Abstract
Rumanian Folk-Dances THE current issue of the Journal of the English Folk Dance and Song Society (Vol. 2) is devoted to the International (European) Folk Dance Festival, which was held in London on July 14–20, 1935 (see NATURE, July 27, 1935, p. 154). In addition to a detailed report by Mr. F. Howes of meetings, dances and excursions, it contains the papers read at the Conference which formed part of the proceedings. These papers include a study by Dr. Romus Vuia of the remarkable Rumanian dance of the Calusari, or Hobby-Horse Dance, of which the primitive evolutions attracted so much attention. At the close of a detailed description, Dr. Vuia suggests that the Calusari, who observe special customs at special places such as water, woods, hills and cross roads, have a magical origin, and that they embody two magical elements (a) connexion with the sun, and (6) connexion with the fairies, who have a special association with water. That they personify the fairies is indicated by, among other things, their knowledge of healing plants and their nature. Related forms of the dance are found throughout the Balkans, and through these a connexion is suggested with the ancient types of stick and sword dances of western Europe. The hobby-horse which appears in the dance has a double function as both the origin of and the destroyer of fertility. As the demon of fertility it takes away as well as gives. This double aspect of magic also appears in the relation of the Calusari with the fairies, who both cause and avert disease. The fool of the Calusari also appears in the Stag Dance at Christmas and the New Year. In this dance he appears with a phallus, and, instead of being killed, as is usual, he himself kills the stag. In its original form the Calusari was a dance intended to drive away the demons of ill-health.
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Research Items. Nature 137, 832–833 (1936). https://doi.org/10.1038/137832a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/137832a0