The Călușari were a secret Romanian society who practiced an acrobatic dance called the căluș. According to historian Mircea Eliade, the dance gave the impression of flying and represented the galloping of horses and dancing of fairies. The patron of the Călușari was the "Queen of the Fairies" and their origins are unknown, though the earliest written records date back to the 17th century. While they took oaths in the name of God, their rituals had nothing to do with Christianity and they faced opposition from clergy in the 19th century.

1.  The Călușari (Romanian
pronunciation: [kəluˈʃarʲ]; Bulgarian: калушар
и, русалии; Macedonian: русалии) were the
members of a Romanianfraternal secret society
who practiced a ritual acrobatic dance known
as the căluș. According to the Romanian
historian Mircea Eliade, the Călușari were
known for "their ability to create the impression
of flying in the air" which he believed
represented both the galloping of a horse and
the dancing of the fairies (zîne). Indeed, the
group’s patron was the "Queen of the Fairies"
(Doamna Zînelor), who was also known
as Irodiada and Arada, and who Eliade
connected with the folkloric figure Diana.
 The origins of the Călușari are unknown,
although the first written attestations are from
the 17th century musical notations of Ioan
Căianu. 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.
Engineering and management in food and agro-tourism
8112 group University of Agronomic Sciences and
Veterinary Medicine Bucharest, Romania, 59 Ag
Marasti Blvd, District 1,Bucharest, Romania
ROTARU VALENTIN-GINEL
Călușarii
References
ro.wikipedia.org
Coordonating teacher:
Mihai Daniel Frumușelu