«The miracle of healing with water» – the practice of healing with water from the point of view of a medical anthropologist

Authors

  • Kharitonova V.I. Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, RAS
  • Katalin JUHÁSZ Institute of Ethnography, Hungarian Academy of Sciences

Keywords:

hygienic practices, ritual and magic washing, Hungarian folk believings, «life-giving» and «dead» water, sacred sources, baths, thermal sources, balneology

Abstract

In the interview Hungarian medical anthropologist Katalin Juhász explains, why she was attracted by the subject of the role of water in cultural life of Hungarian people, describes Hungarian folk believings about water, washing and cleaning up, analyzes their historical context and current state, in particular exploring the use of water for medical reasons.

Author Biographies

  • Kharitonova V.I., Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, RAS

    Academic degrees: 

    • Sc.D. (History) (2000),
    • Ph.D. (Philology) (1983).

    Current employment, position: 

    • Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology RAS - Chief researcher
    • Head of the Center of Medical Anthropology
  • Katalin JUHÁSZ, Institute of Ethnography, Hungarian Academy of Sciences

    Academic degree:

    • PhD

    Current employment: 

    • Senior Researcher at the Institute of Ethnology of the Research Center for the Humanities of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences

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Published

2021-02-08

Issue

2012 — No. 1 (3)

Section

SCIENCE / Interviews