Sorcova
The "Sorcova"
It is a ritual practiced on New Year by the children
aged up to ten years. They recite an auspicious
text, whose efficiency is strengthened by the
rhythmical touching with the “sorcova”. Initially
the sorcova (from the Bulgarian word “sorov"= green,
frail) was represented by a bouquet of young and
thin branches with burgeons, adorned with coloured
wool and paper. Later, it was used the artificial
sorcova (a photography catches the commercial place
of these objects).
When finishing caroling, the sorcova, as a symbol of
fertility and health is laid in the girder or at the
eastern window of the house, next to the icon.
The habit of wishing well with the help of these
green and young branches was practiced by the
Romanians at the calends of January, a time when the
houses were adorned with laurel and palm tree
branches.
Ionescu’s photography catches exactly the ritual
moment. None of them seems to have noticed the
photographer. The young ones don’t seem to be
involved. They move their sorcova, but they don’t
say a thing. More than that, they don’t seem to pay
any attention to the person they wish to, the girl
has her eyes turned towards a target outside the
frame. Still, the adult smiles satisfied.
There is a fourth character in the background
(visible in the photo) that seems to record the
double show: the act of caroling and the act of the
photographer.
