Princess Xenia of Montenegro

Princess Xenia Petrović-Njegoš of Montenegro, also known as Princess Ksenija or Kseniya, was a member of the House of Petrović-Njegoš as a daughter of Nicholas I of Montenegro.

Costume worth more than property

A luxurious Montenegrin national costume could be so valuable that, together with weapons, it was worth more than a family's entire property. It took an average of three months to craft one of these costumes.

Weapons as essential clothing for men

For men, carrying a belt with weapons was considered essential, to the point that a man without them was viewed as being naked. The flat, cylindrical hat was an obligatory element of the traditional male attire.

The gusle and epic songs

The gusle, a single-stringed instrument played with a bow, was essential for epic poetry, with stories often passed between people during evening gatherings. Its soundbox was traditionally made of maple and covered in animal skin, with a string crafted from thirty horsehairs.

Traditional oro dancing

The oro dance, performed by men and women together, was a centerpiece of festivities and was sometimes danced until dawn. Dancers would circle while singing, often illuminated at night by burning kindling wood.

Transporting baggage by foot

Travelers often hired a horse for riding while women or other dependents carried the heavy baggage on foot, frequently using straps across their chests. Women who performed this strenuous transport work were often seen knitting or spinning as they walked behind pack-animals.

Antivari to Vir by carriage

A carriage journey between Antivari and Vir took five to six hours, covering a distance of roughly 20 kilometers that was effectively doubled by the road's many sharp curves.

Compulsory and free elementary education

Elementary education was made compulsory and free, with 75 public and 26 private schools operating in Montenegro by 1899.

Stone homes shared with livestock

Homes were typically built of stone and usually contained only one or two rooms, where families and livestock lived together, filled with smoke from the hearth.

Bread was the essential, sacred staple food

Bread was the most important food, often made from rye, barley, wheat, or corn, and it was so highly valued that people sometimes took oaths on it. Households also prepared simple meals based on flour and dairy products, such as cheese and cream.

Rakia was the most popular traditional drink

Rakia, a brandy typically distilled from plums or other local fruits, was the most popular drink. It was often produced at home using primitive stills and stored in sheep or goat skin bags.

Cost of mountain transport

Transporting luggage over 3-4,000 feet of mountain terrain and through deep snow for a distance of over 3 Norwegian miles cost 6 gulden.

Defining wealth in Montenegro

Wealthy individuals were defined as those with an annual income of 400 gulden, illustrating the poverty of the region.

Agriculture and patriarchal household life

The primary occupation was agriculture and livestock farming, with families often living in large patriarchal households of 50 to 300 people. While manual labor was previously stigmatized for men, this prejudice faded by the late 19th century as agricultural opportunities grew.

Heavy physical labor and sparse diet

Women performed the majority of heavy labor, including transport and field work, often carrying huge loads with straps across their chests while knitting or spinning. Daily sustenance for common people was sparse, typically consisting only of maize bread at sunrise and a small evening meal of bread and milk.