Uchovávání rituálu v současných spoleenských kontextech: Căluş – mezi rituálem a národním symbolem

Ritual Calus is a still living ritual practice at Pentecost (Whitsuntide) in the southern regions of Romania. Considered at a synchronic level, it reveals a great variety of structures and meanings that represent different stages of transformation. This article is based primarily on the long-time fieldwork experience and information resulting from the dialogues with tradition bearers, the direct observation and the analysis and interpretation of visual and written documents. The intention is to present the ritual calus in its contemporary existence and try to disclose the reasons of its survival. Subsequently the intention is to comment the role given to calus as a national symbol and the manipulation therewith for legitimating the political power under the Communist dictatorship. Finally, the future existence of the ritual calus will be questioned in the light of the UNESCO program for the safeguarding of the cultural heritage. In an introductory section, however, calus will be situated in a large European cultural context and described in more general terms in order to illuminate the complex structure of the ritual and the intricate relationship established among and between the component elements.