Powwowing in Pennsylvania: Braucherei & the Ritual of Everyday Life

by Patrick J. Donmoyer

This cultural exploration offers an unparalleled presentation of Pennsylvania’s ritual healing traditions known as powwowing or Braucherei in Pennsylvania Dutch, through original primary source materials, including manuscripts, ritual objects, and books—most of which have never before been available to English-speaking readers. Although methods and procedures have varied considerably over three centuries of ritual practice within the Pennsylvania Dutch cultural region, the outcomes and experiences surrounding this tradition have woven a rich tapestry of cultural narratives that highlight the integration of ritual into all aspects of life, as well as provide insight into the challenges, conflicts, growth, and development of a distinct Pennsylvania Dutch folk culture. (343pp. color illus. index. PA German Cult. Heritage Center, 2018.)

343 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2018

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a shame for the negative feedback of the book. A handful of typos aside, this is a very informative book on the folklore and healing traditions of the PA Dutch. The author is passionate and knowledgeable of the subject, and presents the information in a very accessible way. Being born and raised in the heart of PA Dutch culture and traditions, I can also confirm much of what is presented as being accurate for our folk traditions.

This book is among the strongest on the market today in terms of content quality, depths, and reliability than most books of this subject.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book is very informative but equally as dense with large blocks of text. My copy also had some typos. It is good for learning about Braiucherei, but pretty hard to get through.