What is “Real” in Believing in Supernatural Beings? The Informant’s Cut<br>Što je “stvarno” u vjerovanju u nadnaravna bića. Kazivačeva verzija</br>

Abstract

Recent field research into traditional beliefs in supernatural beings (werewolves, fairies, witches, and mòras) among the inhabitants of the Dalmatian hinterland has shown that such beliefs are still present within certain groups. This fact opens up a possibility of asking present-day informants different kinds of questions, not often asked in folkloristic and ethnological research conducted in these regions. First and foremost, these refer to the question of what the informants themselves think about believing in supernatural beings, why people believe in them and talk about them. Thus in this paper there will be no talk about the nature, doings and names of supernatural beings or narrative forms they occupy, but about the notions and explanations of the very informants. Through informants’ own interpretations and additional data about them were gathered on the basis of a modified questionnaire we will be able to better understand the reality of the informant’s relationship toward believing in supernatural beings.