Holiday Countdown
Day 15: Dance
Author: Alison Fong is the outreach intern for the University of Arkansas Museum, Museum Advisory Council member and a senior majoring in History, International & Global Studies, and Asian Studies.
Did you know that there are many holiday dance traditions around the world? Typically, when we think about dance and the holidays, one thing comes to mind first: The Nutcracker. However, there are so many different kinds of dances that are specific to this season of the year.
In Romania, there is the Ursul Dance (The Bear Dance). The bear was traditionally a sacred symbol in the region of Moldova, and its likeness was used to scare off evil spirits. In agrarian societies, a good harvest especially after a bitter and cold winter was very important. Bears were thought to fertilize the soil for the next year and also represented the rebirth of the new year.
Related U of A Museum collections object: A taxidermy black bear from Arkansas.
This tradition does have a very cruel origin. In the past, real bears were made to “dance” to entertain and terrify the public. Obviously, this doesn’t happen anymore. Instead, today it is a common tradition for people in Moldova to transform into “bears” with bear suits and red tassels on the shoulders. One acts as the bear “tamer”, conducting the “bear” dancers to dance, and a group of musicians accompanies the whole parade. This event is always performed at the end of the year.
Check out the Ursul Dance here:
Did you know that the song “rockin’ around the Christmas tree” is actually inspired by a real European tradition? Many European countries, especially Scandinavian countries, practice this tradition. In Denmark, this event occurs on Christmas Eve. In the past, Christmas trees in Europe were traditionally decorated with burning candles on the branches (which is a frightening fire hazard if you think about it). Families would light the candles and dance around the Christmas tree while singing carols. The tradition is still practiced today in Denmark, but obviously with lights and not candles. Fun fact: the tradition is also practiced in places that were once Dutch colonies or had a strong Dutch presence in the past due to trade.
Check out the Danish Christmas tradition at a Danish church in Singapore here:
These are just two of the many holiday dance traditions from around the world. Do you have a dance tradition of your own?