RITUAL OF ’’RUSALJE’’ – VIEW FROM A NEW ASPECT

Abstract

The paper is dealing with the ritual of "rusalje” as a manifestation of a spirit possession phenomena. It is argued that for the categories of oppressed and deprived people this ritual represents the channel to exert mystical pressure upon their superiors, but also one of the few channels available to them for gaining some vertical social mobility. In it’s most developed forms the ritual becomes the channel for making special kind of career – becoming the ritual official in the community.