GALDA DE JOS
Romania
P R E S E N T A T I O N
LOCAL EVENTS
Dedication Day of the Orthodox Church in Galda de Jos - happen at the feast 'St. Mary' - meet sons of Galda de Jos
Dedication Day of the Orthodox Church in Oiejdea - happen at the feast 'St. Mary' - meet sons of Oiejdea village
Dedication Day of the Orthodox Church in Cetea - happen at the feast 'St. Mary' - meet sons of Cetea village
Fasangii (Pranksters) from Cetea
It is an old practice, typical in Cetea village, and takes place at the beginning of Lent of Easter feast. It consists of a group of young masking with different roles, who are considering unmarried young men and women, and people who deviate from the village traditions, cry on them charades to door, or making small fun of them.
Cetea village of Galda de Jos commune is a place of mysterious traditions and secret places, if you were to mention only the famous sights Cetii Stone, Sunatoarea Deep, Roman Baths and Cetii Gorges. Unusual are the people of this village, with their mysterious stories, but perhaps the most valuable is that here, in Cetea, keep this ancient custom and strange, 'Fasangiilor habit'.
'Fasangiilor habit', name coming from German, Fasching (Carnival), is meant to banish the cold and the dark spirits. Carnival is held before entering in Lent and is a good opportunity to bring together the community, a moment of joy, dancing and exultation. Age of this habit must be at least one hundred and fifty years years old, because grandparents of today have heard their grandparents talking about the fact that they know unchanged this habit, when they came into world.
A few days before Shrove Tuesday, and even evening of start the Lent, the village come to life through this usually. The ritual is called Fasangiilor habit, Romanian Fasangii, or Fasangiilor dancing. The boys from the village gather outside the village and clothe so as not to be recognized. Wear clothes and masks expressive and are grouped into two bands, Wolves Fasangii and Human being Fasangii.
Wolves Fasangii are led by a Dacian with a dacian flag (wolf head with dragon tail) and Human being Fasangii, ten, parody what happens between peers, especially lack of love. Fasangii start through the village with a great noise, screaming and muttering.
Personages they represent the Human being Fasangii are:
Priest, Priestess and Psalm Reader -
signifying burial rituals
Officer - signify order and disorder
Mister and Miss - are caricatures of
the rich, arrogant, that no other
law than money
Locals man and woman - embodies
the common people of mountains
Forest Shrew - person who constantly
complain
Fool - parodies unscrupulous man;
riding on a donkey, sat opposite
Fasangii (Pranksters) of Cetea
Fasangiilor tradition is the end time of balls into entry in Lent, end the fun and the winter and spring arrives, is resurrection annual time. The boys masked cross streets of the village, became a time when the imbalance is installed and all rules are violated. In procession follows a dray pulled by a donkey, carrying a symbolic coffin with closed winter. Funeral of winter is like a procession of wedding, which is led by musicians, priest, priestess, psalm reader. After dray coming two old girls, who were not married in the past year, dragging a tree root, symbolizing their lack of fertility.
Adapting habit to the new, is by present satirically the current events, on humor tragic aspects of life. Fasangiilor march through the village, fuss, noise they make, gestures free or violent pointless to banish everything that uncleanness and even cold weather, similar temporary nature of death, darkness. Masked adopt behaviors that in other circumstances community would penalty.
The purpose of their march in a disordered dance through the village is spiritual purification, finally settling in around a bonfire when rages Dancing Wolves. It's pretty creepy and ecstatic to see them in their chaotic dance night gathered around the sacred fire. It's a frenetic dance dominated by jumps, as if the tribe dance imitates the flight. Moments of stillness are followed by an eruption and the wild, perhaps suggesting the alternation of life and death. For example, when one of the actors falls to the ground, others gather around him and hit with wooden batons air or land until their fellow comes alive.
Fasangii from Cetea were present at Romanian Tourism Fair, edition 2014. In this edition of the fair, each exhibitor is trying to attract the attention of visitors through a series of events designed to influence the decision of potential tourists to spend their holidays in a place or another. If you are interested in the traditions and customs of a country, Romania is the perfect destination and that's because we should know the country before trying to interact with the traditions and culture of other countries.
Alba county always goes to the fair with excellent and managed to make known not only by the natural beauty of the benefits, but also festivals that take place during the year. Entering the agenda of events of a ritual usually old, kept unaltered over time Fasangii from Cetea, accompanied by folk ensemble 'Edelweiss' of Galda de Jos, make the delight of those present at the event.
Fokloric Ensemble 'Edelweiss' from Galda de Jos
Folk traditions are an important chapter in the existence of the villages of Galda de Jos commune. Romanian folklore helped a lot especially during the wars and peasant class in general in all situations that were downtrodden by the landowners, and peace of mind being found in folk dances, traditions and indigenous music.
