"Capra / Brezaia" performed by Gheorghe Durbacă (declaimer) & Nicolae Munteanu (bagpipe / "cimpoi"). Romanian traditional Christmas ritual from Wallachia, Muntenia, Brăila, Victoria village.
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This ritual is also called "brezaia" in Wallachia/Oltenia, because of the multicolored appearance of the goat mask. "Capra" (female goat) is a guiser wearing an animal mask who cuts his ribald capers at midwinter (Christmas and New Year Events). The lower jaw of the dancer's mask is hinged, and with the aid of a string it can be clapped against the upper jaw, producing a percussive accompaniment to the dance.
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© Fabris, 2009
