Srem

Srem

Srem is the most interesting part of Vojvodina as for as geography, history and tourism are concerned. It is situated between the Sava, the Danube and the border of Slavonia. Most of the area is flat, but there are also hills leading to the second highest mountain of Vojvodina (the highest peak, Crveni Čot - 539 m). Apart from the Sava, the Danube and the Bosut, the most outstanding hidrography object is Obedska Bara, one of the largest ornithological stations in the country. The picturesque villages and towns surrounded by feritle fields are oriented towards Belgrade rather than Novi Sad. Apart from agriculture, trade is also developed as well as industry and different crafts. The best-known towns are: Ruma, Šid and Sremska Mitrovica. Sremska Mitrovica, also known by its Latin name Sirmium, was on of the four Roman towns in Serbia.

Fruška Gora became a national park in 1960. Its historical, cultural and touristic value is reflected in its sixteen monasteries, which is the reason why it is often called Serbian Mount Athos.

In Srem, women started wearing waistcoats before men. The female waistcoat were narrow-waisted, unlike the male ones. They also had fewer buttons (only 5-6) and were buttoned only halfway, to the navel. While men wore them over the shirt, women wore them over all the other garments except for the apron, which was worn over the waistcoat. Female waistcoats had more adornments, like leather or woollen ornaments. The most beautiful ornaments adorned those worn by brides and girls. Socks were usually red, dyed by a manufactured colour called čirkiz. Vunenka was a female home-crafted woven skirt. Although different colours were used, it was usually dyed red. Apart from home-crafted cloth women sometimes used a manufactured fabric called šiška-mariška to make this garment.

Pršnjak (older type) was a waistcoat made of lambskin. The woollen side was worn next to the body and the leather was on the outside. It consisted of two parts: the front and the back. It was buttoned on the left-hand side with two leather buttons and two loops. It also had three buttons and three loops under the armpit. It ended with a pointed part called špic, which was long enough to be tucked into the tousers. At first, it did not have any adornments. It was bordered with thin leather. Later, it was dyed with a yellow colour made of  mushrooms growing on mulberry trees. The waistcoats worn by young men were later decorated with multi-coloured yarn.

Pršnjak (new type) reached the hips just like a short coat. It was buttoned on the front side with 10-12 loops. It was a sleeveless waistcoat made of lambskin. One each front part it had a pocket where a smoking kit was held. The pockets were bordered with leather of different colour and their upper side was adorned with a narrow strip of leather sewn with black yarn. Both types of this garment were made by craftsmen called kožuvari.