K sociálním a ekonomickým funkcím jarních dětských obchůzek na Záhoří

The region of Zahori spreads out between the ethnographical areas of Wallachia and Hanna. The specific social and economic development in the course of the last two centuries enabled many events of the annual cycle of rituals to survive here. The spring rounds of girls and boys ranks among the most significant ones. On Passion Sunday, the round with the Reaper falls (the villages of Byskovice, Libosvary and Zakovice); the uninterrupted performance of rounds with a tree on Palm Sunday (Libosvary) is documented. The so-called 'rattling' is a typical spring round of groups of boys, taking place from Maundy Thursday to Holy Saturday (the rounds take place in almost every village of the region). In spite of the different genesis, we can identify many common features at the above ritual rounds. They play an important role in passing the social habits and experience among the choldren's group members of different age. The leader who crowns his share in activities of shool-age children with this function is a leading element for boys and girls. Because of the social changes in the course of the last two centuries, the content and form of the rounds have been modified and shifted; many ritual elements have slipped away - on the contrary, the social and entertainment function is dominating. The economic aspect - a share in given presents (money, sweets) - is an important motivation for children to participate in the rounds.