- civil calendar, with two periods <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> year: each <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> two periods <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> yearwhen <strong>the</strong> Sun is at <strong>the</strong> highest height <strong>in</strong> relation to <strong>the</strong> Equator; dates correspond<strong>in</strong>g to<strong>the</strong>se moments (21 June and 22 December), mark<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> longest day or shortest <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>year, phases <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Moon and o<strong>the</strong>r astronomical or meteorological events;- church calendar, <strong>in</strong> order to keep <strong>the</strong> christian good order. The holidays related to<strong>the</strong> conduct <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> religious calendar are known especially for <strong>the</strong> celebration <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> days <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> Archangels, Apostles, Sa<strong>in</strong>ts, which represent many <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> monasteries and worshiptemple, Christmas, Easter or ceremonies connected with <strong>the</strong> events <strong>in</strong> our life- popular calendar, with deep roots <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> ancient Dacian-Roman history, whichshowed <strong>the</strong> most favourable periods for <strong>the</strong> implementation <strong>of</strong> agricultural and pastoraloccupations, specify<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> type <strong>of</strong> celebration and customiz<strong>in</strong>g certa<strong>in</strong> special practices.In addition to <strong>the</strong> elements <strong>of</strong> <strong>folk</strong>lore, culture or tradition, <strong>the</strong> geographical areaconstitutes a means <strong>of</strong> attract<strong>in</strong>g <strong>tourist</strong>s lovers <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> countryside, <strong>in</strong> particular urban<strong>tourist</strong>s who want to escape from a polluted and crowded environment toward a peacefuland natural environment such as nature. Valcea County can meet by its rich naturalresources <strong>the</strong> highest demands and preferences <strong>of</strong> such <strong>tourist</strong>s.Valcea County is a well-packaged region <strong>in</strong> Romanian popular culture. Itsethnocultural specificity can be def<strong>in</strong>ed by three dimensions.First, it is situated <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> North-East <strong>of</strong> Oltenia region (<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> vic<strong>in</strong>ity <strong>of</strong> two largehistorical prov<strong>in</strong>ces <strong>of</strong> Wallachia and Transylvania), thus represent<strong>in</strong>g a land <strong>of</strong> <strong>folk</strong>traditions <strong>in</strong>terference. Then, Valcea County has experienced s<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>the</strong> medieval period, apermanent dialogue between oral <strong>folk</strong> culture cultivared <strong>in</strong> <strong>village</strong>s – hearths <strong>of</strong> peasanttradition – and <strong>the</strong> written culture practiced <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> monasteries. A third po<strong>in</strong>t refers toValcea as keeper <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> archaic culture, an area <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> dynamics <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> relationship betweentradition and modernity, open to <strong>in</strong>novation.All <strong>the</strong>se three dimensions give Valcea County <strong>the</strong> etnocultural status <strong>of</strong> a space forcreative development <strong>of</strong> tradition, which is expressed by a vivid heritage, <strong>of</strong> strongau<strong>the</strong>nticity and strik<strong>in</strong>g orig<strong>in</strong>ality, which <strong>the</strong> tradistion keepers pass on from generationto generation, as an endur<strong>in</strong>g legacy.Viable and productive, <strong>folk</strong> traditions become, <strong>in</strong> modernity, marks <strong>of</strong> Valcea’scultural identity <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Romanian and European context. This reality is <strong>the</strong> result <strong>of</strong> acultural strategy grafted on <strong>the</strong> <strong>folk</strong> tradition“school”.Through its creations and traditions –identity brands <strong>of</strong> spirituality, <strong>the</strong> <strong>folk</strong> culture <strong>in</strong>Valcea County has enough data that provide it with <strong>the</strong> ability to enter <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> concert andtour <strong>of</strong> European cultural values.The regional <strong>folk</strong>lore is characterized by great richness and diversity, <strong>the</strong> result <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>assimilation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> confluences with <strong>the</strong> neighbour<strong>in</strong>g areas and <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> creative syn<strong>the</strong>siswhich confers an