IROZII. O PRIVIRE ASUPRA TEATRULUI POPULAR CONTEMPORAN
Irozii. Considerations on the contemporary folk theatre

Summary/Abstract: The paper discusses the folk theatre rituals organized around Christmas in the village Luncoiu de Sus, Hunedoara County, Romania. The name of this type of theatre is ”Irod” or ”Irozi” which is derived from the name of the tyrant emperor Herod. Every year, nine teenagers aged between 15 and 24 wear specific costumes and play a series of religious characters – King Herod, two soldiers, a priest, a shepherd, an angel and the Three Wise Men from the East –, while caroling throughout the whole village on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day. The rehearsals for the folk theatre begin on November 15, continue until Christmas Eve, taking place in each of the actors’ homes. During this time, volunteer actors learn roles and carols, prepare their costumes and discuss the news from the village. The costumes of the characters are those that offer prestige to the caroling group. Thus, Emperor Herod and the two soldiers wear red suits, Valtezar has a green suit, Melihor is dressed in blue, Gaspar in yellow; the white angel, the priest and the shepherd have specific costumes. On Christmas Eve, prepared to go through the whole village, the actors begin to proclaim the birth of Jesus, and come in every house and to the church, facing the weather whims - frost, rain, snow.

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