Galda de Jos commune has old folk traditions, in the period 1945-1965 had both folk dance team and a choir that has worked under the baton of prof. Man Samson, recognized in the district Alba and Hunedoara region.
In 1947, in Alba-Iulia, the folk dance team of Galda de Jos commune attended the dance contest People's Front for Democracy and took 1st in the district of Alba. The folk dances of the region of Galda de Jos require more skill from the dancers, dancing figures are jewels in folk choreography.
The girl is a support for boy to boot beating performance, with his left hand and jumps, and pairs during the game compared pirouette under the boy's hand. A specific figure this dance is diagonal 'come on', that requires a lot of concentration from the boy in the leg and beat execution on the floor, girl supporting it by shouting sung.
In 2009 the commune of Galda de Jos entered the area of cultural and artistic event 'Culture for Culture' contest initiated by Alba County Council, which held the fourth edition.
As organizer of the contest, Mayoralty of Galda de Jos commune prepared a comprehensive program, which involved the folk artists, dancers, a local folk and everything necessary for a performance scale. At the local celebration attended by almost all citizens of the commune.
After years of sporadic cultural activities, insignificant, was brought back to citizens the love for folk and popular traditions.
With the essential contribution of Galda de Jos cityhall, under the direction of maestro George Nedea, it laid the foundation stone of an artistic group representative of the village, which is known as Folkloric Ensemble 'Edelweiss' from Galda de Jos.
Folkloric Ensemble in Galda de Jos, 1947
Fokloric Ensemble 'Edelweiss' from Galda de Jos
Sanvasaiul (St. Basil) in Galda de Jos
Sanvasaiul (St. Basil) is one of the authentic habits New Year in Galda de Jos. Popular belief says that in the night of New Year, unmarried girls learn how to be the man who will marry. The ritual is special and runs home to Village's Witch.
New Year's night is accompanied everywhere by old habits and superstitions. Some of them take into account others just pretend. Young women from the village Galda de Jos strictly comply with the popular belief that says the night of New Year shows fate for unmarried girls. Immediately after dark, young girls gather at Village's Witch, for guess boy they will marry. Girls do not come empty handed, but bring dishes of the finest.
Seven dishes (plates) for guessing Fates. Young unmarried of village come to Village's Witch with cheese pies, cakes, cookies of the best wine. Thus, they want to reward the effort made by Village's Witch to guess that his son will marry in year begins. Village's Witch placed on a seven dishes (plates), under which hides as many objects: comb, mirror, coal, wheat, tow, a carrot and a pencil.
Tradition says that the thing hidden under the dish reveal more about the lad who will woo. Wheat under plate shows that the son is thrifty and pencil that is a learned man. If the girl will find a comb, it is said that man will be cantankerous, corner, and if you find the mirror will marry a boy proud.
In the dream, image of the boy appears. The ritual takes place around the table that are hidden expose the things that concerns the village lads. Every girl goes to pick up a plate knowing fate and thus what they do in the village lad, if diligent, proud or drinker.
Sanvasaiul (St. Basil) in Galda de Jos
Girls receive from Village's Witch, on departure one wire basil, which, placed under the pillow makes the image appear in dreams fate, the lad they will marry. Instead, young undertakes to spin, weave or to recount for Village's Witch, because the guessed come true.
Custom practiced by young unmarried in New Year's night in Galda de Jos is presented annually on stage the biggest cultural festivals in the country. 'Sanvasaiul' is one of the authentic New Year habits that carry on the tradition of divination fate. These practices trivial to some, keeps alive the spirit of the holidays, the New Year in villages around commune Galda de Jos.
Dacian Fortresses Festival in Cricau
Dacian Fortresses Festival it is held every year in June, in Cricau, on the leveling hills near Galda de Jos.
The festival offers, to the delight of the spectators, true ample demonstrations Daco-Roman wrestling, they managing to revive the Roman soldiers legionaries, Geto-Dacians nobles and troops cavalry of the old time, with the gift of going back into the past, with most spectacular demonstrations.
The fighting takes place in a particular field even before entering the village Cricau, a little uneven ground, but enough to realize what meant a fight on such battlefields.
Earlier demonstrations, the Romans send their units to attack but then are forced to go on the defensive until the Roman line breaks and they lose in battle, and ranks thinning and revealing is a real slaughter, leaving a full field Roman corpses.
Dacians failing to take the Romans banner of war with the that is to decorate the room of a Dacian chieftains.
Dacian Fortresses Festival in Cricau
At the end of Dacian-Roman battles, takes place dances of Dacian Nymphs, very worshiped by the public and watched by photographic cameras.