Traditions in Bosnia and Herzegovina In most homes people remove their shoes before entering.

It is a cultural holdover from the time of Turkish rule but is also very practical. The roads and streets are usually muddy or slimy in the winter and dusty in the summer. Most homes have hardwood floors with carpets for padding. This keeps the household from becoming muddy or dirty. As it is custom you get used to wearing slip on shoes and making sure that you are not wearing socks with holes in them. Throughout all BiH the death of someone is announced by printing a small poster that is then hung around town, usually to the light poles. The color of the poster depends on the persons religion, it shows a picture of the dead person, and it holds the information where the funureal will be held and the names of the grieving family members. Bosnians were always known for their excellent humour, especially for the fact that they could make fun of themselves in every situation. A director from Sarajevo who now lives in Ljubljana once said: 'Slovenians and Bosnians have a lot in common - you like to make fun of Bosnians and so do we.' This surely lives on - you'll never hear so many Bosnian jokes as in Bosnia. Quite different from many in their surroundings, and actually it's the customs that reflect their unique view on life. I know every nation is unique for itself, but Bosnia is a mixture of different nations, religions and backgrounds, so it is 'more unique' than some other countries. Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country of many and different traditions, but all of the people share a somewhat laid-back attitude toward life. Coffee drinking, for example, is generally perceived as an everyday social event rather than an individual habit. At a restaurant or bar in Bosnia and Herzegovina, people almost never ask for separate checks. Sharing a bill is more likely to happen among youth, but the most accepted way to pay is for each person to buy a round of drinks. When invited to someones house for the first time or for a celebration, people usually bring coffee and sugar or a box of candy as a symbol of gratitude toward the hosts. The nation takes pride in the melancholic folk songs sevdalinka, the precious medieval filigree manufactured by old Sarajevo craftsmen, and a wide array of traditional wisdoms that are carried down to newer generations by word of mouth, and in recent years written down in numerous books. Another prevalent tradition is "Mustuluk", whereby a gift is owed to any bringer of good news. The Bosniaks's tradional customs are affected pretty much by islam, which was established in Bosnia over 500 years. Islamic customs have helped make Bosnian Muslim resilient, took root and became a part of Bosnian tradition even until today. However, there are some customs which are not Islamic, but rather national which are still present amongst Muslims in Bosnia. Childbirth is something that brings great happiness, regardless of the sex of the child. However, in some areas (especially rural), the birth of a son is more hoped for than that of a girl. As such, parents are shown great satisfaction over their first-born son. Grandmothers who have had no sons were among the happiest ones when one enters the family. One traditional custom still present today, is to satisfy a pregnant woman right before the first child is born by catering to all that she desires or else she will give birth to a child with a mole on its skin in the shape of the thing she yearned for, (for example, in the shape of a grain of coffee, if she yearned

for a drink of coffee, but did not satisfy her yearning). The standard doctor's advice is that a pregnant woman should take a spoon of oil every day, a month before delivering the baby, in order to make delivery easier. In the past, women delivered their babies at home. In the process of delivery, there were women who helped, who were gifted to deliver the baby - they were called ebes. They helped with a birth of a baby, cut the cord, and took care of the baby for the first seven days of her life. Later these women were called midwives. Circumcision is not only part of a tradition and religious belief with Bosnian Muslims, but it also has national importance. It is a rare thing with a Bosnian Muslim family to find a boy who is not circumcised, be it a person of religious belief or not. It is done while the boy is still young, not later than puberty. That moment is celebrated, and the child is given many gifts. Nowadays, in Sarajevo, there is a custom of joint circumcision of boys, and there is a special program for families and children who are given gifts. The first born child is given special attention to and is catered with everything that they wish, especially by the grandparents. The upbringing was far more strict in the past, while today parents try to please children as much as possible. Children used to learn how to help the elders, but today, parents do all the work for children, thus making them dependent. Also when a child is born it is a custom to go see the child and bring gifts or leave some money under its pillow in its crib. Wedding traditions in Bosnia and Herzegovina On the wedding day, the wedding guests get together in the grooms home where they spend some time. The food is already prepared and served for the guests. Before the wedding some members of the family are given some responsabilities like "Stari svat" (he's usualy the grooms uncle), then we have the "Mutulukdija" (he is the first person to tell the brides mother that they are taking her girl). Also, there is the "Bajraktar", he carries the flag the whole time and must take care of it, because if it gets "stolen" he must give money for it. So after spending some time at the grooms place, until they all gather up, they head for the bride. The guests are greeted by the brides family at their home. After some time spent there, the bride is escorted out of her chaimbers by a brother or a cusin. Then the best man gives money (symbolically) for the bride to that person who escorted her. After that, they are on their way to the place where the wedding ceremony will be held (registar's office or some restaurant etc.) Usually the brides cousins, friends or other girls decorate the guests and also their cars with flowers, and they get paid for it. After the wedding ceremony, the first person to get to the grooms home is the mustulukdzija to notify the family and after him the guests arrive. The mother-in-law greets them at the door and gives the bride some bread and sieve with grains which the bride throws behind her back to bless the house. When they enter the house, a small child takes off the brides shoes, in which she puts some money for the child. After the newlyweds sit down, they are given some sherbet. The bride is given a small male child which she turns three times in her lap for posterity. After that the rest of the procedures are unofficial.