Ritual Poetry

poetry connected with folk rites of everyday life, including prose or verse exorcisms, laments, songs, and sayings.

Ritual poetry may be incantatory if independent magic effects are ascribed to it, as in koliadki (Christmas and New Year ritual songs) and vesnianki (spring ritual songs). It may be accompanying or symbolic if it accompanies, explains, or symbolizes a ritual, for example, laments or wedding songs. Or it may be a component part of a ritual act that takes the form of a play, for example, Slavic khorovod (circle dance) songs or the carnival songs of the Italians, Spaniards, and other nationalities.

In the capitalist period, ritual poetry gradually become less important in daily life. During the socialist reconstruction of society it disappears or acquires a different purpose. First to be forgotten are the exorcisms and the songs of incantation and divination. The khorovod and play songs persist longer than the others. Some ritual songs become lyrical, others satirical, and still others become part of children’s folklore.