, about one of the plants: "My name is
whom we don't know much, not even comfrey (Symphytum officinale) and
his nationality, nor religion, nor I'm a cure for hernia!", the
where he comes from. There is a follower laughed and the Lokuman
possibility that we're talking asked him: "why are you laughing?"
about a man, doctor or mystic, - "No reason!", - "Did you eat
from western Europe primarily some of the snake?" - "No!" -
because in the past the Bosnian "Open your mouth so I can check".
people called all those people The follower opened his mouth and
wearing a tight suit a Lacmanin, the Lokuman spat in them
and later that same name was used immediately, and immediately the
to denote Germans. As legends say, plants stopped speaking.
on one occasion Lokuman
accompanied by a villager headed (1) There is a thesis that the Greeks,
to the mountains. When they came neighbours of the Illyrians, took a
to the area with the thickest good deal of the religious beliefs
tied to the snake and add them to
forest, he took out a wand and
Asclepius, god of medicine, which is
whistled with it, and immediately
depicted as a man with cane around
a multitude of snakes appeared
which a snake is wrapped.
around him. He picked out one of Because of such information, the
them, caught her, whistled and all Illyrian snake cult doesn't end with
other snakes dispersed. Lokuman this example, there is other
slew the snake, he punctured the documented information which point to
snakes body with a stick and the conclusion that among the Bosnian
cooked it over a fire. Since he people, the snake always had divine,
cooked her, Lokuman ate the snake supernatural abilities to influence

people's lives.
and said to his follower to bury
the grill in the ground. But,
since this all was strange and
interesting to him, before burying
the stick he licked it to see how
the snake tastes. When they headed
towards the mountain, the
Lokuman's follower could
understand all the plants around
him, without realising how it
happened. One plant said: "My name

Great Mother, often times depicted
on reliefs and monuments alongside
god Vidasus. Wheat plays a
pronounced role in the cult of
fertility and the act of offering
of wheat to the goddess has the
goal of securing her grace and
successful harvest. Dominant
symbol of the one that gives life,
first deity in human history, for
the Illyrians wheat represented
the biggest sanctity but also
ancient sin.
During the time of the Roman's i.e.

Roman occupation there was a
father with seven sons and one
daughter in Illirika. At one
opportunity the sons out of
boredom and wanton took the bread
Illyrian legends out of the house, placed it on a
larger stone and used it for
Mythological involvement of the target practice with spears. The
snake in the cult of fertility is father was unaware of their
evident through ancient Illyrian actions, but hearing their
legends, with whose analysis we laughter he decided to see what
can discern in greater detail the was going on. At the same time,
connection of the snake with other while the father was exiting the
elements of this cult, especially house, the spear of one of the
wheat. In the book "Ancient sons hit the bread, and to
pledged monuments on the locality everyone's surprise, blood started
of BiH" (1977), author Enver to flow out of it. Seeing this the
Imamović mentions an interesting father yelled at his boys, asking
piece of information about the what they have done, because now
connection of wheat and a female they caused the wrath of gods,
deity: "For example, in Herodotus which will punish them surely.
we find data about a female deity Punishment is ruthless since god's
among Paionians which are sentence sons to banishment and
identified with the Greek they have to leave the home,
Artemisia. Illyrian women parting on all four sides of the
sacrifice wheat straw to her". globe, and the only ones left are
Artemisia is known as the goddess the father and his daughter. Soon
of hunting, nature and animals, the father died out of great
all things that Illyrians ascribed sorrow for his sons. The girl wept
to the goddess Tana. With this and mourned since she was the only
data we are closer to the one left in the house. The god's
conclusion that Tana is behind the decided to turn her into a huge

snake which will guard treasure in sons, father and daughter) which
a deep cave and each year, during is the number of the Grand Mother,
spring, she would go out onto the with which this legend represents
daylight, to have a chance to meet one of the oldest Illyrian legends
a hero, whose courage will be so which remained in the collective
great that he will kiss her conscience of our people. Also,
between the eyes. If he performs bread placed on the stone and
this feat he will receive the punctured with a spear could
treasure and the girl as his wife. represent a type of sacrifice to
Illyrian gods before the men leave
for war.
Besides being interesting, the
legend reveals some historical In another Illyrian legend there
facts such as sons leaving the is talk of a time of wellbeing,
home for such a long time that when the people lived in times of
their father didn't live to see plentiful food; the people
them return. Namely, after a long developed hubris and became
Illyrian uprising against the ungrateful. In their arrogance
Romans, the occupying forces they made shoes out of bread which
decided to send Illyrian men to angered the gods and they punished
the boarders of the Roman empire them with a period of hunger and
where they would serve the army poverty.
for twenty or thirty years, after
which they will be allowed to In this legend also we notice
return home, if they survive. historical sequences about a
Sorrow and loneliness of the girl period of peace i.e. wellbeing and
and her transformation into a a period of war (hunger), which
snake, symbol of fertility, are always connected with god's of
similarly speak of girls which fertility, which is understandable
couldn't get married and achieve if we take into consideration the
motherhood because of the lack of fact that survivability of people
men. But, more than that, the depended on their fertility from
appearance of the snake in spring the beginning of times. That's why
hints to awakening of fertility in in traditional Bosnian belief we
nature, regeneration of the come across numerous taboos tied
eternal cycle of new birth, and to bread;
throughout the entire content of
the myth, we have a few crucial it's a large sin to trample bread
elements which mutually agree and crumbs;
complement each other: young men,
whose sexual power is represented bread shouldn't be turned upside
by a spear - phallus, and bread down on the table;
the symbol of the Grand Mother,
i.e. virgin, which is being you shouldn't walk down the street
penetrated by a spear, act of and eat bread.
defloration. We shouldn't leave
out the meaning of number 9 (seven Hearth as the centre of a

household and a place where bread was treated like a second class
was baked is holly and it is citizen - persona non grata.
forbidden to thread on it, i.e. During a periods of crisis in our
undertake blasphemy.
history such women were regarded
Not even rain was allowed to fall as unworthy of life since
on the hearth that's why the resources are wasted on her which
dormers was closed every night, are more needed for the existence
otherwise an owl could fly inside of "fertile" members of the
the house, personification of
society. Luckily such a stance did
death in ancient beliefs of our
not last long since the collective
people. Namely, if an owl enters
the house through a dormer, the conscious awoke slowly transformed
entire family will die. under the influence of improved
living conditions.
One even swears on bread, namely,
if it so happens that a person is
As Antun Hangi wrote in his
talking while eating and holding
anthological work about the life
bread in his hand he would utter:
"It was like that, I swear by this and customs if Bosnian people, a
nimet (bread)! woman not giving birth to children
is not dear to her husband, though
she was once dear to him. He
considers her to be a tree without
fruit, rose without petals,
therefore she needs to be cut down.
Infertility, polygamy and Groomsman says to the bride:
abuse Gaze upon those yellow oranges,

If the tree didn't bear fruit each
According to traditional year,
understanding a woman has two main My brother would've cut it down.
tasks; to do house chores well as Gaze upon the yellow lemon,
well as chores in the field and If the tree didn't bear fruit each
give birth to children. If she is year,
not up to the challenge which are My brother would've cut it down.
expected of her, especially in the Gaze upon the flush roses,
segment of fertility, she is sure If the rose didn't bloom each year,
to be exposed to public judgment My brother would've cut it down.
and other repercussions. Without a
doubt societies attitude towards Ali-bey has a wonderful wife,
infertile women is absolutely which he loves dearly. A year has
inhumane and every sterile woman almost passed, and she bares no

children. This angers and saddens since it fit perfectly in the
him. One day he goes to the sustainability of the family.
village to visit his estate and Namely, since there was no
commands his brother, wife's industry at that time the entire
groomsman, to cut her down: existence was reliant on
agriculture, another woman took
By god my brother Muhammad! care of the children, elderly or
I'm going on my Timar, diseased members of the family as
when the young bride arrives, well as cooking and the first
bring her into the haz yard, woman had a task to do all chores
then cut her down, outside of the home. Such labour
when I don't have the heart, and obligation division had a
let her not be my bride then! practical purpose, however such
relations were often inharmonious
In order to avoid the murder of a and full of conflict from the
fertile woman the husband would inside.
decide to marry another wife, in
order to ensure an heir, which is
why polygamy was widespread in the Ilirike
past and was exempt from public
judgement, especially if the first
wife was infertile. Researching History of polygamy is a long one
documented data on the subject, in Bosnia and it was recorded
but also leaning on the statements among our forefathers the
of informants which were of an Illyrians which is written in the
older age, average age 70-90 years, work by Salmedin Mesihović
it is evident that military and "Ilirike":
political conditions influenced
the behaviour of people and their
social consciousness besides the For men from getskih and trachkih
pure desire for offspring. After peoples, Strabon mentions that
WWII famine and scarcity came and they had more than a few wives.
once again changed the outlook on (Strab Geo. VIII. 3,4-5, Steph)
life of the entire community. But, The presence of polygamy was
what is fascinating is the confirmed in the ruling house of
resilience of people and their king Agron, which alongside his
desire to survive. In such imposed wife Teuta, which was his first
circumstances polygamy had its and most influential wife, also
practical purpose, besides the had another wife called Triteuta,
deficit of sexually mature men, mother of Pines. It is possible

that Agron took Triteuta for his have children with her. A few
wife, since he did not have any years ago he arranged with his
male offspring with Teuta. It is wife to bring and marry another
interesting to note that Teuta, woman, a widow, from the same
and not the biological mother village. The village didn't object
Triteuta or Skerdilaida, was the to this proposal. But, due to
one who was the custodian of the disagreements between these two
successor to the Illyrian throne women, the husband divorced the
after Agron's death. With this we first woman and married the second.
not only see that polygamy was not
But, it would be wrong to conclude
rare among the Illyrian people,
that man married other women
but in fact that it was pronounced,
because their wives were infertile,
probably more among the clan-based
polygamy evidently had connections
aristocrats, leaders of the
with improper social norms i.e. a
brotherhood and royal family.
certain man was shown as being
rich, capable of supporting two
Though in the magazine Behar, 2001
wives, but what is most important
issue, it is mentioned that
- it glorified his libido and ego.
"having multiple wives" was
However, such marriages often
accepted in the strict part of the
failed and ended in extremely
Bosnian krajina (border), from
disturbed family relations and
Cazin - Pecigrad - Velika Kladusa,
brought one wife in unfavourable
however this does not reflect the
position and often her children.
real situation in the field since
One of such examples was mentioned
such phenomenon was documented in
in the Yearbook of the faculty of
areas such as Jajce but also other
law in Sarajevo (1955) where a
parts of BiH, not only among the
statement of a banished wife from
Bosniaks but also Bosnian orthodox
Velika Kladuša is cited:
and to a lesser extent Catholic.
I lived with his second wife for 6
In the ethnological work GZM years, and two years ago she threw
called "Traditions of private and me out of the house and now I'm
family life", subheading living with his aunt. I lived with
"traditions tied to birth", the him for 15 years. We have 3
following is mentioned: children. I don't want to part
from him nor my children, since
We're mentioning one example in an
with him I earned all my assets.(2)
Orthodox family in the village
Lubovo (Jajce). D.S. lived with a
woman 30 years of age. He didn't Though polygamy is an old marital

