Căluş ritual dance originated in the Olt region of southern Romania but has also been part of the cultural heritage of the Vlach people, of Bulgaria and Serbia. The dance likely originated from ancient purification and fertility rites using the symbol of the horse, which was worshipped as an embodiment of the sun.
The name of the ritual comes from the Căluş, which is the wooden part of the horse's bridle. It is believed that the Călușari were groups of dancing and chanting people who were thought to possess magical healing powers, wandering from house to house, promising good health and prosperity to the villagers. As a Romanian tradition, the practice later spread to Bulgaria and North Macedonia.
Călușari traditionally travelled to all the villages in Romania during the period that runs from three weeks after Easter until Pentecost, a festival called Rusalii in Romania. For a period of two weeks, they danced with the fiddles in their localities. As well as the Căluş ritual dance, the Căluş dance has also been preserved as a part of the cultural heritage of Vlachs of Bulgaria and Serbia as well as the Olt region of southern Romania. The oldest documented music used in this dance dates back to the seventeenth century.
As part of the Căluş ritual, local men enacted a series of games, skits, songs and dances to the accompaniment of two violins and an accordion, accompanied by an all-male troupe of Căluşari dancers. In the past, young men used to be initiated into the magical ritual by a vataf (master) who had inherited the knowledge of descántece (magical charms) and the dance steps from his predecessor.
Căluşari dancers wear a variety of colourful hats, embroidered shirts, and bell-encrusted trousers which are worn to perform a range of complex dances consisting of stamping, clicking of heels, leaping, and swinging of the legs, which are performed by a group of them.
The Căluşari have been gathering on Whit Sunday since ancient times to celebrate their dancing and musical prowess. The Căluş ritual, in addition to illustrating the rich cultural diversity of Romania, has also been widely supported by folklore festivals, such as the Caracal Festival in the region of Olt, becoming a symbol of the country.