This is a new release of the original 1928 edition.

This is a new release of the original 1928 edition.

1928. In his youth, the author prayed to the moon, accompanied the procession of the bride-goddess to the various fountains and often wore a disguise for the ritual dances. No doubt faded remnants of such pagan usages linger in other parts of the world. Beza tried to correlate some of these with the Romanian customs, though casually, not because he did not appreciate the comparative method; on the contrary, he added a chapter on Scottish and Romanian ballads, which is little else but a study in parallelisms, and which shows of what advantage such a method might be. Illustrated.

1928. In his youth, the author prayed to the moon, accompanied the procession of the bride-goddess to the various fountains and often wore a disguise for the ritual dances. No doubt faded remnants of such pagan usages linger in other parts of the world. Beza tried to correlate some of these with the Romanian customs, though casually, not because he did not appreciate the comparative method; on the contrary, he added a chapter on Scottish and Romanian ballads, which is little else but a study in parallelisms, and which shows of what advantage such a method might be. Illustrated.

1928. In his youth, the author prayed to the moon, accompanied the procession of the bride-goddess to the various fountains and often wore a disguise for the ritual dances. No doubt faded remnants of such pagan usages linger in other parts of the world. Beza tried to correlate some of these with the Romanian customs, though casually, not because he did not appreciate the comparative method; on the contrary, he added a chapter on Scottish and Romanian ballads, which is little else but a study in parallelisms, and which shows of what advantage such a method might be. Illustrated.

IN, .., ROUMANIAN FOLKLORE BY MARCU BEZA Le urer at Kings G llege London University With llkHrations 1928 LONDON TORONTO 1. M. DENT SONS LTD. NEW YORK E. R DUTTON CO. BUCHAREST IN WINTER. From a painting by Marius Bunescu. Frontispiece. rights reserved Printed in Great Britain Preface ALMOST all the following papers were first pub lished in periodicals, such as The Questj The Slavonic Review, and others, after having been delivered as public lectures at Kings College, London Uni versity. This is one reason why they have taken a rather literary shape another stronger reason is that the matters dealt with in these papers are not mere abstractions to me, but things real and fresh, giving colour and joy to ones innermost life. In my childhood, I myself prayed to the moon, I myself accompanied the procession of the bride goddess to the various fountains, and I often wore a disguise for the ritual dances. No doubt faded remnants of such pagan usages linger also in other parts of the world. I have tried to correlate some of these with the Roumanian customs, though only casually not because I do not appreciate the comparative method on the contrary, I have added a chapter on Scottish and Roumanian Ballads, which is little else but a study in parallelisms, and which shows of what advantage such a method might be. M. B. Contents CHAP. PAG I. CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR ... I II. THE MOON . . . . . . l6 III. THE PAPARUDE AND KALOJAN ... 27 IV. THE HOBBY-HORSE DANCE .... 37 v. ST. JOHNS EVE ..... 54. VI. THE SACRED MARRIAGE I . . . 70 VII. THE SACRED MARRIAGE II ... 95 VIII. THE CREATION . . ., . Il8 IX. THE FLOOD . . . . . 130 X. SCOTTISH AND ROUMANIAN BALLADS . .145 vii Illustrations BUCHAREST INWINTER .... Frontispiece THE STAR ..... Facing page 3 BUHAIU CAPRA SORCOVA SORGO VA, BREZAIA Page n CAROL-SINGERS ANGELS AND SHEPHERDS Facing page 14 MUMMERS WITH BUHAIU AND DRUM . 1 9 BOYS CARRYING WHAT IS CALLED A BETHLEHEM ARK ..... Facing page 21 FOUNTAIN ...... Page 2,6 CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS PLAY REPRESENTED AT THE NATIONAL THEATRE OF CERNAUTZI, BUKOVINA Facing page 28 KALOJAN 30 HEAD OF HELIOS .... 33 BRONZE WORKS .... 3Q VILLAGE CEMETERY HOBBY-HORSE DANCERS AT A FAIR ..... Facing page 42 HOBBY-HORSE ...... Page 45 GIPSY DANCER AND FLOWER-SELLER . Facing page 48 CALUSAR ALUGUCIAR, HIGHLANDS OF MACEDONIA Page 52 ILLUSTRATIONS ContinuecT SHEPHERD ..... Facing page 6 FAIRY-TALE ..... 65 SPINNING 80 COUNTRY VIEW . . . . 113 DRIVERS, HIGHLANDS OF MACEDONIA . 128 WELL ....... Page I2 WAYSIDE CROSS . . . . . l6l PAGANISM IN ROUMANIAN FOLKLORE I CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR I TURN my mind back a few years, and I fancy myself walking in the streets of Bucharest at the approach of Christmas. All is covered in white the glittering flakes of snow fall incessantly. Every now and then sledges pass with a merry tinkling. In front of the shop windows people gather, wonder ing at the many beautiful things displayed there. Conspicuous among the crowds by their dress are the newly arrived peasants, come to make their purchases. There is everywhere a hasty, unusual bustle, which gradually diminishes as the night draws near, though it is kept up and prolonged a good while after nightfall in the cafes. Now the snow flashes here and there under the lights steady street-lights and wandering lights of the

In his youth, the author prayed to the moon, accompanied the procession of the bride-goddess to the various fountains and often wore a disguise for the ritual dances. No doubt faded remnants of such pagan usages linger in other parts of the world. Beza tried to correlate some of these with the Romanian customs, though casually, not because he did not appreciate the comparative method; on the contrary, he added a chapter on Scottish and Romanian ballads, which is little else but a study in parallelisms, and which shows of what advantage such a method might be. Illustrated.