'Mavanje kumbara' - paljenje pokladnih vatri u Sirinićkoj župi

Abstract

The paper discusses the event named 'mavanje kumbara' that is practiced in Sirinićka župa, the area in southern Kosovo and Metohija. This event is related to the act of burning the ritual fire and represents a part of the celebration of the White Shrove, on the eve of the Eastern fasting. The results presented in this paper were obtained from the field research of qualitative type carried out during 2018, mainly in Štrpce, the centre of Sirinićka župa. The study showed that 'mavanje kumbara' is a unique name used for the burning the Shrovetide fire recorded among the Serbs. The practice connected to the act of 'mavanje kumbara' shows the characteristics similar to the practice of the burning the shrovetide fire recorded in some earlier periods, but the fact is, according to everything, that nowadays this practice is also unique phenomenon, which is not reported anywhere else among the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, central Serbia and wider. The act of 'mavanje kumbara' is derived from belief that in the transition from winter to spring season harmful effects and evil forces will be driven out of settlements and houses by fire. It is the act of collective character, performed in the streets, on one hand, and in the middle of the settlement, on the other hand, by rotating the flame torches around the body. Beside ritual elements, this event contains elements of social and entertainment character, with the goal of contributing to a good mood, according to what it can be described as a kind of folk festivity or a collective joy.