Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People

from the shira (postpartum
depression). Battle between the
two rivals which live with the
same husband, was so widespread
that not even new-borns were
spared and it used to happen,
according to stories of old
Bosnian people, since the inoća
used to perform dark magic over
the stake which was used to tie
livestock in the field during
grazing, which she would then use
to place underneath the child's
crib after she has completed
certain magical rituals. Children
would often die quickly after such
spells.
Attacks on sexual strength, as we
can conclude, are the basic parts
of magical folklore of the Bosnian
people. But, men were not spared
of magical procedures because of
the general belief that the one
that rules over someone's sexual
power actually rules over them. In
the past there existed a somewhat
unusual custom of intentional
postponing defloration when
shirbaza (old lady that practices
magic), would heat a sowing needle
on the fire and bend it into a
circle and give it to the bride.
She would place such a needle
under her tongue which apparently
stopped her husband from achieving
an erection. Apparently, such a
woman would discretely commend
herself that she was still a
Raif Esmerović
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virgin, with which a certain
domination was achieved over the
thing which is colloquially called
"male strength".
Main reason for child mortality in
the early age was considered to be
black magic and misfortune. That's
why various prophylactic measures
were undertaken, out of which the
most frequent one was wearing an
amulet constructed by an Imam,
known for his gift in healing and
helping. Tilsumi, shorter or
longer citations from the Qur'an,
were valued, mixed with mysterious
names and symbols, which the Imam,
with the desire to cure sterility,
would usually make seven, which
were according to his instructions
burnt, placed in water or under
the pillow, etc.
Besides the mentioned, sacrificial
rituals were also performed, which
are remnants of archaic pagan
beliefs that a blood offering can
only neutralise the power of evil
and postpone death. When someone's
children are dying, "they're not
kept", to the next child that is
born a kurban (offering in the
form of a young ram) is
slaughtered for him on the first
day of Eid, on the place where the
wife has given birth. The skin of
the ram was usually given to the
mosque or was given to a neighbour
and the meat was placed in a
Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People