Serbian towels (peškir) have been used for centuries in everyday life and during special holidays too. These traditional textiles were woven from cotton or linen, and decorated with a special needle-painted embroidery. The floral patterns and human figures can be different by region. They had an important role at weddings and family celebrations, as they were used for gifting or decoration.
In Serbian tradition, the towel also showed social rank, which is why it was always included in the bride's dowry. They were also used in churches, for instance, to make iconostases more beautiful during ceremonies.