Review article

WE'VE COME TO KOLENDATI TO YOU

Ivan Lozica orcid.org/0000-0001-7537-0004 ; Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Research, Zagren, Croatia

Abstract

The author follows the changes in the koledanje [carol-singing] custom and the
comprehension of the koleda, or carol, in Croatian dictionaries and scholarly literature. He
is interested in the contiguity between the Slavic koleda and the Roman Calenda traditions:
he assumes that the term koleda is a consequence of Christianization, and not an adoption
of custom from southern source of Antiquity. He deals particularly with attempts at the
(re)construction of a Proto-Slavic deity from the term koleda, and to more recent research
into the Slavic Pantheon through koleda customs. Having noticed the shortcomings of
partial — philological and musicological — approaches, he speaks for a more
comprehensive consideration of the koleda both as custom/ritual and especially as a
syncretic theatrical event in performance. He believes that more detailed research of
weapon-dances and masks in the context of the koleda customs could help in identifying it
as a significant starting-point in the history of Croatian theatre.

Keywords

koleda customs; theatre; Croatia

Hrčak ID:

33489

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/33489

Publication date:

15.12.1999.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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