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Sorcova is a Romanian popular custom, practiced on the morning of 1 January. This custom is very old and is spread throughout the country, being practiced mainly by children. Sorcova is also used to describe the object that characterizes this custom. It consists of a stick or twig decorated with artificial flowers of different colors, wherewith children tap their parents or acquaintances on the back in the morning of New Year, wishing them, in special verses, health and luck. When they begin to say the verses, ''sorcova'' is inclined in the direction of the person to whom they address all wishes, ''sorcova'' playing the role of a magic wand, endowed with the ability to transmit health, youth and fertility to the vised one; verses are very suggestive in this regard. The text of ''sorcova'', reminiscent of a spell, merely reinforces the movement of ''sorcova''.
"Sorcova"
on ''CreștinOrtodox.ro''
"Tradiții: Sorcova și Semănatul"
on ''Cartiere.ro''
"Sorcova, singurul obicei de Anul Nou care a cucerit orașul"
on ''ZiarulLumina.ro'' *{{YouTube, id=CJ0qoJvq4Z0, title=Sorcova
Sorcova is a Romanian popular custom, practiced on the morning of 1 January. This custom is very old and is spread throughout the country, being practiced mainly by children. Sorcova is also used to describe the object that characterizes this custom. It consists of a stick or twig decorated with artificial flowers of different colors, wherewith children tap their parents or acquaintances on the back in the morning of New Year, wishing them, in special verses, health and luck. When they begin to say the verses, ''sorcova'' is inclined in the direction of the person to whom they address all wishes, ''sorcova'' playing the role of a magic wand, endowed with the ability to transmit health, youth and fertility to the vised one; verses are very suggestive in this regard. The text of ''sorcova'', reminiscent of a spell, merely reinforces the movement of ''sorcova''.
By region
This custom varies depending on the ethnographic region. In northernTransylvania
Transylvania ( or ; ; or ; Transylvanian Saxon dialect, Transylvanian Saxon: ''Siweberjen'') is a List of historical regions of Central Europe, historical and cultural region in Central Europe, encompassing central Romania. To the east and ...
, children go with ''sorcova'' from house to house, wishing health in exchange for local delicacies (''cozonac'', ''colac'', apple
An apple is a round, edible fruit produced by an apple tree (''Malus'' spp.). Fruit trees of the orchard or domestic apple (''Malus domestica''), the most widely grown in the genus, are agriculture, cultivated worldwide. The tree originated ...
s, nuts). In urban areas, it is common for children to receive cash, candies or oranges.
An interesting form of custom can be found in the west of the country (village of Bucium, Bihor County
Bihor County (, ) is a county (județ) in western Romania. With a total area of , Bihor is Romania's 6th largest county geographically and the main county in the historical region of Crișana. Its capital city is Oradea (Nagyvárad).
Toponymy
...
). Children have a fir tree branch decorated with tinsel
Tinsel is a type of decorative material that mimics the effect of ice, consisting of thin strips of sparkling material attached to a thread. When in long narrow strips not attached to thread, it is called "lametta", and emulates icicles. It was o ...
, candies and ''țingălău'' (bell
A bell /ˈbɛl/ () is a directly struck idiophone percussion instrument. Most bells have the shape of a hollow cup that when struck vibrates in a single strong strike tone, with its sides forming an efficient resonator. The strike may be m ...
). Whoever does not have a fir tree can go with a stick wrapped in tinsel, on which are held three or four ''țingălăi''. When they enter the house, those with fir tree sing and those with the stick hit rhythmically the floor after melody. Commonly, every child has his ''sorcova''. While reciting, ''sorcova'' is moved in the rhythm of versification, sometimes marked by the sound of the bell.
Etymology
The term of ''sorcova'' comes from theBulgaria
Bulgaria, officially the Republic of Bulgaria, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern portion of the Balkans directly south of the Danube river and west of the Black Sea. Bulgaria is bordered by Greece and Turkey t ...
n word ''surov'' (tender green), allusion to the budded twig, broken from a tree, especially a fir tree
Firs are evergreen coniferous trees belonging to the genus ''Abies'' () in the family Pinaceae. There are approximately 48–65 extant species, found on mountains throughout much of North and Central America, Eurasia, and North Africa. The genu ...
. Some etymologists consider that ''sorcova'' derives from the Slavic word ''sorokŭ'' (forty): the recitative of ''sorcova'' consists of 40 syllabic groups corresponding to the 40 touches of ''sorcova''.
External links
The following pages are in Romanian:"Sorcova"
on ''CreștinOrtodox.ro''
"Tradiții: Sorcova și Semănatul"
on ''Cartiere.ro''
"Sorcova, singurul obicei de Anul Nou care a cucerit orașul"
on ''ZiarulLumina.ro'' *{{YouTube, id=CJ0qoJvq4Z0, title=Sorcova
See also
Portal:Romania Romanian folklore Romanian traditions