University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Faculty of Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and Rural Development

CLUUL OLTENESC

Teacher Advisor: LILIANA POPESCU

Student:

Cluul oltenesc
Cluul ( also called: crai in Mehedini, clucean or cluer in Transylvania, aruguciar for the Aromanian) is a rite of passage (from spring to summer, when the spirits of the dead are active) which is practiced on Pentecost.

Cluul can be conceived as a form of communication between this world, represented by a given social community and a world "beyond", represented by mythical beings euphemistically called iele (evil spirits.) Communication is mediated by a group of men, in an odd number and believed to be invested by the evil spirits with supernatural powers that they turn against the witches to cure those who have been "removed from the gag" (sick) as punishment for having worked in prohibited days, dedicated to the witches. Cluarii enter an ambivalent area, dangerous, (liminal), in which can be "hit (punished) if they do not conform throughout the ritual to a set of rules and prohibitions established by oath (such as conditions for the ritual time and space, chastity, not to leave the band, etc..). Cluul manifests its power through dance, music, costumes, texts, dramatic action, ritual objects, rules and prohibitions. The structure:

Typically the structure is sequential: - "Raising or binding the flag"; - Cluul play" in the yards of householders; - "Burial flag" or "breaking cluul; - Healing the "taken from the Clu; - Encountering hordes" (meeting of two groups of cluari). Raising the flag" is a ritual that occurs silently and marks the beginning of cluul. It consists of: oath on the flag (in the past neverbalizat, secret), play for two, three, five days, keeping the sectret of cluul, agreeing to be taken in possession by witches, which gives them supernatural qualities.

Cluul oltenesc
The sequence of the play" in the yards of householders (may take one, two or more days) generally includes: an introduction (receiving cluul), the play (dance) itself, interrupted by the acts of the dumb man". The dumb man is a masked character, half-dressed in women clothes. He has a wooden sword and a phallus attached to the waist, under the skirt. He interprets dramatic sketches, with death and resurrection theme. The play ends with the dance of Cluul in which participates mostly women and children. The sequence of 'burying the flag represents the ritual dissolution of the gang, unraveling the oath and restoring the balance by reintegrating the men in everyday life. The healing sequence was arguably the most important in the past. Ritual instruments are: dance, music, plants with prophylactic virtues, magical objects and actions (killing a black hen). The encountering of two hordes", takes place when two bands meet in the same village, and it has a competitive and spectacular basis. The rite of cluul was proclaimed by UNESCO "Masterpiece of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity" in 2005. This title becomes an emblematic value of traditional Romanian culture. And, as required by UNESCO, it should be: protected, preserved, promoted and circulated.