Flowers, Fruit, and Food: Symbolism in Bosnian and Macedonian Love Songs and Wedding Songs
Flowers, Fruit, and Food: Symbolism in Bosnian and Macedonian Love Songs and Wedding Songs
Author(s): Masha Belyavski-FrankSubject(s): Language and Literature Studies, Poetry, Comparative Study of Literature, Bosnian Literature, Macedonian Literature
Published by: Slavistički komitet BiH
Keywords: sevdalinke (love-songs); courting; wedding songs; symbolism;
Summary/Abstract: This paper examines the comparative symbolism of specific flowers, herbs, fruit, and food in Bosnian sevdalinke, Macedonian love songs, as well as in wedding songs from Bosnia-Herzegovina and Macedonia. Various herbs, flowers, and fruits are used as gifts in courting, to symbolize masculinity or femininity, or as symbolic elements at a wedding, and thus function as powerful cultural elements in these folk songs from the Balkans.Likewise, certain types of food such as baklava, kajmak, honey, and sugar itself represent romantic love and/or passion, and are typical cultural elements of Bosnian and Macedonian folk literature.
Journal: Bosanskohercegovački slavistički kongres
- Issue Year: II/2019
- Issue No: 2
- Page Range: 17-39
- Page Count: 23
- Language: English