Weather wizards and contemporary protecting resources

Lehr, Urszula (2009) Weather wizards and contemporary protecting resources. Acta Ethnographica Hungarica, 54 (2). pp. 309-318. ISSN 1216-9803

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Abstract

The paper presents magical procedures (prayers, songs, charms) and practices against natural calamity in mountain villages (in the south of Poland) in the context of a human shape called weather wizard. He was created on the base of the beliefs in air demons ( płanetnik, chmurnik, obłocznik ), as a mediator between people and demons. The weather wizard had two types of roles. The first one comprised “cooperation” with air demons, whereas the second included independent practices related to protecting the village from storms. Magic procedures used by weather wizards included verbal formulas, certain types of behaviour, as well as religious and magical accessories and property. The formulas constituted a mixture of a magic spell and a prayer to God. Apart from weather wizards’ practices, magic activities were popular among village inhabitants. For example they ploughed the village borders, placed “relics” along these borders, burnt flour or blessed herbs, ringed, danced, sang songs. Opposing the elements in the form of spells, entreaties, threats, noise making, sacrifices with the participation of a mediator (weather wizard) or without, is in general a legacy of the past related to traditional culture. Nowadays, people appeal to God but also simultaneously perform old magic and religious procedures.

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