Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People

food next to a pregnant woman must
offer her food if she desires it.
The punishment is reflected in an
eye sore.
Such an aspect supports numerous
beliefs and taboos but also
purposeful mystification of the
entire process which lasts from
the disclosure of pregnancy until
the 40 days after birth have
passed. Namely, codex of
patriarchal moral resulted in
pregnancy being hidden from
inhabitants of a household, as
long as possible, especially male
members "because of shame". That's
why usually the news was first
told to the mother in law, which
would then discretely transfer the
news to the husband and then other
members of the family. Another
reason for discretion was
contained in the fear of the
pregnant woman of spellbound eyes
or enemies spells. Envy of a
barren woman was always suspect,
and all things which she could
undertake to hurt the pregnant
woman. Older women, usually mother
in law or grandma, suggested to
the pregnant woman to protect the
stomach, i.e. cover it with an
apron or some other clothing item,
in order to ensure herself from
eventual evil but also to warm the
child.
Under the pressure of various
rules and taboos the pregnant
women was subject to a special
regime which determined all of her
activities for the entire duration
of pregnancy, and even a shorter
period after birth. Analysing them
it is easy to notice a pronounced
care and even fear of the unknown
called new life, which is in its
certain segments still today a
mystery for modern medicine.
Divination about the future
child
Antun Hangi wrote that among the
Bosnian people it is considered
that the child while in the
stomach gains most of the physical
but also character features of the
person which the pregnant woman
fancies the most. If the pregnant
woman thinks of someone during the
time of the lunation or full moon
then it is very likely that the
child will have a lot of
similarities with that person.
When the mother gazes at someone
while the child "comes alive" in
the womb, the child will resemble
that person the most.
If the pregnant woman loves to eat
bitter oranges (Citrus aurantium),
oranges and quinces, it is
believed that she will give birth
Raif Esmerović
32
Cult of fertility among the Bosnian People