Reflexe obyčeje vynášení smrti a přinášení máje jako součást jarně novoročního cyklu v díle Antonína Václavíka

Ceremonial custom traditions, or the issue of spring-New Year customs, respectively, are only one example of many aspects of folk cultures that Antonín Václavík focused on within his extensive research activities. This study attempts to explain the essence and examples of Václavík's research into this issue, with an emphasis on the origin and development of individual elements of spring-New Year custom tradition, of which the "carrying of death" is an unquestionable example. Antonín Václavík perceived the essence of individual elements of custom traditions as a phenomenon that, quote, "...rose from rational and irrational provision of life through work and observance...". The custom of "carrying of death" is a custom (one of many) that has prosperous and cleansing nature, i.e. its purpose is to purify the community, to get rid of bad things, illness and death; it should ensure the beginning of the growing season and abundant harvest, the quality of which determines the quality and prosperity of the entire common economy of the community. The study also contains selected examples related to the custom of "carrying of death" from the works of Antonín Václavík, as well as examples that the author of this contribution himself collected during his field research activities especially in (but not limited to) Central Moravia.