@anyrasigma: Sicanje or bocanje is the name of cultural tattooing among Croatian Roman Catholic women and girls of the central regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as, to a lesser extent, Turopolje and the Dalmatia region of Croatia. When it comes to the origins of the custom, there are different theories and interpretations but the primary purpose of the tattoos was to show belonging to a community and preserve a person’s identity. Some scholars argue that it stemmed from the Illyrians, while others argue that the tattoos originated during the Ottoman occupation. Regardless of whether or not it originated during that time, during the Ottoman occupation, tattooing served as an attempt to protect womenn and children from abductions and attacks of the Ottoman invaders. Elderly women who knew the tattoo patterns worked as tattoo artists. The tattoo pigment consisted of the soot of resinous pinesap collected on a plate, then combined with honey and water, saliva or breast milk. The tattoos were usually done in a visible place such as the arms, chest, or even the forehead. Children (generally girls) were tattooed from as early as the age of six, usually during the period between the feast of Saint Joseph in March to the feast of Saint John the Baptist in June. After World War II, this practice fell out of favor and faced a sharp decline. Today, it is still possible to see older women with these tattoos, while some younger ones have decided to tattoo some of the traditional designs as a means of keeping the tradition alive. #culturalheritage #balkans #croatia #bosnia #ancestry #culture #culturaltattoos

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Saturday 28 September 2024 18:45:51 GMT