tradition spread throughout many women in Cazin krajina (border) in
parts of the world it is the 19th and 20th century.
interesting that in the past it
often originated during difficult
He beats her in certain moments
living conditions, or as a
when he should be extremely kind
consequence of war, when a man had
and gentle towards her. One man
to take care of a few women and
beat his wife while she was lying
children that came about from such
sick in bed (29/49), and another
relationships. Deficit of male
person, seven days after birth
population in a certain area or
(119/48). This is what is stated
region was a key issue in the area
in one appeal: "He tortured me in
of northwest Bosnia, where the
various ways, locked me all day
border between Islam and
inside the house without food, and
Christianity lasted the longest.
when he arrived, he would beat me
With the death of a large number
with a rubber until I would
of adult males there was
faint." (8/48) There were cases
unquestionably a decline of
where husbands would rip out their
population and polygamy should be
wife's hair when angry (Velika
analysed using this data as a
Kladuša, 110/49). One cannot
social phenomenon which is not
believe the ways in which husbands
close to the wider European
torture their wives. There was one
tradition. Due to tragic
person that beat his wife, tied
historical events, after the fall
her hands, and when in bed he
of Ottoman empire, especially WWI
would stand on her hands and he
and WWII the need for polygamy was
would slap her in the face. After
continued and its advent was
that he would throw her out of the
recorded up until the middle of
house barefoot into the snow
the twentieth century.
(Velika Kladuša, 95/51).(3)
Of course, we should stress that

Balkan and primitivism
the phenomenon of torturing women
is not only characteristic for BiH
but for the entire Balkans where
We can also read in the yearbook
the social trend of marginalizing
various court confessions of women
women was pronounced for ages,
who were targets of physical and
this was deeply intertwined with
mental abuse by their husbands,
physical and mental torture, which
which is best presented by an
often ended in murders. It is
extremely difficult position of
unthinkable that today, in the

10
21st century, we have the same father should be the leader of the
household, and that his wife is behind him,
issues of the previous generations
i.e. the mother, they lead the family in
which is the result of primitivism
an authoritative way which was void of any
which is, unfortunately possibility of choice. As the
characteristic for the Balkan. mother/mother in law was a victim of such
Though we're talking about a a system, she acted the same way towards
her daughter in law on purpose or not, and
relatively small geographical area
with this she consciously or unconsciously
or Europe it abounds in pretty encourages and justifies mistreatment from
much unhealthy family and her son. Mothers of daughters in law
relations as well as nationalism, threatened their daughters that they have
to be hard working and obedient and that
which is mostly thanks to Serbia
if "your husband starts to hate you, so
and the Serbian people which
will God!" They threatened that they won't
suffers from a deep historical be able to return to their house, since
frustration and complex (4). "you chose your own husband and now deal
Desire for hegemony and with the consequences!" or they would say
a fairly familiar phrase at that time: "My
endangering surrounding peoples
daughter, suffer, I also suffered!".
actually always produced negative Of course, there were different parents
effects to the consciousness of which didn't allow their daughters to be
neighbouring peoples which tortured by their husbands in the husbands
home; there were families which were
couldn't develop internal social
harmonious and such things were rare.
and family relations, unlike many
Because of the disastrous position of
European people, since they were women in this part of our country in
under a constant threat from central part of Bosnia, especially
hegemony in all its forms (5). EU Sarajevo, Tuzla, Zenica, Banja Luka,
people used to say "we wouldn't give our
has a great task in trying to
cat, let alone our daughter to get married
civilise that barbaric people and in Cazinska krajina (Cazin boarder).
force it to face their
catastrophic historical mistakes, (3) Source of this aggressive behaviour
should be sought in historical misfortunes
and crimes, which would definitely
and issues which were constantly present
have a positive effect on other
in this area, Dr. Husein Dzanic wrote
people in the region, that would about this in his work "Medicine and
help in creating democracy and healing practices of Muslims in Mala
advancement of the society as a Kladuša":
To go through all the things that the
whole.
Bosnian's of Cazin have gone through and
stay unschated is not a small matter. All
things which were ours meant that it was
NOTE owned by others for both kingdoms. Disease

and hunger were an everyday occurrence for
inhabitants of Cazin. The people remember,
(2) Patriarchal, and conservative society
and Bašagić wrote down in 1900 :"On June
such as Bosnia, imposed the fact that the

11
23rd 1790 general Walisch with numerous not just the Christian and Orthodox people
troops, good machines and cannons besieged from borderlands but also military
Cetin from all sides, which was defended officers." They forced them to crush the
by a 120 year old captain Ali Bey tombstones of their deceased and to build
Beširević with a thousand fellows. All roads with them so that all trace of
inhabitants of Cetinje, beside the old "Turks" will be lost.
captain and 124 of his fellows (which Inhabitants of Mala Kladuša brought the
escaped to Mala Kladuša) found a hero's weak, wounded and the sick, as well as the
death in the battle for their hearth. experience in healing. Healing knowledge
Cetin burned for four days, until all was transferred from one generation to the
things wooden burnt down." Daily attacks next from the grandfathers mouth to the
on villages around Kladuša, plundering and grandchild and that's how today we still
banditry left soot, dead and wounded to be know how to bandage a festering wound, how
a burden for the living. Continuous to fix a broken hand or leg, how to make a
healing of the wounded helped people forge cure for fever.
a wealth of experience.
Johan Weickard Valvasor in 1689 writes: (4) During the war in BiH from 1992-1995 a
"During the peace even our people go to mass torture was performed over the civil
Turkey (i.e. Cazin krajina/boarder) taking society, women, children, elderly but also
and plundering everything they can." Since male civilians. Around 80% of rapes took
he's writing about his own people, he's place in concentration camps. The main
not saying that they're stealing, raping goal of systematic mass rape in Bosnia was
and killing "everything" they find, and a war strategy to accelerate deportation
behind such campaigns there are countless of non-Serb national groups from certain
martyrs buried alongside the road and a areas, as a strategy accepted by Bosnian
lot of work for hospitals which helped the Serbs and Serbian politicians. Rape of
wounded. Bosnian women should be looked at through
After 1790, when Mala Kladuša was different goggles: since the attack on
inhabited by victims from Drežnik, Bosnian women was one form of aggression.
Cetingrad, Sadikovac, Tatarvaroš and other The most severe form of torture was sexual
villages Kardun and Lika, one could hear abuse. There is clear evidence that rape
groans from brushwood huts from the and other forms of sexual violence were
wounded and mutilated women and children, not results of armed conflicts or a form
elderly and young people alike. There a of revenge of the brave armed forces, but
refuge from the slaughter was found by a well-planned and systematic policy in
once numerous families Keikić, Mujić, the context of operation>ethnic
Galijašević, Murtić, Ćehić, Džanić, cleansing>. Rape was one form of
Kajtazović, Hasić. aggression. In December 1992 the Mission
They left their houses on Kardun and Lika, for finding proof from the EU, found out
their brothers and sisters, fathers and that 20 000 women were raped by the army
mothers who simply disappeared unless of the Bosnian Serbs. In their third
suffocated in caves by straw. Lapašić, report the UN commission for human rights
though a servant of Austrain authorities, 10.02.1993 special correspondent on the
said about the crimes against Muslims: situation of human rights on the territory
"But as the Christened Turks were tortured of ex-Yugoslavia concluded with the help
by Christian inhabitants in Lika, they of medical and psychiatric experts: >That
killed most of them, they also tormented rape was used as a slow instrument of
the poor Vrangradce (people from Vrnograč), ethnical cleansing, most of the raped

12
women were Bosnian Muslim women from BiH
Historical adversities of
which were raped by Serbian forces> i.e.
that rape must be considered as systematic Illyrian-Bosnian people
and ordered action and important element
of Serbian war strategy. Through medical
In this short reference on the
centre for rape and sexual abuse under the
name >Medica> in Zenica from 1993-1997 history of polygamy among the
over 35 000 women passed. These numbers Bosnian people we can conclude
were mentioned to show the number and that numerous historical and
methodicalness of rape of Bosnian women
environmental opportunities had
and girls. All studies show that rape was
influence on its appearance and
not an aggressive manifestation of
sexuality, but a sexual manifestation of that it often appeared at times of
aggression. In case of BiH it was the certain crises, more as a
roughest form of aggression, which was practical option for preserving
only a substitute for genocide. In large
the family, then a status symbol
wars in Europe it was known that victors
would abuse the situation and would of economic power of a certain
trample their victims, but there was never male. It is interesting to note
a systematically organized sexual terror. that contrary to popular belief,
First time in history, rape of women,
Islam as the religion determinant
which was planned and organised during the
of Bosniaks had the least amount
war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, was
pronounced a war crime and a crime against of influence on polygamy which is
humanity. ( not the case among the Arabic
http://www.accts.org.ba/sekcija%20z.html) people. Actually, after the
occupiers (Ottomans) left, Islam
(5) It is interesting that this area, never fully developed in Bosnia in
especially BiH, is historically prone to the traditional and cultural
occupation and hegemony, starting from the conscience of its people unlike
Roman Empire, which occupied our Illyrian
for example among the Arabs, Turks
forefathers, all the way to the advent of
or Iranians, primarily because as
the Slavs, Ottomans, Austro-Hungary and in
the end Yugoslavia. a European nation we were
completely different from the
people through which this religion
reached us. A similar thing
happened with Christianity which
the Bosnian people rejected in its
enforced form, and instead
embraced a Bogomil religion.
Constant resistance towards
everything which came from the
outside is obviously a product of
historical resistance of Illyrians

