Dušni Brav (Serbian: душни брав; "Soul Ram" (also referred to as Dušno)) ; refers to a practice of Christianized animal sacrifices amongst the Serb Orthodox. It involves the ritualistic slaughter of a lamb for a funeral feast (Daća).
It is believed that the sacrifice of the Dušni Brav is meant to pacify and appease the departed's soul.
Description
The practice involves the blood sacrifice of a sheep (душни брав, dušni brav) to the soul of the deceased. The animal is slaughtered in the deceased's backyard or property, on the day of their funeral or on the 40-day and/or year anniversary (годишњица, "godišnjica") of their death. The sheep must be the same gender as the deceased, and about the same age. No other animal but a white sheep may be sacrificed.
Before the sacrifice, a white cloth is put on top of the sacrificial sheep and a candle is lit. After the sacrifice, the sheep is roasted and prepared, and the white cloth is placed upon it again and it is served with Koliba at the Daća (funeral feast). Before eating the Dušni Brav it is proper etiquette to cross oneself.