Vlach magic - The Queen’s kolo-dance

The Queen’s kolo-dance

 There is a widespread belief in magic and its power  in the Vlach world, and therefore there are many rituals .

Many of them have been preserved from ancient times , carried forward for generations , and the power of performing magical acts are inherited through the female line . In Vlach’s tradition  was very popular " cult of the dead " , as well as rituals dedicated to them . They are all very colorful , accompanied by ritual actions , and usually music. Most of the customs and rituals inherent to all Vlachs, with local differences in the way of performing rituals . The greatest importance is the feast of Pentecost,  holiday dedicated to holly Spirits,  which are related to a number of beliefs and ritual actions . One , however , a peculiar rite is only Vlachs of  Homolje mountains   , specifically related to village deep. It is known as the " Queens of Duboka " .

Today we can precisely determine when custom dates , or why exactly started with his accomplishment. There are many legends about how they created " Queen " . When the feast of Pentecost ads horn , a traditional instrument , it is an invitation for all to move towards a ceremonial place . One of the old folk custom was that on the feast of Pentecost eight girls dressed in white , decorated with  jewelry and fake diadems , go through the village from house to house . They were , as usual , led by an elderly woman and an elderly man and two of them at the hands would wear long knives . If the head of the house agreed that the " queen " play , they would have entered the yard and played around the household , primarily for health and happiness , and keeping off evil spirits . Therefore, this custom  is usually accepted as the most probable origin of the legend of Queens of Duboka.

There is an ancient legend that says that on the day of Pentecost two queens and their  entourage met in front of  cave in Duboka.

None of them wanted to get out of the way to the other , and they got into a fight , and both of his entourage at the site killed. For one of the two of them there was a great sorrow , and is on its annual mentioned a cousin fell into unconsciousness , from which he will later develop custom peculiar to queen of Duboka. The second , more dominant legend also says that they met two queens clash , but that is one of the two of them in the place fell mortally wounded . On his deathbed , it is believed by locals cursed all people of Duboka  to the same place every year on the day of Pentecost let the girl killed . To propitiate the queen , people of Duboka  every year at the feast of Pentecost give her memorial service , a central place in the ritual of shooting a woman - rusalja as otherwise popularly known .

By tradition and ancient  belief , the mention of one of the deceased queen , for whose death ruled chagrin , her cousin  lost consciousness and fell into a sort of trance . And next  year at the mention of the Queen one of the women fell into a trance and hypnosis , creating a connection  with the world of the dead. Later the custom was established , and more women on the day of Pentecost began to fall into a trance . Regardless of whether the ritual originated in one way or another , its tradition is very strong. At Pentecost , when the shepherd's horn sounded , it means  call for all people of Duboka  to proceed to the ritual place, the river , as the water is of great importance in the beliefs and rituals of Vlachs . Of special significance was the woman who has the power to communicate with the world of the dead - rusalja .

According to folk custom, the woman in whose power science has not been able to penetrate , the ritual dance would come to a place that is suitable for performing ritual actions , accompanied by the queen and kings. These are three girls and three boys who during her trance dance around it in a circle. During this time , while playing in the round , are holding lit candles , long knives , wormwood , daisies  and a wreath of garlic. In this way they protect rusalja of evil spirits , while usually beside her two older women . During this time the woman of unusual power falls into a kind of trance, in which loses any sense of external stimuli , and are believed to be in short it does not reside in this world . This would be her role is fulfilled, and that is to convey messages and respect for the souls of the dead , which would appease them and to ensure the health and progress of their loved ones . While rusalja is in a trance , with a ceremonial dance "krai" or " tudorka " as Vlachs call it, around it would be kolo –dance  in circle , according to tradition , three , five or nine seats . Music has  an important part of the whole ritual to rusalja fell into a trance , that led her to the nirvana,  as it is believed that she follows the sound through the subconscious  Karabaş ( bagpipe ) and Lautari ( violin ) , who will returned her  in present. Upon waking from a trance , rusalja would gradually returning to the conscious state , but gradually . First,  her queens and kings who have danced around her offered assistance to rise , followed by above her head crossed knives , garlic , daisies  and wormwood  with which they danced, and after that  wash her with water from the river , with the ceremonial turning and the magic words that would be recited .

Time to redeem herself rusalja and other protected from evil spirits . Upon completion of the ritual , rusalja make it through song and dance slowly returning from their lethargy in the world of the living.

This unusual and beautiful ritual is deeply rooted in the tradition of the Vlachs  from Homolje mountains,  primarily in the village of Duboka , where it originated , but also in the surrounding villages , Neresnica , Sevica , Radenka . The opinions are divided  that there has been this ritual occurred spontaneously or it was induced  for specific purposes . According to what the locals , and to the memories of the last time that rusalja falls spontaneously in trans occurred before World War II . They say it is very important  then to have people around her because she gets very strong attacks, followed by horrific screams , scratching, hair pulling , and similar events . They are there around , and hold it as much as possible the protection lasts until its ritual . In addition to establish a connection with the world of the dead , was recorded and memories that certain rusalja women  had the power to predict.

There is no any mention that until this happened ever again , but with practice, worship continued . I used to be preserved until the present day , however , today it is less rusalja women, than ever before .

Their ritual was turned into an interesting and appealing stage show , which runs for many visitors to the cultural and artistic events of  Homolje region , especially on " Homolje motives " which is held every August in Kucevo . The custom of queens  and rusalja and their ritual dances, the stage- an art form , has been turned into one of the best  and most beautiful choreographies  performed by the National Ensemble "Kolo " called “ Queens  of Duboka" .