13
towards the Roman empire, which because they were "witches".
largely destroyed the Illyrian Besides, how else would one
people in its entirety, and left a interpret numerous folk statements
constant need for resistance in such as this one: "it's better to
the collective consciousness of give birth to a dead son, than a
this people. live daughter?!"
The issue of traditional family

In Cazin krajina (borderland) the
violence is also less connected to
negative attitude towards women
polygamy, and it stems from the
was pronounced to the point that
patriarchal upbringing according
even old women said "that even the
to which a man "can fit everything
smallest male child was older than
under his hat" - adultery, abuse
an old lady" i.e. one must show
of his wife and children, without
him greater respect then towards
any public scrutiny; the cult of
an old lady. Another disastrous
man as a warrior, protector, head
mistake of patriarchy was
of family was largely based on
purposefully (constantly)
this belief. On the other hand,
accentuated to the daughters from
women were systematically raised
early childhood that they are
to be subservient to men, they had
"foreign", that they will find a
a role of pleasing their husbands
husband and leave the home.
sexual needs, taking care of the
Actually, the biggest concern of
house, feeding and giving birth to
the parents is for their daughter
children. Women had to accept this
to get married and leave the house,
forced role and over time they too
i.e. to get rid of them. The fact
became convinced that this role
is that the highest percentage of
suits them. But, this doesn't mean
marital violence is caused by the
that they were pleased with this
parents of the wife which
degrading position which is
passively observe what is
evident by numerous folk
happening, and they even force
statements such as "damned is the
their daughter to bear with the
one who is born as a woman!", "a
violence, out of fear that she
woman is even hated by god!", etc.
will return to their home and
Patriarchy had, without a doubt
embarrass the family?! All of this
pronounced hatred towards women in
had a huge impact on the self-
its principles and history has
consciousness of Bosnian women
proven this on numerous occasions.
which has a great challenge in
Let's remember the medieval
front of her even today, a fight
inquisition which burned them
to prove her equality to men.

14
one weed each from the top of
grave, then from the middle (hands)
Plum and gift for the Grand and in the end from the bottom i.e.
Mother above the legs of the deceased.
She would bring those three herbs
It is necessary to emphasize home, she would grind them and
that cohabitation relationships in place them into the food of her
the past often resulted in a real rival discretely, in order to
fight between two women, which cause a miscarriage. She would
tried to harm one another in all also take a handful of dirt from
possible ways and achieve the goal the grave, mix it in some water
that one of them is physically and discretely rub the edges of
removed from the house. Inoća i.e. clothes of the woman whose
the other wife of the husband destruction she tried to invoke.
could harm her rival via magic
without discrediting herself, all Whether she is acting individually
the while hiding her animosity and or with the help of a local witch,
antagonism. the spells which were prepared at
the time were extremely negative,
It is known from the narratives of filled with hate and desire for
people that revolted women often destruction. Even when, despite
sought help from local witches so the undertaken actions, pregnancy
that they can destroy love and was not stopped, inoća didn't give
fertility in their rivals. One of up her plan, she waited for the
the more famous rituals which were time when her rival will be in the
undertaken by a witch entailed most vulnerable state and position
using the underpants of the victim, - during birth and after it. She
seven grains of wheat and three would try at all costs to get some
beads of beans. After wrapping the blood that exited her rival, she
beads into the underpants the used that blood as the main
witch would bring them over a fire ingredient for preparation of
and light them a bit and utter a spells of hatred and discord.
certain formula. Similarly, she would often, while
feigning care, make her maslenicu
If pregnancy of the rival happens (maslenjak) and she would bake it
before inoća has undertaken some on dried plum branches. According
of the magical options, she to legends of old Bosnian ladies
wouldn't give up but on the advice if the woman that gave birth would
of an elderly lady she would go to eat that maslenica, she would lose
the graveyard and she would pick

15
weight in a very short period and interesting beliefs about it. In
her face would be pale, since "a Tešanj it is claimed that
woman is easily hit by magic maslenica "is the oldest pie in
during četeresnica (name for the the world" and this claim opens
first 40 days after giving birth". the door for further analysis.
Preparation of juhki or jufki
As the plum is the first fruit (phyllo dough) and the process of
that blooms in the spring it is no spreading the dough was brought by
wonder that it is dedicated to the Ottomans to Bosnia, and
Baba (the one that has "obabila" generally the Balkans. According
i.e. gave birth) i.e. Grand Mother, to some historical data the method
in folk religion of BiH. A large of spreading dough with a roller
part of ritual practice of young pin was first seen in Turkey
girls and women is shaped by sometime around the 16th century.
ritual procedure towards the plum, That's why it is perfectly clear
towards which one dedicates that until the occupators have
various prayer type formulas. From arrived in BiH, maslenica never
an elderly informant (Zejna existed. However, there remains
Ćerimagić, 79 years of age) I the question why our elders i.e.
found out that women in the past women saw in maslenica the perfect
used to make and leave maslenica offer for the Grand Mother? The
at the foot of the plum tree as answer is probably hidden in the
alms for healthy birth. I am of way it is prepared. Traditionally
the opinion that in that ritual, maslenica was made out of, as her
besides the mentioned, is hidden a name suggests, butterfat, and it
thanks for the achieved fertility could replace bread. We shouldn't
but also the desire for protecting forget that the cow (milk, cheese,
the mother and her child. Ritual butter) was dedicated to the Grand
was usually needed since spells Mother. On the table the dough was
with baking maslenica on plum well oiled with melted butter,
branches reveals a dualistic once the dough has soaked the oil,
nature of the Grand Mother, her it is stretched by hand across the
alter ego, which gives gifts but table. It then usually crosses
also takes away fertility and over the edge of the table. Then
birth. follows the rearrangement from
each side of the table, which is
Studying the role of maslenica in four times, and then another
the cult of fertility I noticed rearrangement follows, this time
its pronounced role and some very less, so that it is smaller, when

16
visually we get a shape of an that she can give birth to a son
opening i.e. vagina. Laying the next time. We shouldn't forget to
pie in the casserole, which is in mention the traditional statement
the shape of a circle or stomach of Bosnian women which are known
of the pregnant woman, speaks for the ease of giving birth that
volume of the symbolism. they would now "give birth to a
child for a maslenica with a
grilled chicken!" If the child is
having difficulty in making its
first steps then the mother would
mix dough for maslenica, spread it
over the table and take the child
by his hands and would lead him
slowly across the dough, so that
the child can leave footprints on
Maslenjak, maslenica or masnica the dough. After that the dough is
rearranged and baked and the
In descriptions of other rituals maslenica is eaten by all the
with maslenica we notice its household inhabitants, etc.
direct connection with fertility
and care for children. Namely, Because of the described magical
during the preparation of meals and supernatural clashes caused by
for a wedding, maslenica is always spite, envy and often the instinct
made and is offered alongside for survival and existence, a
other meals to the newlyweds. great fear has been developed,
After the first marital night and especially among the female
defloration of the bride, the population, and the need for
remnants of maslenica would often various taboos which would ensure
be snatched away by the healthy birth but also peace in
inhabitants of the household and the home. Repercussions is best
guests because of the belief that demonstrated in the belief that
all those that eat at least one the most life dangerous sihir
bite of it will not have stomach (spells) are the ones created
aches during that year. To a woman during Babine i.e. first 40 days
that has given birth one usually after birth. They are difficult to
brings maslenica on that or the cure and both the woman and the
next day, and if she gives birth child can fall seriously ill. Also,
to a daughter, she would ritually still today in rural areas it is
turn the maslenica upside down in claimed that the woman can go mad
the casserole before eating it so
17
from the shira (postpartum virgin, with which a certain
depression). Battle between the domination was achieved over the
two rivals which live with the thing which is colloquially called
same husband, was so widespread "male strength".
that not even new-borns were
spared and it used to happen, Main reason for child mortality in
according to stories of old the early age was considered to be
Bosnian people, since the inoća black magic and misfortune. That's
used to perform dark magic over why various prophylactic measures
the stake which was used to tie were undertaken, out of which the
livestock in the field during most frequent one was wearing an
grazing, which she would then use amulet constructed by an Imam,
to place underneath the child's known for his gift in healing and
crib after she has completed helping. Tilsumi, shorter or
certain magical rituals. Children longer citations from the Qur'an,
would often die quickly after such were valued, mixed with mysterious
spells. names and symbols, which the Imam,
with the desire to cure sterility,
would usually make seven, which
Attacks on sexual strength, as we
were according to his instructions
can conclude, are the basic parts
burnt, placed in water or under
of magical folklore of the Bosnian
the pillow, etc.
people. But, men were not spared
of magical procedures because of
Besides the mentioned, sacrificial
the general belief that the one
rituals were also performed, which
that rules over someone's sexual
are remnants of archaic pagan
power actually rules over them. In
beliefs that a blood offering can
the past there existed a somewhat
only neutralise the power of evil
unusual custom of intentional
and postpone death. When someone's
postponing defloration when
children are dying, "they're not
shirbaza (old lady that practices
kept", to the next child that is
magic), would heat a sowing needle
born a kurban (offering in the
on the fire and bend it into a
form of a young ram) is
circle and give it to the bride.
slaughtered for him on the first
She would place such a needle
day of Eid, on the place where the
under her tongue which apparently
wife has given birth. The skin of
stopped her husband from achieving
the ram was usually given to the
an erection. Apparently, such a
mosque or was given to a neighbour
woman would discretely commend
and the meat was placed in a
herself that she was still a

