The area Fundata - Sirnea - Moieciu is a sacred zone within Brasov county, where the fire
continues the tradition started with the holy fire of the Antiquity, the Prometheus?s fire, the Olympic fire, the biblical one. All the inhabitants gather around the fire on Saint Dumitru?s eve, to celebrate a special costume.
Sacred dances at Sirnea
Just before winter, on Saint Dumitru, the inhabitants of Sirnea village, light ?The Sumedru?s Fire?. Children wearing traditional clothes light a huge fire dancing sacred dances around it. The most braves jump through the fire of Sumedru, the protector of the harvests and the shepherds. The fir is lit on the hills, in the upper part of the area, so that it could be seen from far away.
History and Mythology
Prof. Radu Fruntes is the soul of the Sirnea?s community, the one who revives every year the costume.
He established a museum in the memory of his father, Nicolae Fruntes, gathering various objects used by the inhabitants, farming utensils, icons and furniture of the old houses of the local people. The visitors came to see the Sumedru?s Fire also could discover how to cook a sheep in a tin kettle, they attended the lightning ritual and danced with the inhabitants around the fire.
The Sheep Flock?s Fire
On Fundata - Sirnea - Moieciu area, they talk about the eternal sheep flock?s fire. The shepherds always carry with them brands to light fires when they halt. The fire was meant to chase away the beasts and the bad spirits. On Saint Dumitru the inhabitants used to carefully chose a fir in the woods: it had to have a cross atop, 4-5 meters high, absolutely without curves. The fir represented the life?s ladder that people climbed to the divinity. The inhabitants used to burn the fir as they way to thank God.
