Sorcova
Romanian New Year custom using a decorated twig.
On the morning of January 1st, children across Romania take part in an old custom called Sorcova. The name refers both to the tradition and to the object at its heart: a stick or twig decorated with colorful artificial flowers. Children tap their parents or acquaintances on the back with this twig while reciting special verses that wish for health and good luck. As they begin the verses, they tilt the Sorcova toward the person receiving the wishes, treating it like a magic wand that can pass on health, youth, and fertility. The words themselves, which sound like a spell, reinforce the motion of the wand.
The custom changes from region to region. In northern Transylvania, children go door to door with the Sorcova, wishing people health in exchange for local treats like cozonac, colac, apples, or nuts. In cities, children more often receive cash, candies, or oranges. A unique version appears in the village of Bucium, Bihor County, in western Romania. There, children carry a fir branch decorated with tinsel, candies, and a bell (țingălău). Those without a fir branch use a stick wrapped in tinsel and fitted with three or four bells. When they enter a house, the children with the fir branch sing, while those with the stick beat the floor in rhythm. Usually, each child has their own Sorcova. As they recite, they move the Sorcova in time with the verses, sometimes marked by the bell’s sound.
The word “sorcova” likely comes from the Bulgarian “surov,” meaning tender green, a reference to a budded twig broken from a tree, especially a fir. Some etymologists instead trace it to the Slavic “sorokŭ,” meaning forty—the recitative of Sorcova consists of forty syllabic groups, matching forty taps of the wand.
- Type
- Popular custom and object
- Region
- Romania
- Practiced by
- Children
- Date
- Morning of 1 January
- Associated object
- Stick or twig decorated with artificial flowers
- Purpose
- Wishing health, luck, youth, and fertility
Lore & Background
The custom of Sorcova is very old and is spread throughout Romania, practiced mainly by children on the morning of 1 January. The sorcova itself is a stick or twig decorated with artificial flowers of different colors. Children tap their parents or acquaintances on the back with it, reciting special verses that wish them health and luck. When the verses begin, the sorcova is inclined toward the person addressed, playing the role of a magic wand believed to transmit health, youth, and fertility. The verses, reminiscent of a spell, reinforce the movement of the sorcova.
Reader's Guide
The custom varies by ethnographic region. In northern Transylvania, children go from house to house with sorcova, wishing health in exchange for local delicacies such as cozonac, colac, apples, and nuts. In urban areas, children commonly receive cash, candies, or oranges. An interesting form is found in the west of the country, in the village of Bucium, Bihor County. There, children use a fir tree branch decorated with tinsel, candies, and a bell (țingălău). Those without a fir tree may use a stick wrapped in tinsel with three or four bells. When entering a house, those with the fir tree sing, while those with the stick hit the floor rhythmically. Each child typically has their own sorcova, moved in rhythm with the versification, sometimes marked by the bell's sound. The term 'sorcova' likely comes from the Bulgarian word 'surov' (tender green), referring to a budded twig, or from the Slavic 'sorokŭ' (forty), as the recitative consists of 40 syllabic groups corresponding to 40 touches of the sorcova.
Did You Know?
- Sorcova is both the name of the custom and the decorated stick or twig used in it.
- The recitative of sorcova consists of 40 syllabic groups, possibly linked to the Slavic word for forty.
- The sorcova is inclined toward the person addressed, acting as a magic wand to transmit health, youth, and fertility.
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