Colacul-simbolism şi ofrandă rituală. Interferențe între practica folclorică şi tradiția creştină din Oltenia.

In the ethnographic space from Oltenia, the ritual object characterized and particularized through a distinct symbolism is the knot-shaped bread. This does not differ from the compositional point of view, but only in dimension and varied symbolic shapes, ornamented according to the local tradition and being made by women specialized in the art of "doe modelling". Rich and interesting is also the category of the knit-shaped loaves of bread that mark the major moments in a man's life, along with those that are doled for the souls of the deceased, who, according to the tradition, return among the living on the opportunity of different holidays along the year. We should furthermore mention the knot-shaped loaves of bread offered to the carollers during the winter holidays. Its thriving ri-tology recommends it as a symbol of the rebirth, renovation and also fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]