orig<strong>in</strong>al mark <strong>in</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>astern Oltenia. Traditional <strong>folk</strong> life is stillvigorous <strong>in</strong> Valcea, manifest<strong>in</strong>g itself <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> two ma<strong>in</strong> classes <strong>of</strong> (calendar and family)habits, which represent viable means <strong>of</strong> cultivat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> <strong>folk</strong> songs and dances.Valcea County falls by its geographical situation and a series <strong>of</strong> elements <strong>of</strong><strong>folk</strong>lorical and spiritual culture <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> wider region <strong>of</strong> Oltenia. Through <strong>the</strong> configuration<strong>of</strong> settlements by develop<strong>in</strong>g trade and opposed by popular artistic creativity, Valceacharacteristics <strong>of</strong> a dist<strong>in</strong>ct ethnographic areas with a <strong>folk</strong> art that has, like <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> rest <strong>of</strong>Romania, ancient traditions and rigorous, which took over <strong>the</strong> common features <strong>in</strong> wea<strong>the</strong>rso <strong>the</strong> whole arts <strong>folk</strong>-tales, and features orig<strong>in</strong>al, unpublished and orig<strong>in</strong>al forms <strong>of</strong>expression which def<strong>in</strong>e <strong>the</strong>ir own charactersspecific63
The regional <strong>folk</strong> creation has met specific crystallizations, both <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> ceremonial<strong>folk</strong>lore and <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> literary, musical and choregraphic one. Among <strong>the</strong> types <strong>of</strong> ceremonial<strong>folk</strong>lore, Valcea County excels <strong>in</strong> terms <strong>of</strong> <strong>folk</strong> carols and songs. Among <strong>the</strong> many <strong>folk</strong>events annually organized <strong>in</strong> Valcea I mentioned <strong>the</strong> most popular ones:Tabel no.1. Folk events <strong>in</strong> Valcea CountyEventThe “Horacostumelor”FestivalThe “Cântecei dansuri”FolkManifestationThe “Coco ulde Hurez”CelebrationThe“S rb toareac p unelui”Folk EventThe “ÎnvârtitaDorului”CompetitionLocation:town/<strong>village</strong>PietrariValceaCountyHorezuPeriodOrganized<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>the</strong>first <strong>of</strong> PalmSunday, <strong>in</strong>AprilMayJuneFeaturesContest <strong>of</strong> designers <strong>of</strong> popular costumeswas grafted on local tradition, accord<strong>in</strong>g towhich <strong>the</strong> young peasant girls show everyspr<strong>in</strong>g what <strong>the</strong>y have made morebeautiful, <strong>in</strong> secret, dur<strong>in</strong>g w<strong>in</strong>ter.The purpose <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> festival is to turn toadvantage <strong>the</strong> au<strong>the</strong>ntic creation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>area, <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Romanian <strong>folk</strong>lore, andaffirmation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> young talents <strong>in</strong>perform<strong>in</strong>g, preserv<strong>in</strong>g and enrich<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong><strong>folk</strong> cultural values, <strong>the</strong>iracknowledgement nationally and<strong>in</strong>ternationally. The choregraphicrepertoire <strong>in</strong>cludes, <strong>in</strong> addition to <strong>the</strong> widespread regional dances <strong>of</strong> Oltenia, a series<strong>of</strong> specific local games: B rb te ti,Coste ti, Malaia, where <strong>the</strong> local populardance is part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>folk</strong> life reality.Romanian <strong>folk</strong> pottery fair, organized <strong>in</strong>Horezu, on <strong>the</strong> first Sunday <strong>of</strong> June, whichco<strong>in</strong>cides with <strong>the</strong> usual summer Estates.Ceramic pottery artisans craftsmen fromrenowned Romanian ceramic potterycenters take part <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> event, but alsoceramic pottery artisans andrepresentatives <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> national ceramicpottery organizations <strong>of</strong> Bulgaria, France,Greece, Italy, Moldova, Serbia, Spa<strong>in</strong>,Ukra<strong>in</strong>e and Hungary. Visitors can tastetraditional products from <strong>the</strong> area, and canbuy from <strong>the</strong> stands <strong>of</strong> ceramic pottery andcan enjoy <strong>the</strong> music <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> bands present.Bune ti June Annual cultural event which br<strong>in</strong>gstoge<strong>the</strong>r producers <strong>of</strong> strawberries <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>tradition <strong>of</strong> Valcea County.Vaideeni25-26 <strong>of</strong>JuneFolk Festival Competition, supported byartistic groups from different areas <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>country and a <strong>folk</strong> shepherd costume parade.On this occasion <strong>tourist</strong>s can taste varioustraditional dishes specific to <strong>the</strong> area.64
Change language