ANCA CEAUŞESCU, Ttradiţii şi obiceiuri agrare în sudul Olteniei

ANCA CEAUŞESCU
Cercetător ştiinţific III, dr., Institutul de Cercetări Socio-Umane „C. S. Nicolăescu-Plopşor” din Craiova, al Academiei Române;
E-mail: ancaceausescu@yahoo.com

Abstract
In the present study we have brought up for analysis one of the agrarian customs, with an ancient tradition, Paparuda (the bringer of rain). This is a magical-ritual practice, through which it is invoked the divinity for starting the rain in the hot season, in a specific moment for the growing of the crops. The custom is actually a magical practice against drought, met in the regions affected by this phenomenon, especially in the south of the country.
The tradition of Paparuda is a public magic manifestation, the ceremonial being performed for the interest of the entire community. The entire assembly of gestures and magical-religious actions is meant to stimulate the reproductive force and to facilitate the fruitfulness and the abundance. During the performance of the ritual, the vegetal masque, representing the anthropomorphic spirit of the vegetation, is mandatory.

Keywords
Oltenia, agrarian customs, Paparuda, popular calendar, magicalreligious actions