THE BABAROUDA: A CURIOUS CUSTOM IN ROUMANIA
The Graphic September 9, 1905
Drawn by F. De Haenen from a sketch by Rook Carnegie

NOTE: The correct name for this ritual is "Paparuda." See below.


THE BABAROUDA: A CURIOUS CUSTOM IN ROUMANIA

"In times of severe drought," writes our Correspondent, "the Roumanian peasantry have recourse to a peculiar custom, the origin of which is unknown, but is doubtless some heathen rite. Gipsy girls, clad only in a short `skirt' of corn, vine, and small branches, run through the villages, whilst the peasantry deluge them with water. The most curious part about the 'rite' is that it is done in all seriousness, onlookers dutifully crossing themselves as the 'Babarouda,' as they are termed, rush by, the recipients the of douches from buckets or the wooden vessels so dear to the Roumanian peasant. The girls afterwards go round and collect as a reward for their trouble. As to the efficacy of these rain-makers, no reliable records are kept!"


 

NOTE: A CORRECTION FOR "THE BABAROUDA"
C
ourtesy of Victoria C.

The correct name is Paparuda. The Paparuda "Rain Caller" is the ritual celebrated in Spring on a date that varies from place to place. The song (actually the magic word for "rain caller"):

Paparudă, rudă,
Vino de ne udă,
Paparudă, rudă,
Vino de ne udă,
Ca să-nceapă ploaie,
Să curgă siroaie
Cu găleata, leata,
Peste toată zloata:
Unde dă cu maiul
Să crească mălaiul,
Unde dă cu sapa
Să curgă ca apa.
Hai, Catrino, să sărim,
Paparudele,
Să stii iarna ce pătim,
Paparudele.
Ca pasărea prin copaci,
Paparudele,
Ploaie multă ca să faci,
Paparudele,
Paparudă, rudă,
Vino de te udă,
Ca să cază ploile,
Cu găletile,
Paparudele,
Să dea porumburile
Cāt gardurile,
Paparudele,
Si să crească spicele
Cāt vrabiele,
Paparudele,
! Să sporească grānele,
Să umple pătulele,
Paparudele,
Să deschize cerurile,
Paparudele,
Să pornească ploile,
Paparudele,
Si să feresti holdele,
Paparudele.
De toate tăciunele,
! Paparudele,
Din toate ogoarele,
Paparudele