18
caldron and was boiled until the Anthropological research, such as
bones separated from the meat by this, clearly show us how a longer
itself. Then all the bones, large time period of our history there
and small would be gathered and was no professional medical
placed in a casserole and so knowledge and with that no
buried in the ground while the tolerance towards persons,
meat was shared. Namely, it was primarily women, which had this
allowed to the inhabitants of the issue. Social scrutiny doesn't
household to eat just a piece or stop with humiliation of women but
two of the meat and the remainder the entire family, namely, people
of it had to be distributed. With believed that infertility in women
this one would ensure the life of was god's punishment or a cause of
the new-born child. some curse. That's why a woman
that couldn't get pregnant should
give alms during nine months in
Magic, religion and the hope that this good deed will
be rewarded with motherhood.
infertility
In the past there were numerous
Describing folk beliefs dedicated
ways with which women tried to
to the issue of fertility and
stimulate fertility. In order to
magical encouragement of fertility,
get pregnant she would fumigate
Rabija Hasanbegović (Folk belief
herself over balsam herb
for ensuring fertility in marriage)
(Tanacetum balsamita) when her
observes well that Bosnian folk
period ends, before she has
usually ascribe infertility to
intercourse. Some of them
women, while it is rare to even
practiced a method of mutual
consider sterility in men. This is
bathing with their husbands in
of course a product of patriarchy
water in which they previously
but also an archaic understanding
placed nine splinters from the
of women as a symbol of fertility.
woodpile "so that children fall
Humanity is taken away from barren
off of her like splinters.", then
women and they are mockingly
red and white turnip and "herb
called jalovica (fruitless),
which grows in water and whose
barren, neroduša (childless).
leaves are blinking." In certain
Under such social pressure women
customs social solidarity is noted
tried to achieve motherhood
with barren women to which fruits
obsessively without choosing a
were gifted from a fruit grafted
method.
in spring, by people who own the

19
fruit tree. According to folk donkey inside it, and the woman
belief, after the consumption of should then drink that water. In
the fruit the woman would, during Grbavica; barren women wowed to
the same year, stay pregnant, celebrate saint Sisoja (July 19th)
therefore it was a good deed to or; not to sleep with her husband
give fruit to such women who on the eve of Sunday or holidays;
desperately wanted to become she should bathe on St. George's
mothers. In order become pregnant day before the sun with water
women would drink coffee with "omeljom" (small drops of water
violet seeds, etc. which sprinkle from the watermill
rudders), fast on young Sundays.
In the desire to achieve

In Nevesinje and its surrounding a
motherhood the women used both
barren woman would drink catnip
religious (their domination) and
(Nepeta cataria) on an empty
magical practice. The best example
stomach, or to gird the herbs. A
of how women from all three
woman which cannot get pregnant
Bosnian constitutional people
"zapne"easily should fumigate
around Jajce spurred fertility was
herself over baked coffee beans,
recorded in the ethnological work
in such a way that no one notices
called Customs related to birth
it. Desperate women visit places
published by GZM from Sarajevo:
of worship and the woman is
advised to unlock a door of a
Barren woman is looking for a cure church or a mosque early in the
for her flaw. Recently, she would morning. Frequent visits of the
usually turn to a priest for Tekke in Blagaj were recorded, as
inscriptions and use divination. well as rituals of threading
In Dobretići one would use this: through prayer beads, which are
when a woman lays with her husband, located on a tomb. Women guided by
she covers her husband and then an insatiable desire for
herself. She does this for nine motherhood go to graves and scrape
Tuesday's. Whenever the husband dust off of tombs and later they
wakes at night, he should uncover drink it mixed in water.
his wife up until the knees. In
Homeopathic procedures have a lot
Lendići: one should take water
of influence in ritual beliefs of
which "praz" (castrated) a horse
our people with the goal of
pukes from his mouth when it
achieving fertility and all that
raises its head when he drinks
which has any connection with
water, place ground hooves of a
fertility is taken as a magical

20
drug. It is good for a barren According to folk belief, the
woman to lay down for a while on a largest percentage of black magic
maternity bed, because she can is done in special cases, usually
during a higher concentration of
stay pregnant more easily, it is
people and pronounced emotions,
recommended for her to eat a stew whether we're talking about sorrow
which contains boiled eggs of a or euphoria, i.e. during funerals
fertile male animal, such as an ox and marriages. Adversarial sihir
or rooster, or to place some dried (magic) mostly scared those
mothers whose child died. It was
uterus of a rabbit in her stew.
believed that if during the decent
of a dead child into the grave a
A woman which has recently given malicious person yanks the child
birth is ascribed powers of by its feet, the mother will
fertility and the apple which she become sterile. If a woman
has bitten is given to barren believed that she couldn't get
pregnant because of such a magical
women to eat. As we have seen in a
procedure, she would do the
folk song a barren woman is often
following: she would dig up the
compared to a fruit tree which grave, take a rock which was
bears no fruit and she is looking placed under the dead body for it
for a fruitful tree, she bends to lay straight, she would scrape
down its branch and passes some dirt from the bottom of the
grave. She would take the dirt
underneath it three times uttering:
home and place it into the water
"as you are not barren so I will with which she would bathe herself.
also not be barren", etc.
Special caution was practiced on
the day of the wedding when a
malicious person, usually a
Nine padlocks heartbroken boy or girl, could
place an unlocked padlock and key
All these means should spur
on two opposing sides where the
fertility of females and enable bride and groom shall pass. As
motherhood. Besides this, a woman soon as the couple would pass
wanted to be sure that her hard
between these items, the key would
work was not in vain and there
be placed in the padlock, after
were some good indicators which locking it, following this
pointed to fertilization, namely,
principle it alluded to a locking
when a woman reaches her "time" of the womb. In the end, the
(menstruation) more frequently, it
locked padlock would be thrown
was considered that she will soon into the river or buried in a
"get pregnant". But, if the result grave, a place which associates
is missing, despite everything she
with transience and nothingness.
has undertaken, people often
suspected black magic to be afoot.

21
If the newlyweds were victims of hand and lead her home with the
such a magic then it would be intent of her becoming his wife.
manifested in such a way that the In another folk song Dizdar's
woman would always lose her child daughter made a spell on Halil-
when she gets pregnant, in the aga's wife and she couldn't get
second or third month of her pregnant, which is why Halil-aga
pregnancy - "the child is ripped beat her every night.
out of the womb and turned into
blood". Various counter measures Džeferbegovica, her sister-in-law,
were undertaken against such evil gave her an advice to make a cake
and they were recorded in the area and bring a sown shirt and to beg
of Velika Kladuša; a woman would Dizdar's daughter to undo what she
take salt, amount which she would had done. When mentioning a woven
use for a stew, she would wrap the shirt, she replied:
salt into paper and would place it
under the bed. After that she
would make love to her husband. Undo what I cast!
The salt would be taken under the I made nine spells,
bead and the salt should be used I threw all nine into the fire.
for a stew which both of them
should eat. And when they mentioned the cake,
she replied that she threw all
nine spells into the water. Only
when they promised that they will
In the folk song "nine padlocks" marry her for the brother of
it is described that a girl by the Džaferbegovica, she opened
name of Fata was in love with colourful coffers and a golden box
Adembeg which was getting married above the head of Halil-aginca and
to another girl. Out of spite and said:
pain she cast a spell on the
newlyweds making both Adembeg and Go now, Halil-agince
his wife infertile. When after have a son by next year!
nine years of marriage the couple
didn't get any children the mother In the above mentioned songs from
talked her son into trying to the Bosnian folk we can notice the
bribe Fata with jewellery so she number nine i.e. symbol of the
can annul magic: Grand Mother which is
traditionally present in numerous
Undue the spell, which you did! other examples of folklore magic
Fata whispered to him: and beliefs.
I will never undo them!
I made nine padlocks, It was considered that magic
Passed you through all of them didn't always have to have a
and threw them into the cold water! negative use, but that it can help
in stimulating fertility so that a
Realising that he has no other woman can have her desire to
choice Adembeg took Fata by her achieve motherhood fulfilled.
22
Women sought help from stravarke found themselves in: on a meadow,
with this goal in mind, even field, forest, house or some other
gypsy's and even Imam's, which area. Still today people often
would usually create seven
tell the story of a woman going to
inscriptions with which one wanted
to influence the fertility of a work in the field being in late
married couple. Sometimes even the pregnancy and coming back home
girl herself tried using magical carrying a child in one hand and a
rituals to summon fertility, sheaf of grains in the other.
especially if she is married to a
man she doesn't love. When a woman
In those more natural conditions,
wants marriage without children,
on the day of the wedding she usually the entire family was
would place her hands on her preparing itself for the birth and
backside in front of the register arrival of the new member. The
and utter quietly: "I want to get mother in law would be more
married, but I don't want
engaged around everything and
children!" and it is believed that
would take care of the smallest
she won't have any.
details. It is important to
mention that still today there is
fear prior to birth, which is
after all a generational i.e.
traditional fear from complicated
births which in the past used to
have a tragic epilogue, which was
initially caused by lack of
medical staff and knowledge.
Although the arrival of a new
family member in this world always
Birth of a child signified good luck, all that
preceded it was always permeated
Biggest influence on the process with feelings of worry and fear
of birth in the past was living which was a reason for constant
conditions which dictated its prayers which asked God for a
trajectory from region to region happy resolution. The mother in
in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but law would usually go to some local
also outside of the country, stravarka for her to utter the
especially in Sandžak. Until the 36th chapter (Surah Jasin) of the
first half of the twentieth Qur'an onto three sugar cubes, she
century women, especially in rural would then place one by one into a
areas, gave birth spontaneously, glass of water and would offer it
i.e. at the place in which they

23
to the daughter in law to drink they start running hysterically as
during the birth. For the birth far as they can. Out of this
the sugar which was used during reason people had a habit of
the celebration of the birth of forging miniature tongs, which
Prophet Muhammad was also kept, were sown onto the child's hat,
the so called Mawlid sugar, this "so that hale (evil beings) won't
sugar would be poured in a cup of harm him".
water which was then drunk by the
woman in labour. Women would give birth standing up,
with legs extremely spread apart,
When a pregnant woman notices that holding onto a wall or some other
her labour time is soon object. They often gave birth on
approaching, she wouldn't leave the floor in the house, lying on
the house, and no one enters the her back or on the side with knees
house either. If it happens, that bent, if the woman was physically
someone enters the house weaker. If the child was bigger or
accidentally while the woman is with a bigger head, then the woman
giving birth, then she has a more would give birth squatting or
difficult birth and the more kneeling. If the woman had a lot
people know about it, the birth is of difficulties in giving birth it
more difficult, allegedly, she was believed that the mother could
needs to suffer all sins from all curse him easily, "it is
people that are familiar with her sufficient for her to have a
situation. While she is giving deeper sigh because of him",
birth, but also after it, one alluding to all the pain, and even
would always strive to keep tongs risking her life to bring him to
close to her so that they can this world. Before that, she
guard and protect her from attacks would drink a spoon of oil and
by hostile beings. When she is would pace around the room to
moving, entering or exiting the better prepare her body for the
house, or even crosses from one exertion which awaits it. Usually
room to the other, she should use the mother in law or some other
the tongs as a cane on which she older woman is with her, a woman
leans, because of the belief that which had experience in giving
when the tongs are clinking, birth, which massages her and
nothing can harm the child. places a warm tile on her back.
According to Bosnian mythology the The pregnant woman would unfold
Jinn, devils and witches are her hair before birth if she had a
scared of tongs and its sound and braid, she would take a rolling

