Scholarly Article
An Ancient Bulgarian Ritual and the Magic Power of Words
Китанова, Мария
2012-01-01 · Poznańskie Studia Slawistyczne · Adam Mickiewicz University Poznan
Abstract
The ritual „Gramada" is a typical tradition of the Bulgarian ethnic territories that appeared between the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century. It represents a symbolic way of „escorting" (a sort of symbolic funeral) of a dead man, who committed an act unacceptable for the community, upon the world of the dead. The „Gramada" ceremony is observed as piling up some stones on a sacral place so they can form (create) a barrier between the sinner and the righteous. During the ritual, symbolic words and acts are performed as a verbal and nonverbal act of magic. It reveals thebelief of the traditional Bulgarian people in the magical power of words.
Keywords
ritual, familiar, alien, symbolic, funeral, sinner, righteous, belief, words, magic
Citation Details
Poznańskie Studia Slawistyczne