Calus

Book cover of Calus: Symbolic Transformation in Romanian Ritual

Book description

Classic ethnography of a rural Romanian village and ritual by the outstanding American scholar of Romania and Romanian culture.

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Why read it?

1 author picked Calus as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Elizabeth Wayland Barber

Author

Humans also draft dance to help heal body and mind. I loved Kligman’s personal ventures deep into the complex concerns about life and death, fertility and health, found in related pre-Christian rituals in three areas of the Balkans: the Căluşari in SW Romania, the Rusaltsi in NW Bulgaria, and the Kraljevi—often with other names—just west in former Yugoslavia. (The word Rusaltsi comes from Rusalka, a Slavic name for the “dancing goddess”, as does Rusalii, the thrice-yearly festival in their honor.) Her intriguing study comes from direct observation of the healing rituals, and on personal discussions with the…