CARACTERISTICI COMUNE ALE PRAZNICULUI CREŞTIN DE RUSALII ŞI ALE TRADIŢIEI CĂLUŞARILOR
Common features of Christian feast of Pentecost and tradition Căluşarilor

Summary/Abstract: The Christian tradition regarding the Descending of the Holly Spirit represents the moment when the redemption work of God is perfected, during which the human kind is given the possibility of being under the protection and the holiness of Him. This Feast, throughout its variety and multitude of the ritual practices, covers a wide segment, including techniques designed for the protection of the human, but also the vegetal and animal world by the evil forces, very aggressive during the week dedicated to this feast. The evil forces are represented by Rusalii (wicked fairies), mythical representation that “turn people’s minds” and steal “the prosperity from a household”. For those people “touched” by Rusalii, the most appropriate cure is the dance of the “căluşari” (group of dancers specific for the region of Oltenia). The “căluş” dance can be perceived as a connection between the earthly world, represented by a certain community of individuals from a specific period of time and “the other” world, represented by feminine mythical beings, named Rusalii.

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