1. THE BURNING WHEEL
Date: 18 February 2007
Location: Sinca Noua, Brasov County
Description:
“The burning wheel” or “The shout over the village” is a ceremony that takes place on Ash Wednesday (Mardi Gras). The ceremony is performed by a young man from the village, a ceremony that imagines a public trial intending to judge the people from the community who transgress the local rules. The ritual is performed at night fall and symbolized the coming of spring, the end of marriage season and the beginning of the new agrarian year. In the ritual, the young men, divided in two groups, gather on a hill near the village and burn several carriage wheels filled with straws. While the burning wheels are coming down the hill towards the village, they are calling for the unmarried girls, making huge noise while the church bells are tolling.
After the ritual, the whole community participates to a party for the delight of the tourists also. The ritual is centered on fire - the purifying element - and the wheel which symbolizes the cycle of life and seasons, having a social meaning for the community also, for it judges the unmarried girls.
Contacts:
- Sinca Noua Town Hall - tel: 0040-268.22.86.98
- County Cultural Center for Promotion of Traditional Culture, Brasov - Tel: 0040–268.41.34.86
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2. ETHNO-FOLK MANIFESTATION: DRAGOBETE-LOVERS DAY CUSTOM
Date: 24 February 2007
Location: Alexandria, Teleorman County
Description:
A folk show focused on ’’Dragobete’’ custom-Romanian Lovers Day. It is known the fact that customs from other countries are perpetuated to the prejudice of our customs which are more beautiful. Dragobete is a traditional Romanian holiday. It is known as "the day when the birds are getting engaged". This day is supposed to protect one from fever which produces shivers and illness. It will participate Nasturelu Community Centre with” Dunarica” Choir.
Contacts:
- Teleorman County Council, Alexandria, street Dunarii 178, tel: 0040-247.31.22.01/31.22.02, www.cjteleorman.ro - The County Centre for the Conservation and Promotion of the Traditional Culture Teleorman – tel: 0040-247.31.22.17
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3. INTERNATINAL PIG-STICKING FESTIVAL - IIND EDITION
Date: 24-25 February 2007
Location: Baile Balvanyos, Covasna County
Description:
It is a gastronomical event organized with success among those who would like to present their region’s tradition in pig-sticking and preparing pork meals (black pudding, liver paste, sausage).
Contacts: Tel: 0040-267.36.70.10, 0040-267.36.11.30, 0040-744.38.00.00
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4. Choreography Camp
Date: 22-27 February 2007
Location: Baile Herculane
Approaches: Bucuresti – Craiova – Drobeta Turnu-Severin – Baile Herculane
Organizers: County Center for Conservation and Promotion of Traditional Culture Caras-Severin; Fagarasului Street, no.12 A, 320162;
Tel/ Fax: 0040255/ 556698; email: centrucultura@yahoo.com
The manifestation brings together choreographers from Banat, Hungaria and Serbia and it consist in the presentation and learning of specific zone dances that each choreographer represents.
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5. FARSANG
Date: February 2007
Location: Apata village, Brasov County
Accessibility: E60, 20 km from Brasov
Description:
This custom is 200 years old and was borrowed by the Hungarians from the Saxons who lived in the neighbor villages.
Ceremony of spring, the Farsang (Carnival) represents the transition from winter to spring and the triumph of good, by chasing the evil spirits being organized by young men.
The Carnival starts on Shrove Tuesday (Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras) and the center feature of the Carnival is the mask. This is a ritual object, symbol of a new identity which allows the wearers to disguise themselves and release their inner tensions.
At this holiday, masks like bears, wolves, gypsies, chimney sweeps, brides, grooms, doctors and fortune tellers are being made by young men. They also use a chariot dragged by two horses on which is built a toy house covered with reed. In this house, two dolls, a boy and a girl, wearing popular costumes, are sitting on a wooden wheel.
The procession marches on each street of the village and enters every courtyard, symbolizing the chase of evil spirits.
When the evening comes they gather at one of the villager’s home where they eat, drink and party till sunrise.
Organizer: Apata and Ormenis Town Halls
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6. FOLKLORE COUNTY FESTIVAL “WEDDINGS PROCESSION (SUITE) ON BARGAU WILLAGE”
Date: February 2007
Location: Prundu Bârgăului Willage
Accessibility: by train Bistrita – Prundu Bargaului, bus or car.
Description:
The surroundings that you cand visit: Borgo Pass The Romanian Dracula Land – where the irish writer Bram Stocker imagined and placed the fantastic castle of the bloody hero who thrilled the world: The Vampire Count Dracula, the fantastic Pass from Borgo Mountains which makes the connections between Transylvania and Bucovina, is indeed a tourist’s attraction, Tihuta – wonderful in the summer as well in the winter, is a place of real attraction and encounter for the mountain’s lovers. This paradise of silence and recreation offers excellent condition for practicing winter sports.
The ancient roman way from Borgo Mountains which lies parallel with the Bistrita-Dornei highway, 5 km vest from the Borgo Pass. Magura Calului which is situated on the Bistrita-Dornei highway. From here it can be seen a wonderful landscape of Rodnei, Suhard, Calimani mountains which strethes to the Giumalau mountains.
Piatra Fantanele where can be enjoyed a lovely mountain view. Easy access. Dealul Zimbrului – in winter you can enjoy and relax yourself bu skiing and by making sleighs rides using the native’s horses.
Organizer: Bistrita-Nasaud County Center for Culture
Partners: Valea Bârgăului Mayoralties
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7. THE CARNIVAL OF PREJMER
Date: end of February 2007, before the Catholic Lent starts
Location: Prejmer, Brasov County
Description:
The Carnival, called Fasching in German language, is a traditional Prejmer custom inherited from the Saxon community which constituted the majority of local population for hundreds of years.
The date for the Carnival is traditionally set before the Catholic Lent starts. This is a very old local ritual with major significance: victory of Light over Dark, predicting the spring sun arrival and winter departure.
The young people meet on Carnival Eve and prepare their masks for the Carnival day. On Sunday, young men bands ride all over the village. The cortege is formed by masked accordion players, drummers, trumpeters and the traditional wagon with stove where the pancakes are prepared. The villagers are invited to join the masked Ball in the evening. The young people offer pancakes and get in return white flowers, sugar, eggs, wine or money that they use to prepare the donuts for the evening Ball. The event is mostly a great opportunity for the local community to get together, to enjoy and dance.
The young people of Prejmer decided, after 15 years of break, to revive in 2005 the custom in Prejmer town. The 2007 third edition of the Carnival intends not only to preserve the local Saxon tradition but to promote as well this custom as a tourist attraction. It is a good opportunity to develop a multicultural and ethnical dialogue between local handicraftsmen manufacturing the masks and the Song and Dance Ensembles with masks coming from various Romanian counties. The event intends also to promote local gastronomy.
Program proposal:
Saturday: Exhibition opening: "Masks - traditional and contemporary symbols"
Interactive workshop with handicraftsmen to manufacture masks
German dances and songs evening
Guests: German Song and Dance Ensembles
Sunday: - Pancakes cortege
- Children Carnival
- Sketch with masks;
Guests: Song and Dance Ensembles from various counties
- Contest: "Surprise pancake"
- Masks parade
- Masked Ball
Organizers:
- Prejmer Local Council - tel.: 0040-268.36.20.03
- County Cultural Center for Promotion of Traditional Culture, Brasov - tel: 0040-268.41.34.86
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