Magic for “Throwing on“ a Little Child’s Crying in Bulgarian Practices

Authors:

Pages: 120-131
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54664/NYJV6811

Abstract:

The article presents the ritual practices among Bulgarians for treating loud and inconsolable crying in small children through the so-called „throw-on“ crying. In the folk culture, they are interpreted as magical acts by which the crying of a small child can be transferred („thrown on“) to another child. The ritual actions and spells for performing magic and its breaking (healing), the ritual persons who participate, and the ritual time and props are examined sequentially. The first information I found is from the end of the 19th century and refers to the Bulgarian Muslims in the Middle Rhodope Mountains. Upon further analysis, it became clear that these magical practices were also known to Bulgarian Christians. Regardless of the results of magical healing, people continue to believe in it. There are many reasons for this popularity, but the main one may lie in belief and suggestion.

Keywords:

magical healing, spell, little child, crying, ritual props.

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