Hospitality

Locals from Velika, Mašnica, Ržanica, villages from the area of Šekular visit the katuns of Čakor and Mokra, most of them of Montenegrin and Serbian nationality.

The population settled in the area of Hajla is mostly Albanian, Bosniak, Montenegrin and Serbian. Many of them even today make their living from cattle breeding, but they go up to the mountain rarely and that is why there are more active katuns on the Rugova (Kosovo) side of Hajla.

Even though this border area has always been the contact zone of different tribes and people, which would often conflict over pastures and herds, the shepherds had a lot in common. Since they were often on a move with their herds, in vast expanses referred to each other, learning from one another and cooperating, Albanian and Slav tribes developed strong bonds, they would even undertake joint actions. The vocabulary of Albanian language has got a lot of Slav words from many areas of life. Slavs highly appreciated  the “firm commitment” of Albanians, the fact that they easily kept their promise – besa.

The common trait is a special, katun-like, hospitality.

Katun way of life, along the vast mountain pastures and endless forests of spruce and fir, is recognizable for the fact that each and every host, whatever his nationality or religion or clan affiliation, happily welcomes every well-intentioned guest.