24
pin into her hands which she would would be submerged, which swells
use as an auxiliary prop for up after some time, since the root
support, if she gives birth takes up water, and in such a way
squatting down. Though it is "opens up" i.e. spreads. As soon
considered that the husbands were as this would happen the pregnant
never present during births, Antun woman would be sprinkled with the
Hangi, citing folk belief gives us rest of the water over her entire
a different conclusion. He writes body, they would then let down her
that it is good if the woman is hair, down her back. If the birth
reporting her feelings to the ended successfully the plant was
husband as she is giving birth given as gift so that its roots
since it will lessen her pain, are wrapped in silk, golden or
sine she is sharing it with him. silver threads. In the absence of
Similarly, if the husband is not such a root the ritual of taking
present, it is not a sin for her apart tespih (prayer beads) was
to talk about her pain with her practiced above the vessel with
grandma or someone else who is water which was then drunk by the
present during birth. pregnant woman. When the birth has
finished, the thread which held
In case the birth takes longer the prayer beads together would be
than expected, various magical used to tie the child's belly
procedures were undertaken with button.
the goal to ease the procedure for
the woman mentally, and also to According to the belief of the
offer her certain support but also Bosnian folk, for the child to
stimulation. She would be given even get the opportunity to exit
water which was previously poured the mother's stomach, all bones
down the cover of the Qur'an into inside the woman's body need to
the glass, all doors were open on separate themselves, besides the
the house and even in the mosque. one's in the chin, which after
The pregnant woman was also birth, during the period of 40
offered water in which the hand of days, again join together. Birth
Hazrat Fatima (Hypericum was always considered as
perforatum) was submerged, this beneficial for the woman and her
was often brought back from Hajj health "since it cleanses her from
(pilgrimage to Mecca). On the everything" due to which her
chest of the pregnant woman a entire body is regenerated and
vessel with water would be placed this is why it is considered that
and then the plant, i.e. its root women have a longer life span than

25
men. We need to mention that the is opened to the child, division
woman is compared to planet earth, to the human world. This is of
among the folk, this is especially course an interesting belief of
evident in the belief that the our people which has its origin in
earth cleans itself through the Islamic mythology. Namely,
natural disasters or wars every 40 when Allah banished first people
years. from heaven, according to legends,
he had to place an invisible
Our folklore is extremely rich curtain (perda) between the human
with various magical beliefs and Jinn world, since their heart
connected to birth, which best could not bear to see the horrible
presents how much attention has forms of the demons and people
been given to that important event. would literally die out of fear.
It is believed among the folk that
if the mother gathered strength to Precisely in the belief of sowing
tell her child while it was the dried umbilical cord skin to
exiting her: "Come on child, be the child's clothes is hidden the
happy and blessed!" that the child answer of why the new born and the
would have good luck and health mother are subject to various
throughout its entire life, but spiritual dangers during the first
due to great pain and hardship 40 days. Namely, as I have written
almost none of the women giving previously, pregnancy is called
birth remember to utter this among the folk "another state",
sentence. As soon as the child during which the woman takes on
exits the midwife cuts it's some supernatural abilities, since
umbilical cord and ties it, bathes the act of creating a new life is
the new born baby and wraps it in and of itself magical and
into a warm blanket. In the past divine. Pregnant woman is, also
there was a custom of cutting the according to folklore, "with one
umbilical cord on a pencil or axe foot in the grave", or better yet,
for boys so that he might be good a pregnant woman is considered to
in school or in a craft, for women be a person which connects heaven
it was done on a rolling pin so and earth, light and darkness. She
that she may be a skilled and good is not a common person but someone
housewife. Since the belly button which represents a certain medium
is tied to the new born baby, the for supernatural forces. Among the
part which falls off and dries is folk, for example, it is believed
sown onto his clothes: then it is that rain will fall if the
believed that a perda or curtain pregnant woman throws the

26
stretcher into the river, etc. We Imam was widespread, these amulets
shouldn't foget to mention another were placed under the child's
example from the spiritual science pillow or were hung on the crib.
which states that the Jinn are But what is more interesting is
trying to be born in human form the collective need of the
through women i.e. trying to community to fend off evil and
materialise themselves, which is disease from a new life. Namely,
why, allegedly, mentally women weren't the only ones that
challenged children are being born, participated in the defence of a
which is proof that a symbiosis of new life by undertaking some
man and demons is not possible in defensive rituals, men were also
some normal frameworks. active. Traditional custom of our
people is that during the first
Similarly, while the child is in visit to the child, especially if
its mother's womb, it is invisible we are talking about men, is to
to our material world, and give money as gift, it is said
obviously more connected to the "place money on his forehead", i.e.
spiritual one. Proof of this can "on the star", and which would
be sought in the belief of the consider himself extremely lucky
Bosnian people that Allah and this money would be used to
determines the child's entire pay an amulet which was
destiny in its first 40 days from commissioned by an Imam. Along
its conception in the stomach. with an amulet caring mothers
Leaving the security of his usually placed some additions such
mother's womb the child arrives in as rue leaves (Ruta graveolens),
the human world, material one root of Elecampane (Inula),
which causes anger and wrath among horseradish (Armoracia rusticana),
the supernatural beings which then yew (Taxus), etc. Also, all metal
try in various ways to attack both items such as scissors, nails,
him and his mother. And all this knife had a prophylactic function
in the first 40 days, until the because of the belief that Jinn
mother's, and obviously the and devils run away from metal and
child's, transformation isn't they were part of an apotropaic
completed which then breaks all arsenal.
ties with the previous
state.
That's why the practice of using

amulets which were written by an

27
Cheating evil destiny phenomenon for less inhabited
areas while its intensity was lost
Frano Murgić in his ethnological in urban areas. Also, it is again
work "Visoko in Bosnia - Folk life confirmed through the statement of
and customs" mentions high birth the quoted Halil Vranac that the
rate which was frequent in the Bosnian people had the least
previous centuries among the understanding for infertility.
Bosnian folk, mostly in rural
In accordance with what is written
areas. But, reason for this was
it is pretty clear that sterility
hidden mostly in the average life
and fear of children dying were
span which was at that time
very pronounced in the past and as
between 50-60 years and extremely
such they caused the emergence of
long and cold winters, when
various prophylactic rituals and
temperatures dropped to -27
measures with one very clear goal
degrees centigrade, which caused
- trap misfortune, which could be
frequent deaths among the people,
hiding a family curse, as it was
especially children, from
believed by folk, spellbound eyes,
hypothermia and fever. Besides,
black magic or even unlucky
the author notes that every month
predestination of a woman to give
or two there was a registered case
birth to dead children. Antun
of a child dying.
Hangi also touches this topic
mentioning that there is a certain
People which have one wife, used
category of pregnant women on
to have up to twenty children,
which the supernatural influence
those that had two wives, were
is stronger and they are more
known to have up to 25 children.
prone to giving birth to dead
There are women, which gave birth
babies.
up to three children at once, and
in short time they give birth to
There are women which give birth
two at a time. There are around 10
to dead children. This happens,
women which never gave birth.
when a woman has sweet blood, and
There are those which when their
ghosts, witches and other
husbands died, gave birth to her
apparitions torture her and so
second husband's children. Halil
suffocate the child inside of her.
Vranac thought that there was
For her child to survive while it
nothing else but infertility which
is still in the womb she must take
caused women not giving birth.
off a horse shoe from a dead horse.
She needs to get a black smith to
This quote is important because of
forge a hoop in the middle of the
some data, from the fact that
night and she should girdle the
polygamy wasn't present just in
hoop and wear it until her child
some areas of BiH, as some authors
is born, when it is born, she
are trying to show, but that its
needs to bend the hoop and place
radius encircled a much larger
it under the child's head.
area, and that it was alongside
Similarly it is good for such a
high birth rate a classic
woman to go at night in front of a
28
mosque and from a stretcher which intention of stopping the
carry dead people, to take out a misfortune. To a new born son one
nail. Out of the nail she needs to would give his father's name or
have someone forge at night a few even the holly name Mohammed, and
hoops and she should carry them it used to happen that parents
with her until she gives birth, would go to the extreme of
when she gives birth, she should actually hiding from all the
sow them to the child's hat, so neighbours that they had a baby
that spirits and witches don't boy. They would clothe the boy as
suffocate the child. a girl and they would teach him to
act as one, and these habits used
If children die and the mother to stay with children their entire
cannot nurse them, she should take lives.
nine rags from nine widows, she
should sow a shirt to the child,
and it will not die. Similarly it
is good for such a mother or Magical and physical causes
someone else to find some wool of sterility
from a sheep that a wolf
slaughtered. She should wash that
wool, comb it and then on gargaše Infertility could have been
(a contraption for tidying up wool) caused by the actions of the
to tidy it up so that it looks individual himself. Namely, in
like silk. Once she has tidied up folk medicine in BiH it is still
the wool in such a manner, she
today considered that one of the
should knit a string like the
causes of sterility could come
waist of the child and she should
girdle the child with it. Who from the so called "dislocated
comes late there is no luck for stomach". We're talking about a
him that's why it should be disease which equally affects both
started as soon as the child is men and women and it would usually
born, since if she misses only one
come about as the result of
dekiku, minute, it will be of no
difficult manual labour while
use.
among the population today,
In Vinac next to Jajce there is a according to stravarke, the
custom that to the couple whose
stomach "shifts" usually due to
children keep on dying after birth,
stress and worry. Among men the
call another woman to breastfeed
their new born in order to fool disease was mostly manifested by
the misfortune. This woman will poor sperm motility, which was
also cut the child's umbilical often accompanied by strong belly
cord and fix it and that's why she pain which spread towards the
is called eba, short version of
stomach, the belly is always
ebejka, grandma. If male children
were dying other forms of magical bloated, the person has dark
activity was undertaken with the circles around the eyes, has a

