Polish healing conjurations (zagowory) in the collection of Lithuanian conjuration’s manuscripts

Abstract

Lithuanian conjurations (zagovory) constitute a unique part of Lithuanian folklore. In the collection of conjurations’ manuscripts described in the publication of Daiva Vaitkevičienė (2008), we will find records of these archaic texts in various languages, including Polish. Polish-language conjurations constitute a separate subgroup in the Balto-Slavic context. Following the chronological criterion, we are dealing with texts of pre-Christian and after-Christ origins. Due to mutual cultural influences as well as functioning of different languages within Lithuania, it is usually not possible to determine the original language of conjuration. Only in a few cases we are able to state, which version of conjuration is its translation. This is indicated primarily by the structure of the text as well as its lexical features, adaptation or transliteration. The article describes the attempt to compare Polish and Lithuanian conjurations’ texts, classify their main themes and analyze how they worked.