ЗБИРКA СИМЕОНА ЂУРИЂA И ПЕТ ПРИЧA O МЕЂЕДОВИЋУ
SIMEON ĐURIĆ’S COLLECTION AND FIVE STORIES ABOUT MEĐEDOVIĆ

Summary/Abstract: This paper interprets the circle of variants related to the stories about Međedovic which are, by the way, spread internationally and represent a favourite fairy-tale form among different nations (Aa Th 650A). The analysis of the Serbian stories, which were written down in several variants, showed that they stem from the creation myths, i. e. that they talk about ”the transformation” of nature into culture and imply a complex of various beliefs and concepts related to the fertility cult and thus to the ritual laughter which does not negate seriousness — as is sometimes thought — but sheds light on the reality from its other side. The stories also discuss the lasting creation and destruction which follows — among other things, they indicate the cyclic movement of time. In that sense, too, the roots of these stories could be also sought in some ancient rites carried out around New Year, which the paper pointed out, too.

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