Călușari

[citation needed] Romanian historian of religion Mircea Eliade noted that "Although the oath taken is made in the name of God, the mythico-ritual scenario enacted by the calusari has nothing in common with Christianity" and that, in the 19th century at least, there was clerical opposition to the group, with its members being excluded from taking communion for three years in some regions.

[1] Mircea Eliade believed that the term Călușari originated with the Romanian word for horse, cal, from the Latin caballus.

The group leader (usually an older man) recruits a number of acolytes, always young, single adults chosen for physical prowess.

The groups of Călușari roam the country in spring-time, visiting villages by turns and taking part in the week-end dances – hora.

[citation needed] The căluș is a male group dance, although there are records of traditions from Oltenia region that included 1–2 young girls, now obsolete.

Indeed, the group's patron was the "Queen of the Fairies" (Doamna Zânelor), who was also known as Irodiada and Arada, and who Eliade connected with the folkloric figure Diana.

They form during Green Week and the days between Christmas and Epiphany, going around villages, performing ritual music and dances for curing diseases.