Popular Beliefs
In the traditional popular culture, customs make up an important chapter because man’s whole life, his work, different engagements, his relationships with various people was intertwined with customs. In our folklore some customs have been kept until this day with ample ways of unfolding.
They are true popular holidays rich in songs, dances and drama. At these holidays all domains of the folklore take part and even some domains of the plastic popular arts, like costumes and different props.
Our language knows 2 words that have the same meaning: custom and tradition, words that The Romanian Contemporary Language Dictionary considers to be synonyms.
In the written language 2 more terms have been added: religion and ceremony. In the spoken language the 2 have the same meaning and people using them would have a hard time separating the 2 meanings. Tradition seems to be the word used for everything that has been practiced for a long time by certain rules. The word is easily archaic, while custom is more common and has become a technical term in different studies. Custom represents the entire ensemble of folkloric demonstrations related to a certain event or date. The ceremony is a part of the custom made up of an organized sequence of solemn, well intended acts. Religion is that element of the custom in which the mythological representations intervene. In the Romanian communities, the custom was mandatory folkloric manifestation which took place every time with the same occasion. Customs are mostly passed on through tradition. They were submitted to constant change from the evolving society and this is what assured their continuity. But human societies can and create new customs. In the past, customs helped integrate a certain community and preserve its ways of life.
Speech was the main way to pass on customs, traditions, charms. It preserved the essence, what was required to give birth to life, preserve it and perfect it including the necessities of people. It’s without doubt that speech is the best way to preserve the original text, rather than transcription or rewriting manuscripts which made room for so many mistakes in the works of Latin and Greek authors.
Many of the faiths and customs of the Romanians have a Thracian-Getic truth. The examples are found in the custom, tradition and ritual agricultural folklore tied to different times of the year or forces of nature. Thus are the magic rituals to make it rain, to make cattle breed, to give rich harvests. These are carried out even today in some areas: Sangeorzul, Plugarul, Paprudele, Dragaica and other.