The Rusalia Customs of Gevgelija (1957)

Overview : A testimony to the performance of ritual dances. Although they were performed only during the so-called “unbaptized days”, the 12 days between Christmas and Epiphany in the Orthodox Christianity, these dances are associated by some researchers with the Roman rosaries, the cult of the dead. Ritual clothing and the use of wooden swords to disperse the demons are important props in the dances that are believed to protect the folks from temptations and demons until they are baptized.

Release Date : January 1, 1957

Runtime : 21m

Genre : Documentary  

Companies : Vardar Film

Countries : Yugoslavia

Keywords : dance, ritual, baptism, customs