Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People

visually we get a shape of an
opening i.e. vagina. Laying the
pie in the casserole, which is in
the shape of a circle or stomach
of the pregnant woman, speaks
volume of the symbolism.
Maslenjak, maslenica or masnica
In descriptions of other rituals
with maslenica we notice its
direct connection with fertility
and care for children. Namely,
during the preparation of meals
for a wedding, maslenica is always
made and is offered alongside
other meals to the newlyweds.
After the first marital night and
defloration of the bride, the
remnants of maslenica would often
be snatched away by the
inhabitants of the household and
guests because of the belief that
all those that eat at least one
bite of it will not have stomach
aches during that year. To a woman
that has given birth one usually
brings maslenica on that or the
next day, and if she gives birth
to a daughter, she would ritually
turn the maslenica upside down in
the casserole before eating it so
Raif Esmerović
17
that she can give birth to a son
next time. We shouldn't forget to
mention the traditional statement
of Bosnian women which are known
for the ease of giving birth that
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
the dough. After that the dough is
rearranged and baked and the
maslenica is eaten by all the
household inhabitants, etc.
Because of the described magical
and supernatural clashes caused by
spite, envy and often the instinct
for survival and existence, a
great fear has been developed,
especially among the female
population, and the need for
various taboos which would ensure
healthy birth but also peace in
the home. Repercussions is best
demonstrated in the belief that
the most life dangerous sihir
(spells) are the ones created
during Babine i.e. first 40 days
after birth. They are difficult to
cure and both the woman and the
child can fall seriously ill. Also,
still today in rural areas it is
claimed that the woman can go mad
Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People