Traditional Tattoos of the Croatian Women in BIH

Traditional tattooing in Bosnia and Herzegovina is solely linked to the catholic population and almost regularly to women. The motifs of the tattoos are mostly crosses of various forms that were tattooed most frequently on their hands (fingers, fists, forearms).

There are cases of tattooing on chests or even foreheads. Tattooing was conducted at 12 to 16 years of age and usually it was done by an elderly experienced woman.

Grime and coal dust, honey or the bark of a tree (ash, cornel - wood) was usually used for the colour.

It was usually conducted in the spring time and during religious holidays.There a few theories about the genesis of the custom of tattooing ( resistance of islam, prechristian roots, bogomilian roots etc.)

The people accepted the theory that the reason catholic women were tattoeed during the period of islamic domination over Bosnia and Herzegovina was because those same women wanted to avoid being taken away into captivity or changing their religion.

Today, when tattooing is attributed to mostly modern trends and since traditional tattooing is very rare, thus, it can only be seen on elderly women.