Explore the Culture of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Exploring the Culture of Bosnia

Bosnia and Herzegovina is located in the western Balkans in South-East Europe, bordering Croatia to the North and South-West, Serbia to the East, and Montenegro to the South-East. Close to fifty percent of Bosnia and Herzegovina is forested. Most forest areas are in Central, Eastern, and Western parts of Bosnia. The culture of Bosnia offers a mix of influences that blend the East and West in architecture, cuisine, languages, and religions. Bosnia and Herzegovina are home to beautiful towering mountains—the site of the 1984 Winter Olympics—forests, historical fortresses, monasteries, and mosques.

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Family Dynamic in Bosnia

Bosnian people are very friendly and welcoming with a unique sense of humor. Relationships between parents and children are mostly based on mutual trust, even though parents have the final say in many decisions. Many people live with their extended family and it’s common for grandparents to care for children while parents work. In the culture of Bosnia, elders are respected and are generally considered extremely important members of the family. Mothers and fathers play an equally important role in families and have the same amount of authority.

Families love discussions and voicing their opinions– which may seem like fighting. They can be loud and will often speak at the same time. However, it’s just their way of communicating and it doesn’t mean that they’re arguing. Most activities are pursued together as a family.

Teenage Life

Bosnian teenagers, particularly in their younger years, tend to rely a lot on their parents when it comes to decision making regarding school, after-school activities, and college plans. When they are not in school or studying, young people in Bosnia spend their free time with family or friends. They enjoy hanging out around the town, drinking coffee or juice in cafes, going to the cinemas, local youth centers, and concerts. The most popular sport is soccer, but during the winter teenagers can also take advantage of the mountain slopes and try skiing.

Holidays in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Some important holidays in Bosnia and Herzegovina include the Muslim holiday Ramadan, which includes fasting from dawn to sunset. Families usually invite guests to eat together in the evenings when they break their fast during Ramadan. Families then celebrate Eid al-Fitr after 30 days of fasting.

A second major Muslim holiday is Eid al-Adha, which occurs about two months after the first Eid and lasts for three days. This holiday starts with prayers and families visit cemeteries of their relatives and place flowers on the gravesites. Families then gather for meals and spend time together.

Many non-Muslim Bosnians celebrate Christmas on December 25 or the Serb Orthodox Christmas, which occurs on January 7th. Serbs also celebrate a separate new year in mid-January.

Official Language

Bosnia and Herzegovina has three official languages: Bosnian, Serbian, and Croatian.

Communication Style in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnians favor a direct communication style. Often, they formulate questions, offerings, or requests in a straightforward way. This should not be misinterpreted as impoliteness but rather, an expectation to state one’s desires bluntly. However, showing negative emotions can be viewed as somewhat inappropriate in the culture of Bosnia, particularly in public or in front of people one does not know well.

In Bosnian culture, when someone disagrees with another, it is understood that people talking about ideas and opinions, not personal relationships. People may oppose someone’s opinion on a certain issue, but still, like them as a person. Wishes and criticism are uttered openly and very directly in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Though, be precautious with subjects as politics since it can be sometimes tricky.

The Bosnian Diet

Bosnian cuisine uses many spices, but usually in very small quantities. Most dishes are light, as they are cooked in lots of water with fully natural sauces. Bosnian food is related to Turkish, Greek, and other former Ottoman and Mediterranean cuisines. Most families say Prijatno (enjoy your meal) before they start eating. Typical dishes include ćevapi (grilled, minced meat), pita (a pie stuffed with meat, potato, cheese, spinach or pumpkin), dolma (vegetables stuffed with meat and rice), and baklava (a pastry with sugar syrup) for dessert. Meals also commonly contain beef, lamb and potatoes, and lots of coffee and tea are consumed during the day.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

A heart-shaped land in the heart of southeast Europe