29
feeling of suffocation, etc. In Abortion and pregnancy
women a "dislocated stomach" can
affect the womb and ovaries, As soon as girls get married they
causes frequent inflammations and tell fortunes whether they will
thus prevents conception. achieve motherhood and how many
children they will have. One of
There are a few methods of curing; the ways which is familiar to us
the diseased person is massaged, from the north-western part of
drinks various teas and women Bosnia is that a woman needs to
which cannot get pregnant along look for a rosehip bush in the
with these procedures also "bind" autumn. She will locate a wool
themselves around the waist, i.e. ball next to the fruits. In it,
underneath the stomach. Method of allegedly, must be a white worm.
tying a cloth underneath the Whether alive or dead he is
stomach, around the hips or necessary for divination. The
placing a coffee cup upside down woman must secretly pass it
on the belly button, and a cloth through her right sleeve and place
over it, which was previously it in a glass of water. She will
around the hips, would return the give the water to her husband to
stomach to its place and cure this drink without telling him what she
issue. According to folk belief, had done. As soon as he drinks the
proper diet had a crucial effect water she will look to see if the
on fertility because of the belief husband swallowed the worm or if
that unlike a skinny and he stayed at the bottom of the
undeveloped woman, a woman which glass. If she sees the worm at the
has pronounced curves, especially bottom she will only have one
hips and back side, represents an child with the man if he swallowed
ideal type for procreation - "such it she will have multiple children.
a woman is full of children!"
Desire for a child was
traditionally pronounced from the
marriage ceremony and until
recently the primary goal of a
young couple was thought to be
quick realization of parenthood,
no matter the material status- In
the last decade, and especially
since the military aggression by
Serbia and Montenegro on BiH with
the beginning of 1992, such a
30
trend disappeared due to a the above, especially during
difficult economic situation which winter times, a spindle was used.
dominates the country and larger
From the more familiar ways was
migration of the young to the
the practice of drinking a bitter
countries of the EU or USA.
potion out of boiled (unroasted)
coffee beans. In certain parts of
But, it would be wrong to conclude
BiH, such as Rogatica and Žepe,
that all pregnancies in the past
women placed a spicy clove in the
were wanted, especially if in the
coffee. With the intent of causing
family there was already a lot of
complications a pregnant woman
children or the pregnancy was a
would fumigate herself with hot
result of an extra-marital
lye, breathing in steam for longer
relationship. It often happened
time which would force her to
that due to a couple of previous
vomit. While vomiting her stomach
births, but also difficult manual
muscles would contract forcefully
labour, complications and
and would cause uterine
miscarriage happened. It was
contractions, which could lead to
considered as a great sin to
miscarriage. Among the more
provoke a miscarriage (abortion)
familiar ways of causing
on purpose, since it was
miscarriages was lifting heavy
considered to be sacrilege. Older
things, sitting in cold places or
women traditionally scared younger
bathing with cold water.
women with stories of abortion
being a huge sin and that every
Folk name for pregnancy is "other
woman which dares to perform this
state" which clearly stresses that
act, will have to eat that
the woman during that period is in
offspring in the second world.
a totally different physical and
However, that propaganda didn't
mental state, and so is subject to
have a profound effect on the
other norms of behaviour and
thinking pattern of many Bosnian
living. Similarly, this name
women since most of them resorted
implicates that the pregnant woman
to various methods to interrupt
is in a special state when certain
their pregnancy. One of the most
elements of the cult of fertility
widespread ways is insertion of
come to the fore. At that period
the root Christmas rose
the woman takes on some of the
(Helleborus), otherwise a
religious-magical features of the
poisonous plant, into the womb, or
Grand Mother, which is
even root of marsh mallow (Althaea
demonstrated by certain widespread
officinalis L) and in the lack of
beliefs such as a person eating a

31
food next to a pregnant woman must rules and taboos the pregnant
offer her food if she desires it. women was subject to a special
The punishment is reflected in an regime which determined all of her
eye sore. activities for the entire duration
of pregnancy, and even a shorter
Such an aspect supports numerous period after birth. Analysing them
beliefs and taboos but also it is easy to notice a pronounced
purposeful mystification of the care and even fear of the unknown
entire process which lasts from called new life, which is in its
the disclosure of pregnancy until certain segments still today a
the 40 days after birth have mystery for modern medicine.
passed. Namely, codex of
patriarchal moral resulted in
pregnancy being hidden from
inhabitants of a household, as
long as possible, especially male Divination about the future
members "because of shame". That's child
why usually the news was first
told to the mother in law, which Antun Hangi wrote that among the
would then discretely transfer the Bosnian people it is considered
news to the husband and then other that the child while in the
members of the family. Another stomach gains most of the physical
reason for discretion was but also character features of the
contained in the fear of the person which the pregnant woman
pregnant woman of spellbound eyes fancies the most. If the pregnant
or enemies spells. Envy of a woman thinks of someone during the
barren woman was always suspect, time of the lunation or full moon
and all things which she could then it is very likely that the
undertake to hurt the pregnant child will have a lot of
woman. Older women, usually mother similarities with that person.
in law or grandma, suggested to When the mother gazes at someone
the pregnant woman to protect the while the child "comes alive" in
stomach, i.e. cover it with an the womb, the child will resemble
apron or some other clothing item, that person the most.
in order to ensure herself from
eventual evil but also to warm the If the pregnant woman loves to eat
child. bitter oranges (Citrus aurantium),
oranges and quinces, it is
Under the pressure of various believed that she will give birth

32
to a beautiful child. Also, the the woman which drinks or eats
child will be pretty if the from chipped dishes will give
pregnant woman looks at her birth to a child which will have a
reflection in the mirror while the rabbit lip. Also she should take
child is moving for the first time. care not to make fun of someone,
since her child will be šišijasto,
When the child comes alive, and crooked eyed. When a pregnant
moves a lot inside the mother, he woman is eating, she needs to take
will be restless or a jolly fellow care that her hands are completely
and he can't wait to come into the clean, since the woman which eats
world to perform marifete, with hands covered with flour, her
kunstove, umjetnosti (art). If the child will have dandruff.
child is calm inside the mother
and barely moves, it will be calm Among the Bosnian people there are
and introvert, he will be a a lot of superstitions tied to
weakling. what a pregnant woman should
follow if she wants to give birth
to a normal and healthy child. All
Further in the text Antun Hangi
these rules begin with the words
states an interesting belief of
"it is wrong" or "it's not good"
the Bosnian folk about snakes,
and the most interesting ones have
which coincides with the Illyrian
been published in Gračanica
belief about the snake - symbol of
(Gračanica herald: magazine for
fertility and also protector of
cultural history of Gračanica and
life. Namely, the author writes:
its surrounding, Volume 14, 2002)
When the woman gets pregnant, and in the text written by Fikret
a fox or snake crosses her path, Ahmetbošić "Some national customs
the child will be happy and have a and beliefs in Sokol, Doborovci
long life. If a rabbit crosses her and Džakul”:
path, the child will be unlucky,
selfish and a bum and there won't -It's wrong for a pregnant woman
be any use for him. If a rabbit to kill a snake, her child will
crosses her path the woman have bad breath.
shouldn't proceed so that she
doesn't cross his path, she should
-It's wrong for a pregnant woman
return home immediately so that
to stare into an open flame - the
she may have luck. A pregnant
child will have a red face.
woman needs to watch not to eat or
drink from a chipped dishes, since

33
-It's wrong for a pregnant woman -It's wrong for a pregnant woman
to eat fish - the child will be to pull over a knife - the child
restless. will have a rabbits lip (cut lip).
to sit on a washboard - the baby to eat chicken stomachs, the child
will be misshapen. will have big lips.
to cross over a vine or a rope - to sit on a doorstep - the labour
the child will suffocate during will be difficult.
birth.

-It's wrong for a pregnant woman to eat walnuts - the child will
to go back - she will have a have lichen.
difficult labour.

-It's wrong for a pregnant woman to look at a dead man - the child
to de-feather an animal - the will be yellow.
child will have a skin disease.
-It's not good if a cat passes

-It's wrong for a pregnant woman through the pregnant woman's legs
eat a fruit which was bitten into - the child will be hairy.
- the child will have crusts on
the body.

to carry eggs in her lap - the
child will be slobbery.

to pour water onto water - the
child will get a hernia.

34
Time after birth completely covered with a white
scarf, otherwise Jinn and devils
Before birth the pregnant woman will hang on her every hair and
receeds from the community in cause her harm.

order to bring a new member of the
family into the world in this Woman which assisted during birth
short period. Separation is not is called ebejka, or shortened eba
coincidental, instead it has or bika, she covers the young
socio-magical characteristics. As mother immediately out of fear
is commonly known men were never that she will freeze, because of
present during birth, in fact, it the traditional belief that wind
was hidden from them if possible, and cold bring numerous diseases.
and if he happens to be in the Besides the bed, but also the
vicinity he would be removed entire room need to be clean, so
without question. Birth was that lohusa can make a full
similarly hidden from the mother recovery, which was often not long
of the woman who was giving birth, enough, usually the young mother
because of the belief that the would get up after three days and
birth will be lighter and that would be included in lighter
latter the child will receive all housework. She did this mostly
of his teeth without much pain. because of other people, i.e. so
that she can keep her reputation
Right after the child from the of a worthy and hard-working woman,
pregnant woman a placenta or earn such a reputation.
(posljedak or pošljedak) should
exit, in order to finalise the Before there was a rule that
procreation process. It was lohusa should rest seven days
usually tossed in a river or after birth while women from
stream. If the pregnant woman richer families stayed in bed
doesn't want to get pregnant in a between 14 and 40 days. But, that
couple of years, she will cut the wasn't the only social difference.
placenta in four pieces, tie them Antun Hangi describing the
into socks and bury in the ground. procedure of beautifying the child
The pregnant woman is named lohusa actually reveals a classic and
in the next 40 days, because of a inborn desire of the Bosnian
type of quarantine, since people to look good, which was
according to folk belief she is primarily an occupation of the
"as weak as a bird on a branch", more affluent part of the society,
and her hair needs to be such as merchants, craftsmen and

