Zmijanje Embroidery with Women’s Humanitarian Association DUGA & Good Host

MAKE YOUR OWN ZMIJANJE EMBROIDERY – UNESCO’S INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF HUMANITY

Learn the art of Zmijanje embroidery and its hidden meanings from the local Women’s Association DUGA!

Embroidery isn’t just tradition; it’s timeless yoga for the brain cherished by mothers and grandmothers worldwide for its therapeutic release from everyday swarm of thoughts. Yet, located in the heart of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zmijanje stands apart as a UNESCO-recognized Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Hosts of the Duga Association, Tanja and Slobodanka will welcome guests into their Ethno House Duga. You will receive a gift bag containing the traditional blue-coloured thread, needle, and motif to sew as your first embroidery. Then it is time to sit down with the women of the association, and with their help and gentle guidance, you will begin working on one of the traditional patterns used in the last century. With every movement of the needle, you embrace the meditative rhythm of our ancestors from the past.

As you stitch and sip on your coffee, you can chat with your hosts. Slobodanka will share how Zmijanje became her passion and why she decided to preserve the traditions of ordinary women in her local area. “The key,” she says, “is to recognize that ordinary women do the extraordinary daily.” For her, living the reality of those who came before her gives her the power to know that our wishes and dreams remain the same.

Zmijanje isn’t just a craft; it is a heartfelt tradition, woven with prayers and protection for loved ones. Through each stitch, you’ll feel a connection to your ancestors’ hopes and dreams. As you embroider thoughts of those dear to you, you’ll discover our spiritual aspirations are timeless, bridging generations with a thread of shared humanity.

Duration: 120 min