Ethnologica Dalmatica, Vol. 20 , 2013.
Original scientific paper
Mare as Supernatural Being of Traditional Culture
Sandra Barešin
Abstract
The objective of this paper was to examine the meaning of the mare as a supernatural creature of traditional culture and her contemporary manifestation which is sleep paralysis. The mare is a usually female creature that, transformed into different shapes (for example cat or fly) comes into people's dreams to disturb them. It is widespread belief that the mare is born in a placenta of red, blue or black coulour. Being born that way gives her great powers to do evil. The mare is usually a young woman which once married becomes a witch. According to Croatian folk traditions, the mare cannot be either a girl or a married woman, rather only a sexually mature girl. Psychological part of the story brings different point of view from the traditional one. Poetry of nightmares in ethnographies is usually omitted. The majority of people suffering from sleep paralysis have symptoms such as breathing difficulties, pressure on the chest and hallucinations. The causation of the supernatural attacks can be found when investigating the given cultural system of beliefs.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
107477
URI
Publication date:
19.9.2013.
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