35
noblemen, while among most of the this practice out of health
poor people such a custom wasn't reasons, I will mention how and
particularly nurtured. The author why they do them. The forehead is
writes: usually covered with oil, thick
milk or slime so that the child
As soon as ebejka washed the child doesn't get wrinkles around the
and clad it, she strokes its head eyes. Folk, especially more common
so that is more beautiful and people, hold that people which
formed well. As the ebejka is have wrinkles around the eyes are
doing, so shall too the young troublemakers, ready to do all
mother, which needs to watch out sorts of evil. A girl which would
that her child's forehead doesn't see large wrinkles in a boy
get too big. Bosnian people don't wouldn't marry him. People love
like large foreheads. A child like that the nose of the child is
which has a large forehead, is nice looking and harmonious that's
made fun of and is said that his why they squeeze and thin the
forehead is big as a hangar. In noses of the children since no one
order for a child's head to likes a wide nose. The eyes are
develop properly, it needs to be usually stroked by mothers while
wrapped with not one, but two nursing the child so that the eyes
bandages. One goes from the won't be murky and to turn out to
forehead and is tied at the back, be healthy clear and large since
it is called connector, the other the larger the eyes, the dearer
one goes underneath the beard and they are to the people. They
is tied at the top of the head, tighten the ears and place them
and it is called chin guard. These closer to the head so that they
bandages are tied numerous times don't become large and loopy.
so much so that one feels sorry Similarly they gather the lips of
for the poor child, and once the the child between the fingers so
bandages are removed we notice red that they don't become large. They
markings on the head since the push the chin towards the throat
blood couldn't move freely in and so that it's not protruding like a
out of the head. But they're not saddle. The neck of the child is
only striving to beautify the also stroked so that it is not too
child and make his head of a thick and that the child doesn't
proper shape, but all parts of the get goitre. They place ham-pamuk
head, namely the forehead, nose, (cotton wool) on the child's chest
lips, eyes, ears, eyebrows and so that the chest will get
chin. Though I have to condemn nourished and grow stronger.

36
Similar things are done with the of gentleness and closeness,
hand and feet of the child. They during contact with them the child
tighten them with bands like develops both physically but also
criminals so that the child looks mentally, and thus builds
like a little mummy. The lazy consciousness about the
stomach is not exempt. It too relationship with others which
needs to be tightened and needs to be intimate. It is
furbished, so that the child is noticeable that a large percentage
not tubby and a binge eater. of people which were nursed by
their mother in their earliest age
The mother is taking care to first have a developed habit of hugging
nurse the child with the right other people, they exchange small
bosom, since if she does so with signs of tenderness while greeting,
the left initially the child will they're more open and with that
be left handed its entire life. more sociable. All of this also
Lactation among Bosnian women in makes them more resilient to
the past lasted quite long, often stress and everyday issues. It is
a few years, there are testimonies evident that some environmental
that some mothers nursed their preferences and social habits we
sons until they were fifteen. It acquire during the period of
was believed that it was desirable lactation and if they're not
to nurse the male child for longer, offered to humans in their
because of the physical strength earliest age they then have
and growth, while the female child, smaller or greater consequences
it was not because it could turn for our healthy development.
out to be temperamental and
promiscuous. There is a prevailing Nursing is an intimate moment and
opinion among the Bosnian people the mother will always take care
that people in general have lost that she doesn't nurse the child
empathy, became less humane and in front of someone else who is
sensible, since the younger not her husband out of shame. Also,
generation of mothers stopped the woman hesitated to nurse her
nursing their children. That child in front of people who are
natural and intimate contact of not family members out of fear for
the mother and child during spellbound eyes, since the evil
lactation, obviously has the same effect of this spell can cause her
value for the human being as the to, allegedly, lose her milk.
need for food itself. Mother's Similar scenario will happen to
bosom for the child are a source her if a drop of milk falls to the

37
ground and she or someone else pass through the hole in the shirt
steps on it. If she becomes a the piece of bread that she made.
victim of spellbound eyes or her She would then put the shirt on
own recklessness, and loses her the child uttering: "As the moon
milk, by the advice of the mother is full in the sky, so may you be
in law, she will look among her full as well." After a few months,
neighbours for some trahana (small when the child starts eating food
dough used for soup) three years other than his mother's milk,
old, which she will cook at her during the night of a full moon
home three times and eat, the milk the mother would submerge that
will then return. piece of bread into cow's milk and
would give it to the child
News of the new member in the repeating the same formula.
family spread fast, especially if
a son was born, and then the
The mother and the child usually
spread of the news would become a
never left the house until the
small competition because of the
period of 40 days has passed, and
monetary reward which was given to
during the first few days of the
the messenger. It is still today
child's birth one would avoid
called muštuluk (good news).
giving or loaning to others in the
There was also a custom to rip the
household, it was even forbidden
shirt of the father on the chest
to take out the trash when night
when the good news is given to him,
fell. People took care not to
obviously that ritual had its
bring in children's clothes which
origin in the pagan beliefs and
were washed and dried after sunset,
rituals of fertility. Namely, a
until the sun has come out the
ritual recorded in Vlasenica
next day and has warmed up the
describes that a woman in late
clothes. Otherwise the child could
pregnancy during the period of
suffer from a disease called
full moon would knead bread, and
mračnica.
when the full moon showed up she
would go around the house three
times. She would break of one
piece of bread and store it, the One foot in the grave
rest she would eat. When she gave
birth she would then again wait Though the entire cult of
for a full moon in order to rip fertility among the Bosnian people
the first shirt she made for her in the past was based on magical-
child at the chest and she would religious beliefs and rigid social

38
attitudes, still, in some of its professional medical assistance.
segments, we come across empirical Data that most of the women that
knowledge with which medicine assisted during birth had no
today also agrees. Namely, in professional knowledge is ironical,
order to reduce the possibility of they based their skills on the
damaging the vagina, rectum and folk belief that a woman's womb
bladder, the pregnant women knew consists out of three parts; in
that all positions, except the one the first part are premature
when the woman is lying down, births, in the second normal birth
reduces the possibility for and in the third post mature.
episiotomy i.e. cutting the Similarly, it was believed that in
perineum, which in the past could the womb itself there is a part
have had serious consequences for that creates male children (right
the health of the woman. Steiner part) and left part which creates
writes that the majority of female children.
Bosnian women will not call a
doctor/male during birth, not even Chronic lack of education but also
during a complicated birth, a dominant influence of religion,
instead she will, during a which unquestionably creates a
difficult birth, cut the perineum conservative society which is
herself is the bladder is pressed hostile towards any type of
or when the baby is in an progress and enlightenment,
uncomfortable position, this is in stopped the Bosnian people from
fact an impossible task for the advancing for centuries and
pregnant woman, therefore she inflicted more harm than it did
would let the woman assisting her good. Particularly alarming state
with birth perform the procedure was among the youngest population,
and even sow the wound. namely as we can see, morbidity
and mortality of children in the
Though it is obvious that such an past in BiH was extremely high,
unreasonable and completely various causes contributed to this
irresponsible attitude towards her fact from hypothermia and fever,
own body and life is a by-product to various infectious diseases
of the conservative society, in such as diphtheria, scarlet fever,
which the husband is the only man smallpox (variola), measles, etc.
which can see a woman's intimate Besides this, women weren't in a
parts, he also jeopardized his better position to whom every
woman by exposing her to deadly birth was literally "one foot in
danger due to the lack of the grave" i.e. it exposed them to

39
direct danger of death, primarily physically drains a woman.
because of the lack of medical Especially if the woman nurses the
care but also bad living child for long, which was often
conditions. the case with Bosnian women,
coupled with poor nutrition but
Analysing the look of Bosnian also hard physical labour in
girls, Karl Steiner (Bosnian folk essence didn't leave a lot of room
medicine), noticed well that for frequent pregnancies. It is
frequent pregnancies and scarce medically proven that 98% of cases
living conditions resulted in women cannot get pregnant during
physical deterioration and abrupt the first six months after birth
aging of the face after a pretty while they are nursing their child
short period of youth (15-25 - lactation amenorrhea. Analysing
years). Author writes: mathematically for a woman to give
birth to twenty children she would
Childbearing women get up on the
have to give birth for 30 years,
third day after birth, and starts
which is in stark opposition to
doing house chores. This crooked
the fact that women often got
custom is the culprit of rapid
married in their 18th year.
aging and deterioration of Bosnian
According to the writing of Karl
women. Poor nurturing of young
Steiner women were physically
women after birth, when they need
drained in their thirties, their
nurture and care the most, is
reproductive abilities weakened,
avenged by women losing their
probably due to poor health, which
beauty and vigour quickly. In this
in the end could be an overture to
we should look for interpretation
premature menopause.
in what we notice every day that
besides numerous beautiful and
well fed women, we see few healthy
and beautiful young women. Egg - symbol of fertility
and luck
When we take into consideration
the above mentioned we come to a During the time of četeresnica
conclusion that the claim by Frano (40 days from an event), which we
Murgic that women in Visoko gave could also call postpartum
birth to twenty children is simply quarantine, while the body of the
impossible because of some very young mother gradually returns in
logical reasons based on the the form and the new born is
living circumstances; every getting adjusted to the outside
pregnancy, and especially birth, life; increased fluctuation of

40
people was avoided and they tried Women went to babine on Monday and
to limit visits to the closest Thursday, usually before noon,
family members only. Reason for while the sun is rising in the sky,
such a behaviour was manifold, but wanting to bring positive
the most important one is for the influences besides the gift so
mother and child to rest and that the child will develop in a
gather strength, since in such a healthy manner. Monday and
state they are more prone to Thursday are usually considered in
negative effects or disease. Bosnian tradition as blessed days,
since they are located in front of
Time after birth, usually during two holly days - Tuesday and
the following 40 days, though not Friday. While Tuesday was the
limited by time, babine take place, holly day of the Bogomils, Friday
ritual of gifting the new-born, is a holly day in Islam.
but also his mother and even the
whole family. Babine are primarily In Sandžak there is a custom that
a reflection of female solidarity people perform babine right after
and it needs to be characterised birth out of practical reasons, to
as a socio-humane gesture, with offer help, if there is a need to
which one is showing concern of do so, and check what the mother
the community for their new member. and the child need and they bring
Besides, according to folk belief, it as gifts. As pregnancy, birth
this is the period when every day, and time after it, were reserved
during the 40 days, out of the exclusively for women and their
womb of the young mother one by activities since the old days, men
one a postekija is being removed. were completely distanced from all
It is believed that after a woman activities, which is a rule forced
has given birth in her womb 40 by patriarchy. However, there were
postekija are being laid, from certain situations when they did
which each day one of them is get involved, at least during this
being raised and removed. As last stage of fascinating ritual
postekija is a prayer mat we're of new life, which could be
probably talking about angels characterised as "male babine",
praying for the young mother and though there is another name for
protecting her from attacks from it - jedvoček. As the name itself
all those evil creatures which are reveals we're talking about a
trying to harm her in this most situation where a married couple
delicate moment. is awaiting birth of a son or
child generally for a long time.

