Customs, Rituals and Beliefs Associated with a Pregnant Woman and Forecasts and Predictions about Having Sex Born Child... Cover Image

Zwyczaje, obrzędy i wierzenia związane z kobietą w ciąży oraz prognozy i wróżby dotyczące płci mającego narodzić się dziecka – studium wsi Białobrzegi
Customs, Rituals and Beliefs Associated with a Pregnant Woman and Forecasts and Predictions about Having Sex Born Child...

Author(s): Małgorzata Gruchoła
Published by: Towarzystwo Naukowe KUL & Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski Jana Pawła II
Keywords: family customs; rituals; beliefs; the time of birth; field study

Summary/Abstract: Customs, Rituals and Beliefs Associated with a Pregnant Woman and Forecasts and Predictions about Having Sex Born Child: The Study of a Village Bialobrzegi in the Province of Lublin The aim of the article is to determine the state of knowledge and understanding customs, rituals and beliefs connected with the time of birth and to answer the question whether they are still observed and popularized in the village of Bialobrzegi in the province of Lublin. After giving first some consideration to the terminology of the subject, there were presented the customs, rituals and beliefs in connection with a woman expecting a baby, prohibitions and obligations of the pregnant women and magical practices enhancing fertility as well as predictions and indicators of the gender of an unborn baby. In the conducted research (June–September 2013) the mainly applied method was the deepened study of an area by Bronisław Malinowski, the biographical method, as well as elements of the comparative method. The basis of the study of an area were interviews carried out among all the inhabitants of the village Bialobrzegi, choosing people over 65 years old, and observations made during the study.

  • Issue Year: 6/2015
  • Issue No: 3
  • Page Range: 15-42
  • Page Count: 28