#metohija

The day begins with washing the face with water in which flowers were soaked from the previous day, on Lazarice, so that the household members would be rosy and healthy. In the past, it was a widespread custom to spend the whole day walking around adorned with flowers. Young men made bouquets and gave them to girls, and each flower had its own meaning.

Beta Vukanović has done few watercolors depicting Serbian women from the southern regions and Prizren, but this one portrays Catholic Albanian women from Prizren. Their costumes have similarities with Serbian Orthodox costume, but they are distinct especially in the head coverings, the traditional apron worn by older women, and the shawl worn over the shoulders. The title of the painting also means “Latin women” aka Catholic. There were no Catholic Serbs in Prizren, only Orthodox and Muslim.

Turkish woman photographed in the Prizren’s Serbian quarter Podkaljaja for the tourist guide book, 1978.

Руговска клисура у општини Пећ.

Serbian girl dressed in a traditional costume in her home in Prizren, Metohija, 1913. Leon Auguste, Albert Kahn

Serbian women from Prizren, Metohija, 1930. National Geographic

Serbian bride from Sirinićka župa, Serbia.

Serbian woman from Sredačka župa, Serbia, 1913. Auguste Leon, Albert Kahn