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TheCălușari (Romanian:Călușarii,Romanian pronunciation:[kəluˈʃarʲ];Bulgarian:Калушари; singular: Călușar) are the participants to an old traditional Romanian dance known as thecăluș. "Căluș" translates to horse, but in an endearing form. OriginallyRomanian, the practice later spread to NorthBulgaria. From three weeks afterEaster untilPentecost, calledRusalii in Romanian, for around two weeks they have traditionally travelled to all their local communities where they would dance, accompanied by a few fiddlers.[1]
The origins of the Călușari are unknown, although the first written attestations are from the 17th-century musical notations ofIoan Căianu.[citation needed]
Romanian historian of religionMircea Eliade noted that "Although the oath taken is made in the name of God, the mythico-ritual scenario enacted by the calusari has nothing in common withChristianity" and that, in the 19th century at least, there was clerical opposition to the group, with its members being excluded from takingcommunion for three years in some regions.[1]
Mircea Eliade believed that the term Călușari originated with the Romanian word forhorse,cal, from the Latincaballus.[2]
The generally accepted derivation ofCăluș is from the old Latin double form "collusium, collusii", meaning both "a dance group" and "a secret society", however other derivations have been proposed. The Romanian wordcăluș also means "a small piece of wood placed in the mouth to prevent talking", and derivation from this word has some support from the presence of the mute figure in some groups, and the ritual silence that used to be observed by the entire group. Others seecăluș as a diminutive ofcal "horse", in turn derived from theLatincaballus, and point to the horse's mythical associations with fertility and war, as well as the imitation of horses found in certain Căluș dances, although these dances do not currently play a principal role in the ritual. Another theory is that it derives from "Coli-Salii", the Roman priests dedicated to the worship ofMars.[3]
Traditionally, the Călușari group is a secret, male-only society associated with a spring rite, possibly a remnant of tribal warrior societies. The group leader (usually an older man) recruits a number of acolytes, always young, single adults chosen for physical prowess. The group members take an oath of secrecy, whereupon they participate in an initiation rite and taught the forms of the dance. The groups of Călușari roam the country in spring-time, visiting villages by turns and taking part in the week-end dances –hora.[citation needed]
Thecăluș is a male group dance, although there are records of traditions fromOltenia region that included 1–2 young girls, now obsolete. A "bride" would be chosen by the group from each village they passed through, based on her dancing skills. The "bride" would be oath-bound to join in the ritual dance, for three years in a row.[citation needed]
Dancers wear white trousers and white tunics, with brightly coloured ribbons streaming from their hats. Bells are attached to their ankles, and dances include the use of ornate sticks held upright whilst dancing, or pointing at the ground as a prop. The dance itself is highly acrobatic, emphasizing extension and high jumps, much like theCeili dance.[citation needed]
Like manyMorris dances, in many traditions Călușari dancers include a fool, known as the "nebun", or "crazy".[citation needed]
The dance includes the following elements:[4]
According to the Romanian historianMircea Eliade, the Călușari were known for "their ability to create the impression of flying in the air"[5] which he believed represented both the galloping of a horse and the dancing of the fairies (zâne). Indeed, the group's patron was the "Queen of the Fairies" (Doamna Zânelor), who was also known asIrodiada andArada, and who Eliade connected with the folkloric figureDiana.[6] The Călușari were believed to be able to cure the victims of fairies.[1]
In their dance, the Călușari carried clubs and a sword, as well as a flag and a wooden horsehead. They swore on the group's flag to treat each other as brothers, to respect the customs of the Călușari and to remainchaste for the next nine days.[5] Upon their return home, their flag was fixed into the ground, with one member climbing it and crying out "war, dear ones, war!".[1]
Other male group dances originating fromritual dances are found along theCarpathians and inTransylvania.[7] The Carpathian variants such asTrilișești andȚânțăroiul fromMoldavia andBărbătescul andDe sărit fromMaramureș include only the most basic features whereas theDe bâtă,Haidău, andFecioreasca of Transylvania are very close to the Călușari with the addition of more complex later developments.[7]
The dance is usually grouped together with the Bulgarian and North Macedonianrusalii. Similarly, they consist of a group of men who observe ritual silence. They form duringGreen Week and the days betweenChristmas andEpiphany, going around villages, performing ritual music and dances for curing diseases.[8] Their hats are decorated withartemisia and other herbs, and they bear swords, which they use in the rituals.
The EnglishMorris dance is also similar in choreography, the meaning of the ritualisticsword dance, and the costumes. It could simply be a common Europeanfolk dance, hence its connections with common folk beliefs such as fairies.
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