41
Men gift the child in money but mothers ensure a cradle for their
also chicken egg and the child is first grandchild and everything
sprinkled with some flour on the that the new-born needs: diapers,
head and eyebrows "so that he may swathe, shirt, shoes, etc. Also,
live long to an old age". they bring gifts for the adult
members of the family, so that all
Chicken egg in the Bosnian cult of can be happy and content. Among
fertility is primarily a symbol of the presents for the new-born,
luck, life and fertility and it especially if it's a girl, there
was mandatorily gifted according must be some jewellery, such as
to the rule, one egg for a female earrings, bracelet or necklace.
and two for a male child, Gold for its value but also a
especially when the mother visits symbolism of eternity, represented
someone's house with the child. respect for the family which was
Among the Bosnian people a custom visited. If for some reason the
called Pološke was recorded, when mother didn't have milk in her
a mother visits someone for the breasts to feed her child in the
first time after birth, usually first few days, another woman will
someone from the family, members do it for her, this woman is
of that family gift the child with latter called by the child a
eggs. Entering the house, the second mother or foster mother,
mother would ritually utter: "I'm this was considered a special
here, the other in Pološke!" gesture and that's why children of
indicating that it is time to gift these women could not marry one
the child with eggs. It is another.
interesting that the name Pološke
itself comes from položak i.e. egg The child was named at noon, while
which is not taken from the place the Imam is calling for prayer,
where chickens usually lay eggs and in the past it was usually
and there is a possibility of some chosen based on a distinguished
of them to peck. ancestor. In Velika Kladuša,
however it is believed that it
When a couple get exclusively
isn't good to give a child a name
female children, then the woman
based on a dead member of the
goes to babine on a Friday, in
family, only one that is alive. It
order to try and influence her
was once told that a child brings
faith i.e. if the last time she
his own name with him i.e. it was
gave birth to a girl, now she will
given to him according to the
give birth to a boy. In Sandžak
Arabic name of the months such as;
there was a custom that young

42
if the child was born during the at an intersection with the apples
month of Ramadan then the son for someone to pass by. She asks a
would be named Ramo and daughter random passer-by to choose one of
Ramiza, if the child is born the two apples and the one which
during month Muharam the names stays in her hand represents the
could be Muharem, Muho, Muharema, child's new name which will bring
etc. And if the daughter is born luck and health to him.
on the eve of the holly night
Laylat al-Qadr her name would be
Lejla, but if the child is born on In fear of faeries and
Eid - Bajram or Bajrame, Birame,
spells
etc.
One of the old prophylactic
If the household inhabitants traditions which got lost over
cannot agree on the name of the time was that the child,
child it was a tradition to call especially male child, an Imam or
some other "learned" person, such
an Imam into the house. He would
as Hafiz, learned Muslim woman or
take scissors and a piece of paper, stravarka, would utter azaan into
and he would cut it into 40 equal the ear for all preventive
pieces. On each piece of paper he purposes such as diseases whose
would then write one name and in causes are often supernatural,
the end he would place them inside according to folk, and the
children are subject to shock,
a fez. The Imam would mix the
paralysis, great fear. Beneficial
papers and then he would offer the activity of azaan is that it
mother to draw a piece from the neutralises the effect of
fez. The name which is drawn spellbound eyes. The ritual is
becomes the name of the child, and pretty simple; the Imam stands
above the child, which is sitting
none of the household inhabitants
in front of him alone or in the
could object to that.
hands of his mother, they're all
turned towards the Kaaba. While
Sometimes it happened that a name
uttering prayer Basmala the Imam
doesn't suit a child, it is
is placing his right hand, thumb
unlucky to him, which is and forefinger on the forehead and
manifested in that it is sick for begins to utter azaan. When he
no reason or pale, grows and utters half of the prayer he blows
develops slowly. In order to stop in the direction of the right ear
of the child and then lightly
this evil, the mother would early
turns his head with his right hand
on Sunday, at dawn, take two to the right and when he finishes
apples and give each of them a the second part of azaan he blows
name which she fancies. She waits into his left ear. Then the child

43
gets up and the Imam wishes him them. It is still today claimed
god's blessing and good fortune. that good children (orphans) can
People believe firmly in the call upon rain during draughts, if
protective powers of azaan, which the Imam takes them on top of the
is also uttered when there is a tallest hill in that area (remnant
great storm outside and before the of the Bogomils's beliefs about
prayer is started one would throw the holiness of the hill), where
a rolling pin outside of the house. the Imam will utter a rain prayer
and the children will bless the
A special category is taken up by prayer by saying amen. A child
children which have no mothers, whose mother had died during
whether she had died during birth childbirth, was believed to have
or after it. They are called power to stop a fight (bad weather)
orphans no matter if their father if it eats a few grains of hail.
is alive or not. Namely, among the The same was believed about the
folk it is still claimed today youngest child.
that a father can be anyone, but
there can only be one mother. In the past people were afraid of
Result of strict patriarchal the activity of the Jinn and
upbringing which forced a rule on devils, especially birth demons
men that they mustn't show called Al Karisi, which alongside
pronounced feelings or care the female Jinn Sibjan,
towards the child, especially in represented the greatest danger
public places, gave birth to a for both the new-born and his
folk saying "the father is as mother. In order to chase them
stiff as a board!" i.e. he has no away there was a tradition for a
feelings nor understanding for his family member to shoot a weapon
child. outside when the child is born,
because of the belief that lead
Orphans are especially pledged but also the sound of the weapon
among Bosnian people, partially can scare and chase away the evil
for the fact that god's messenger spirits. The mother would be
himself, Muhammad, was an orphan. scared to leave the child in the
It was always said, if there is no crib alone, if she had to leave
other way to help an orphan, that the house for some reason, fearing
one should at least stroke him on that faeries don't steal or
his head, since among other things replace her child. In order to
he has been bereft of warmth and protect him, she would place a
attention. Similarly, there is no metal item underneath its pillow,
greater sin from abuse of an a stem of nacre, garlic clove or
orphan since "the tear of an something else which could chase
orphan is as heavy as the greatest away the faeries. Namely,
sea!". In Velika Kladuša it is according to a Turkish legend
believed that the sun wouldn't which became popular in our region,
shine if there were no orphans in the humans stole the first faery
the world, since it needs to warm child and from that time the

44
faeries are avenging it by mother is walking around the
stealing or exchanging human neighbourhood a lot. It is
children. Besides the mentioned especially perilous, that a young
beings, the child was in danger of mother goes out of the house with
witches, nightmares, spells and a child at night, since witches
spellbound eyes. fly outside at that time, air
faeries, ghosts and spectres, and
Antun Hangi writes: they could harm a child.
As soon as a child is born, until
it grows up, one needs to protect
him from spells, ograma, strava,
nightmares and witches. Spells as
we have said, come from the eyes.
Everything that is on earth is
subject to evil eyes and there is
nothing in the world which cannot
be harmed by a spell, both
children and adults die from
spells, and it is not a sin to say
that half of the world has died
due to spells. The smaller it is
the easier it is to cast a spell
on it, the easiest being a child.
That's why you should say when you
see a small child: "Masha'Allah!"
or "May you not be cursed!", so
that you do not curse him. When
the child doesn't want to sleep
when it needs to , and doesn't
want to eat its mother's milk, and
what is worse keeps crying so much
so that it seems as if it is dying,
then we know that it is cursed.
Cursed child cries and screams,
doesn't eat nor sleep and if it
sleeps for a while, it tosses and
turns in its sleep, until at one
time the screaming stops. If the
child is cursed, it needs to be
bajati (utter a spell), since the
spell resurrects in the child
after three days, and it could
tear the child apart. The child is
easy to put a spell on when
numerous women come into the house
and look at the child and when the

45

Cult of Fertility Among The Bosnian People

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Raif Esmerović encourages fertility and creates

life. Remnants of the once

Cult of fertility snake among the Bosnian people are

among the Some of them have been preserved

To represent all the beliefs of

Raif Esmerović Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People

Raif Esmerović Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People

Primeval connection of the snake,

Raif Esmerović Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People

cooked her, Lokuman ate the snake supernatural abilities to influence

Raif Esmerović Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People

During the time of the Roman's i.e.

Raif Esmerović Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People

Raif Esmerović Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People

abuse Gaze upon those yellow oranges,

Raif Esmerović Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People

Raif Esmerović Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People

Raif Esmerović Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People

Of course, we should stress that

Raif Esmerović Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People

NOTE owned by others for both kingdoms. Disease

Raif Esmerović Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People

Raif Esmerović Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People

Raif Esmerović Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People

The issue of traditional family

Raif Esmerović Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People

Raif Esmerović Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People

Raif Esmerović Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People

Raif Esmerović Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People

Raif Esmerović Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People

In the desire to achieve

Raif Esmerović Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People

Raif Esmerović Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People

Raif Esmerović Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People

Raif Esmerović Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People

Raif Esmerović Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People

Raif Esmerović Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People

That's why the practice of using

Raif Esmerović Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People

Raif Esmerović Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People

Raif Esmerović Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People

Raif Esmerović Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People

Raif Esmerović Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People

-It's wrong for a pregnant woman

-It's wrong for a pregnant woman

-It's not good if a cat passes

-It's wrong for a pregnant woman

-It's wrong for a pregnant woman

Raif Esmerović Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People

receeds from the community in cause her harm.

Raif Esmerović Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People

Raif Esmerović Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People

Raif Esmerović Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People

Raif Esmerović Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People

Raif Esmerović Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People

Raif Esmerović Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People

Raif Esmerović Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People

Raif Esmerović Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People

Raif Esmerović Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People

Raif Esmerović Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People

Raif Esmerović Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People

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