For centuries, the Vlachs of Eastern Serbia have preserved a remarkable spiritual heritage. They are the only people in Europe known to have kept ancient shamanic rituals alive into the modern day — and at the very center of these rituals is bread. At the heart of this tradition is pomana, a complex ritual in which families bake hundreds, sometimes even thousands, of specially shaped breads. Each loaf is more than food: it is a sacred symbol carrying its own meaning and purpose.
“Sacred Language of the Vlach Bread” is a unique illustrated book that opens a rare window into this little-known world. Through 40 authentic photographs and an accompanying dictionary, it reveals the symbolic language of these ritual breads and offerings.This remarkable material was collected and documented through the project “The Vlach Ritual Bread and Pomana,” initiated by Paun Es Durlić, ethnologist.
