Role of the Starješina svatova among the Bunjevci
Role of the Starješina svatova among the Bunjevci

Summary/Abstract: The introductory part establishes the boundaries of the regions within which the Bunjevci are proposed to be studied; the area is much wider than that covered by J. Erdeljanović. Three wedding officers may have the role of the starješina svatova among the Bunjevci: the stari svat, kum, and staćel. The analysis of the role shows great differences between the role the stari svat has in the Danube regions and in other Bunjevci groups. The Danube Bunjevci do not have the stari svat in the role of starješina, but the kum and the staćel appear in the role with equal frequency. These two wedding officers are found in the other regions in the same roles, notably in Gorski kotar, Hrvatsko primorje and Lika with a higher frequency of the kum in the role, which points to similarities between the Bunjevci in Primorje and Lika and the Danube regions. In two Bunjevci groups and in some parts of their potential area of origin, the kum and staćel are often elected starješina svatova, which seems to indicate that the roots of these roles must be sought in the area from which they originated and where this role has generally been taken over by the stari svat. In these areas this role of the kum and staćel has been pushed to the background by the more important stari svat, whereas elsewhere it has survived and become more prominent.

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