The word ”plugușorul” translates literally to ”the plow”, but I'm not writing about agricultural tools in this post. From the Peace Corps Moldova book Sărbătorile de Iarnă: Winter Celebrations: On New Year's Eve, whether it's celebrated old style [on January 13th] or the new style [on December 31st], teenagers and young people go from house to house and present the "urătura”. An ”urătura” is a verse that wishes the family good luck, good health and happiness through the year. People say that the traveling group of ”urătorii”(people performing this) is ”cu plugușorul” (with the plow) or ”cu uratul” (with wishes). Different people say different parts, but often repeat the call ”hăi, hăi”, which is a sound like ”giddy-up” or ”hya” that is used to urge along oxen. Appreciating the travelling troup of good-wishes, I worked with my tutor and my peers in the Health Education program to film us doing an urătura/plugușorul. The intent was to show our gratitude to our partners for their support of our time in Moldova by trying to join in on a local tradition. Below is a subtitled version, so you can hear a bit of what these tidings for the new year are like. Because we are lacking the proper clothing (the national costume) and objects beyond the bell (drums, braided bread rings, a staff), please also watch the video below. It is five ten-grade boys performing an urătura/plugușorul at a school event for New Years/Christmas.
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Rebecca LehmanHealth Education volunteer serving at Boris Dînga Middle & High School in Criuleni, Moldova. Archives
May 2017
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