THE RELUCTANCE IN FRONT OF CHARMS AND THE WITCH WOMAN – THE ROMANIAN CASE
THE RELUCTANCE IN FRONT OF CHARMS AND THE WITCH WOMAN – THE ROMANIAN CASE

Summary/Abstract: The content of the charm has several particularities, including its structure which is atypical, it doesn’t have lyrics with rhyme, it has formulation with their own logic, the lyrics are whispered, repeated, jerkey. They are learnt only in a live context, during the ritual, they are „stolen” by new young disciples from old charmers, this means orally learnt. Evil-eye is connected with seeing, with the intensity of seeing, with the way the eye is connected with the feeling. To see and to hide from seeing, here is a gradual way of the occult gestures meant to fight the evil-eye: to wear the red color, a red string at the right hand, or garlic, or other objects meant to chase away the eveil sprits. These gestures may be seen as superstitions and may be understood with reluctance as well as many of the atitudes of the witch women. The use of magical plants may be avert with the same reluctance. Many of the gestures of the witch women may be removed from the ritual context and understood with reluctance which can put her at a marginal position in the community. The witch woman may be looked from a dual position, from fascination to reluctance and reject. The ethnologist must be awear of both perspectives and discribe the both situations and its motivations.

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