The commune of Halchiu, known as a multicultural place, where Romanians, Hungarians and Germans are living together, has many feasts during the year. Even though the Germans have left the commune during the big exodus in 1993-1994, they have returned to celebrate 200 years since the reconstruction of the Evangelic Church.
The Returning of the Saxons
Around 350-400 Saxons have returned, with their families, from Germany to Halchiu, in order to commemorate the anniversary of the Evangelic Church. There were children of 3 or 4 years old, but also people at the age of 80, looking for their roots. After attending the religious service, they organized a traditional dances program. After that, the folkloric group ?Floare de Castan? presented Romanian traditional dances, along with a folkloric group from France, whose members are part of ?Le Regain de Chablis?. The feast ended with a show called ?The wine of honour, The night of good-byes?.
The Evangelic Church
The Evangelic Church was built in the XIII-th century, then it was rebuilt in the XV-th century and also in 1807. The western portal has been kept as in the beginnings, with lots of profiles painted in renaissance style (around 1530). The old documents say that in 1280, in that very spot, there was an old catholic church, built of wood and stones and dedicated to Saint Andrew. In the 15th century, the catholic church was rebuilt in gothic style and turned into a evangelic church. It was surrounded by the resistant walls of the fortress, and inside the church, the rooms were used as refuges during the war, and after as deposits. In 1802, a devastating earthquake affected the church, a big part of it being destroyed. Even though, the altar, built over 300 years ago (1527) remained intact. The church has been reconstructed and today looks exactly like in the old days, becoming an attraction for the tourists.
French cultural Exchange
The French folkloric group that came from Chablis, France, also attended the celebration of 200 years since the reconstruction of the Evangelic Church. Their presence in Halchiu is a follow-up to a visit made by the members of the Romanian group, ?Chastain Flower? in France, last year. Everything started from the idea of a woman from Halchiu married in Chablis, Daniela Valdenaire.
Jacqueline Fromonot, the leader of the French group ?Le Regain de Chablis?, declared: ?Thanks to this lady, we are here, in Halchiu, to return the visit of the Romanian folkloric group, ?Chastain Flower?. The group that I lead is a group of traditional dancers from Bourgoigne, a famous area for the wines produced here. Our dances tell the story of the wine, beginning with the working of the soil, the sewing of the plants to the moment of producing the wine and organizing the feast of wine?
Halchiu?s Days
Another important event that put together the entire community was ?Halchiu?s days?, opened by a brass band and followed by the autumn fair, sport activities and a artistic program sustained by the group ?Orizont? . Also, there have been a traditional clothes parade, a show of the group ?floare de castan? in collaboration with other groups from Comana, Codlea, Dumbravita, Ghimbav and the singer Iancu Salajan, accompanied by ?Taraful Tara Barsei?.
The farmers attended a cow, horse and sheep?s exhibition, and the best house holders from Halchiu gained prizes. The feast was beautifully ended by a spectacular firework.
