In search of History and Tradition : A study on the historical potential and passage of tradition in the Romanian colind and descântec with comparisons to Eddic Poems case studies

The present thesis aims at identifying the historical and traditional potential within two elements of Romanian folklore, namely colind and descântec. Analysis of the text and narrative of these phenomena shows their high potential in preserving cults, celebrations, myths and practices that pre-date the arrival of Christianity within Romanian lands. This analysis in turn relies extensively on parallels with three Eddic Poems: Völuspá, Hávamál and Skírnismál.By exploring notions of performance and orality the paper displays the unaltered character of the Romanian materials in question in contrast to Old Norse material. This in turn reinforces the analysis of cults, mythology and practices identified in colinde and descântece, contributing to the viability of the epistemological inquiries undertaken.Influences are explored-with preponderance Christian influence-in order to strengthen the analysis of their history and tradition. By exploring the ways in which Christianity could exert its influence on the Romanian material, the number of possible objections towards the authenticity of the history and tradition are reduced to a minimum. Comparisons with Eddic Poems will confirm the analysis of Christian influence in colind and descântec