Grass mowing competition in Kupres

Abstract

The grass mowing competition is a tradition that has existed in Kupres for many years. All men in Kupres learn how to mow from an early age, and pass on their knowledge and mowing skills to the younger generations. At the mowing competition, which takes place on the first Sunday of July, the best mowers compete, and the winner of the competition receives the title of the leader of mowers (“kozbaša”). The grass in Kupres is mowed with the so-called “kovanica”, scythes forged by blacksmiths from Mrkonjić Grad. The grass mowing competition is the most important social event of the year in the wider area of Kupres. This local practice was nominated, and in 2020 it was inscribed in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Heritage of Human ity as the fourth element of intangible cultural heritage from Bosnia and Herzegovina that was inscribed in this important list.