Kult sv. Barbare u kršćanskoj tradiciji Hrvata

Marko Dragić - Izvorni znanstveni članak 

The Saint Barbara’s cult in Croatian Christian tradition

Sažetak
Sveta Barbara je iznimno štovana svetica u zapadnoj i istočnoj Crkvi. Štuju je i protestanti. Jedna je od četrnaest svetaca pomoćnika u nevolji. Crkve, kapele, oltari, kipovi, slike, toponimi, krematonimi, sanktonimi, fitonimi i antroponimi zorno svjedoče o kultu sv. Barbare u kršćanskoj tradiciji Hrvata. Postoje i autohtone legende i predaje o sv. Barbari. U kršćanskoj tradiciji Hrvata usmenim putem prenose se pučke lirske pjesme i molitve sv. Barbari. Raznovrsni su običaji, obredi, ophodi i divinacije vezani uz kult sv. Barbare. Običaj sijanja pšenice drevnoga je pretkršćanskoga podrijetla. Dječaci i mladići, položaji, u ranu zoru od kuće do kuće odlazili su čestitati blagdan sv. Barbare. Domaćice položajnika posipaju pšenicom, a potom mu bacaju zrnje kukuruza na pod da ih pokupi. Također se pripravljalo panspermijsko varivo. U tim primjerima prepleću su drevni pretkršćanski apotropejski, panspermijiski i simpatički elementi koje su Hrvati kristijanizirali. Takvo je i praznovjerje u sjevernim krajevima Hrvatske da će otkriti lopova onaj koji na Barbarinje počne praviti metlu i završi je na Badnji dan. U radu se navode i multidisciplinarno interpretiraju legende, običaji, obredi, ophodi i divinacije vezani uz kult sv. Barbare u kršćanskoj tradiciji Hrvata u Republici Hrvatskoj, Bosni i Hercegovini, Republici Srbiji, Republici Crnoj Gori i Gradišću (Austrija).

Abstract
Saint Barbara is an exceptionally worshipped saint in both Western and Eastern Christian church. She is also worshipped by Protestants. She is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. Churches, chapels, altars, statues, paintings, toponyms, crematonyms (names of objects), sanctonyms, phytonyms (names of plants), and anthroponomys are a clear testimony of Saint Barbara’s cult in Croatian Christian tradition. Croats tell original legends and tales about Saint Barbara. In Christian tradition Croats orally transmit oral lyrical poems and prayers to Saint Barbara. Diverse customs, rituals, processions and divinations are connected with the cult of Saint Barbara. Custom of sowing wheat is of ancient pre-Christian origin. Boys and young men, položaji, went from house to house early in the morning to congratulate the Saint Barbara feast day. Housekeepers would sprinkled wheat on the boys, and, afterwards, would throw corn grains on the floor so the boys would pick them up. Also, a panspermic stew was prepared. In the previously mentioned examples ancient pre-Christian apotropaic, panspermic and sympathetic elements, which Croats have Christianized in the meantime, interweave. Example of this is a superstition from the Northern Croatia that a person who starts making a broom on Saint Barbara’s feast day and finishes it on Christmas Eve day will be able to detect a thief. The paper quotes and interprets legends, customs, rituals, processions and divinations connected to the cult of Saint Barbara in Croat’s Christian tradition in the Republic of Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Serbia, the Republic of Montenegro and in the province Gradišće situated in the Republic of Austria in a multidisciplinary manner.