Research Paper
Year: 2023 | Month: August | Volume: 10 | Issue: 8 | Pages: 593-603
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijrr.20230878
Folk Belief (Superstitions) and Its Relation to the Birth, Newborn, and Children in Simalungun Society
Asriaty R Purba1, Herlina2, Jamorlan Siahaan3
1,2,3Fakultas Ilmu Budaya, Universitas Sumatera Utara
Corresponding Author: Asriaty R Purba
ABSTRACT
This study aims to describe the structure, meaning, and function of the folk belief (superstitions) related to pregnancy, childbirth, newborn, and children. Superstition is used to forbid someone from taking certain actions to avoid a bad result or misfortune. Therefore, superstition can be used as social control in everyday life. The method used is a qualitative descriptive method using folklore theory. The results show that (1) The two structure that consists of cause-effect and cause-effect patterns. (2) The three structure that consists of cause-effect-conversion patterns and cause-conversion-effect patterns. Superstition contains the philosophy of Simalungun’s everyday life that contains the values of goodness that govern the relationship among humans, humans and the natural environment, and humans and God. Superstition functions as a means of children's education, coercion, and supervisory to the norms to obey by members of society. It also a system of collective imaginary projection and strengthening religious emotions or beliefs.
Keywords: superstition, childbirth, newborn, childhood.
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