Șezătoarea în Maramureș
Spinning Gathering in Maramures

Summary/Abstract: Our paper, based largely on our field research, presents a monographic approach of a habit of great complexity that is spinning gathering. From the beginning, we set out to expand the investigation space in order to see the differences from one place to another. In the first part we treated the perception that people have about this habit in the investigated area, the days when it is practiced, the types of spinning gatherings, the criteria that must be met for organising it. We then reproduced information about the criteria for selecting the hosts, about the age required for taking part in the habit, and the practical activities performed by the participants. We reserved the investigative part of our research for the habit sequences. We paid due attention to the repertoire of ceremonial songs, as they are pieces of great beauty and artistic value. In this part of the investigation we talked about magic and we treated in detail the spells used by the girls to bring the boys to the gathering, as well as the magical practices of finding the predestined husband. Treating the magic of this habit, we noticed the use of instruments in performing the spells and we reproduced the oral formulas that accompany the spells. An extensive chapter of our study is reserved for the collection of social games that we classified into thematic categories. Our research concludes with the analysis of spinning gathering functions, as they emphasize the complexity and importance of habit. In our research we tried to show the age and the syncretic character of this habit.

• Details
• Contents