Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People

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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 18 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
caldron and was boiled until the bones separated from the meat by itself. Then all the bones, large and small would be gathered and placed in a casserole and so buried in the ground while the meat was shared. Namely, it was allowed to the inhabitants of the household to eat just a piece or two of the meat and the remainder of it had to be distributed. With this one would ensure the life of the new-born child. Magic, religion and infertility Describing folk beliefs dedicated to the issue of fertility and magical encouragement of fertility, Rabija Hasanbegović (Folk belief for ensuring fertility in marriage) observes well that Bosnian folk usually ascribe infertility to women, while it is rare to even consider sterility in men. This is of course a product of patriarchy but also an archaic understanding of women as a symbol of fertility. Humanity is taken away from barren women and they are mockingly called jalovica (fruitless), barren, neroduša (childless). Under such social pressure women tried to achieve motherhood obsessively without choosing a method. Anthropological research, such as this, clearly show us how a longer time period of our history there was no professional medical knowledge and with that no tolerance towards persons, primarily women, which had this issue. Social scrutiny doesn't stop with humiliation of women but the entire family, namely, people believed that infertility in women was god's punishment or a cause of some curse. That's why a woman that couldn't get pregnant should give alms during nine months in the hope that this good deed will be rewarded with motherhood. In the past there were numerous ways with which women tried to stimulate fertility. In order to get pregnant she would fumigate herself over balsam herb (Tanacetum balsamita) when her period ends, before she has intercourse. Some of them practiced a method of mutual bathing with their husbands in water in which they previously placed nine splinters from the woodpile "so that children fall off of her like splinters.", then red and white turnip and "herb which grows in water and whose leaves are blinking." In certain customs social solidarity is noted with barren women to which fruits were gifted from a fruit grafted in spring, by people who own the Raif Esmerović 19 Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People
Page 1 and 2: Raif Esmerović Cult of fertility a
Page 3 and 4: above the hole in order to stop the
Page 5 and 6: Great Mother, often times depicted
Page 7 and 8: household and a place where bread w
Page 9 and 10: that Agron took Triteuta for his wi
Page 11 and 12: 21st century, we have the same issu
Page 13 and 14: women were Bosnian Muslim women fro
Page 15 and 16: Plum and gift for the Grand Mother
Page 17: visually we get a shape of an openi
Page 21 and 22: drug. It is good for a barren woman
Page 23 and 24: Women sought help from stravarke wi
Page 25 and 26: pin into her hands which she would
Page 27 and 28: stretcher into the river, etc. We s
Page 29 and 30: mosque and from a stretcher which c
Page 31 and 32: trend disappeared due to a difficul
Page 33 and 34: to a beautiful child. Also, the chi
Page 35 and 36: Time after birth Before birth the p
Page 37 and 38: Similar things are done with the ha
Page 39 and 40: attitudes, still, in some of its se
Page 41 and 42: people was avoided and they tried t
Page 43 and 44: if the child was born during the mo
Page 45: faeries are avenging it by stealing

Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People

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