RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

Traditions that last

Traditionally, Christian celebrations have often overlapped with archaic feasts

Traditions that last
Traditions that last

, 27.07.2021, 14:00

Traditionally, Christian celebrations have often overlapped with archaic feasts. Shrovetide, for instance, is marked in several communities by various types of celebration, some inherited from times immemorial.

Not far from Bucharest, in Branesti, people celebrate Cuckoos Day, an old tradition passed down from one generation to another, but which has been affected by modernization in the past years, as Marius Ovidiu Sebe, the head of the Branesti Cultural Association told us:

In 2013 a partnership was created between the important institutions in the locality, with the aim of saving tradition. More specifically, we wanted to involve the education units and prepare the so called ‘cuckoo nests to participate in a traditional festival, in order to resuscitate old customs and traditions, which had been dying in the past years. This year we’ve been hit hard by the pandemic, and traditional events and celebrations have been affected as well. Last year we barely managed to hold the festival, on March 2nd, just before the lockdown. It was not easy, because the number of cases was already going up, but in the end we got the right papers allowing us to hold the festival. We also had guests from abroad and I could say that was an extraordinary edition. This year it’s been more difficult, because of the restrictions. On Monday, the first day after the day when Christian orthodox stop eating meat, then cheese and eggs, before Lent, the streets were empty, except for just a few ‘Cuckoos’. It was just one group that marched the village, by observing all protection measures. They wore masks and managed to carry through the ritual. Last year there were hundreds of ‘Cuckoos’ on the village’s street.

This year’s celebration was a good opportunity to move the discussion on tradition online, so a symposium was held, which stands very good chances of becoming tradition itself.

Marius Ovidiu Sebe told us what these ‘Cuckoos’ really are:

Cuckoos are young men who have just got married. They get dressed in women’s clothes, including a bell belt around their waist, a mask on the face and a headscarf. They also hold a stick and run along the main streets of the village to cast evil spirits away and shake hands with the ones they meet in the street, which bring the latter good health all year round. This is part of a set of customs that are observed before Lent, including the forgiveness and the Cuckoos’ days, which are actually ancient, ancestral customs, relating to the passing into the new vegetal year.

In Enisala, in the region of Dobrogea, the Lipovan Russians too mark the start of the Lent with specific customs. The villages of Sarichioi and Jurilovca celebrate near the Enisala fortress Forgiveness Day, the last day in the week when believers are allowed to eat milk and cheese, which announces the beginning of Lent. Here is Catalin Tibuleac, the president of the Danube Delta Management Association with more:

This first celebration organized in collaboration between the townhalls of Sarichioi and Jurilovca was marked this year by the health safety measures. But even so, this Forgiveness Day was a reason for joy, for celebration, a reason for the two largest Lipovan communities in the Danube Delta to meet. Normally, the two representative ensembles from the two villages gathered near the fortress of Enisala to celebrate Maslenitsa and mark the end of winter and the coming of spring. This celebration is also known as the Pancake Fest, as usually cheese pancakes are made on this day. Every year, the Lipovans celebrate the coming of spring in the same way, just as they celebrate the last day before Lent, Maslenitsa. On this day people ask for forgiveness from those they’ve harmed in any way or not, and it’s a reason for joy. People sing, dance, celebrate and meet with their families. The traditional costumes are full of colour. Women wear beautiful dresses with floral patterns and men are dressed in spectacular costumes. Traditional music is also very beautiful.

The 14 minorities living in the Danube Delta area are very much focused on preserving old customs and traditions, as Catalin Tibuleac told us. It’s another good reason to visit these communities, although these days restrictions make it more difficult.

This year, because of the pandemic and the measures in place, it’s been difficult to hold our traditional celebrations. That is why the meeting between the two traditional groups from Sarichioi and Jurilovca was made online, with a recording from each party. We hope that next year we will be able to organize it properly and have both direct and online participants in this beautiful event. We invite all who want to see a beautiful way of passing from winter into spring and also start the tourist season. We invite all those who love nature and the Danube Delta in particular to come and visit us. (MI)

sursă foto: facebook.com/RazvanCojocaruOficial/
Inside Romania Tuesday, 22 July 2025

Awaken the Hero in You

The period of adolescence is full of challenges and, although the information that young people have access to today might seem like a plus, many of...

Awaken the Hero in You
Photo: facebook.com/FestivalulDeCarteTransilvania
Inside Romania Tuesday, 15 July 2025

By bike to Cape Horn

  Today we are not only talking about an absolute first, but also about a mission to promote reading and sports among young people, carried out...

By bike to Cape Horn
Village Museum Maramures (Photo: Mariana Chirita)
Inside Romania Tuesday, 24 June 2025

The childhood house, a village museum

When it was built in 1835, it had the number 729 on the gate, and had a river stone with a hole in it hung on the door, according to local custom, to...

The childhood house, a village museum
Кібербезпека на фестивалі!
Inside Romania Tuesday, 17 June 2025

CyberSea Festival 2025

Summer, sea, fun on the beach! Sounds like vacation? Well, we have another challenge for you: the CyberSea Festival 2025: Dive into the future of...

CyberSea Festival 2025
Inside Romania Tuesday, 10 June 2025

“We are Romania! You are welcome”

The plenary session of the Chamber of Deputies this month voted a bill that stipulates that the National Day of Romanian Gastronomy and Wine can also...

“We are Romania! You are welcome”
Inside Romania Tuesday, 03 June 2025

History revisited

The Romanian Cultural Training Platform announces the launch of the project “Nordic Insights: addressing cancel culture in public spaces...

History revisited
Inside Romania Tuesday, 27 May 2025

Trending now:  Api phytotherapy

It is known that Api phytotherapy is a complementary method of treatment of various conditions and diseases, based on natural remedies from medicinal...

Trending now:  Api phytotherapy
Inside Romania Tuesday, 20 May 2025

The Story of Leather Belts

Crafts are on the verge of extinction, and that is why the experiences of craftsmen have a fairytale character. This is also the case of Petru...

The Story of Leather Belts

Partners

Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român
Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS
Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online
Institului European din România Institului European din România
Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti
Muzeul Național de Artă al României Muzeul Național de Artă al României
Le petit Journal Le petit Journal
Radio Prague International Radio Prague International
Muzeul Național de Istorie a României Muzeul Național de Istorie a României
ARCUB ARCUB
Radio Canada International Radio Canada International
Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti” Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”
SWI swissinfo.ch SWI swissinfo.ch
UBB Radio ONLINE UBB Radio ONLINE
Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl
creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti
italradio italradio
Institutul Confucius Institutul Confucius
BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți

Affiliates

Euranet Plus Euranet Plus
AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters
Digital Radio Mondiale Digital Radio Mondiale
News and current affairs from Germany and around the world News and current affairs from Germany and around the world
Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona

Providers

RADIOCOM RADIOCOM
Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company