The Transylvanian Museum of Ethnography, a public cultural institution functioning under the authority of the Cluj County Council, invites you on Thursday, May 18, 2023, from 6:00 p.m., to the folklore performance “Old-Time Weddings”, organized in partnership with the County Center for the Conservation and Promotion of the Cluj Traditional Culture.
Consecrated artists, traditional and playful groups will bring back to life the ancient traditions and customs of the Cluj weddings. The performance will be sustained by Amalia Codorean Chindriș, Iosif Rusu and Mariana Morcan, together with the “Transylvanian Wreath” Orchestra, musical director prof. dr. Ovidiu Barteș. The following will perform in front of the audience: the “Mugurel” Student Folk Ensemble of Babeș-Bolyai University and the School of Super Dancers, coordinators choreographers prof. Alina Remeș and Paul-Alexandru Remeș, the traditional group of Negreni villagers, coordinators prof. Florina Varadi and priest Marian Văcariu, and the “Orman Traditions” Group, coordinated by Aurora Cozma.
During the event, the public is invited to find out what the stages of the wedding were and what traditions and customs existed in ancient times, related to this important moment in a person’s life. A decisive moment in the life of man and the village, the wedding is a folkloric manifestation of great complexity, through the multitude of ceremonial-ritual acts that unfold chained as in a real scenario and are marked by a poem of great beauty. These acts mark the separation of the couple from their old way of life and integration into family life. The play, the song, the orations and the good will were not absent from the pomp of this ceremonial. Everything took place, in ancient times, according to unwritten laws, rooted in the ancient tradition and respected with sanctity.
Today, however, these traditions and customs are practiced less and less. Some of them, such as: the wedding invitation, the preparation of the bride, the cry in the threshold, and receiving bride and groom by the moher-in-law, offering the hen to godparents and the bride’s play will be staged in the representation“Old-Time Weddings”, presented by Grigore Sâmboan.
The event will take place in the Reduta Hall of the Transylvanian Museum of Ethnography, 21 Memorandum street.
The event access is free!