Around January 24, in Rupea area, several localities organise cultural events dedicated to the Romanian Principalities Union. The feast is known under the name fosnich, an ancient German term, or ?Proximities?. In 1859, Moldavia and Valacchia realized the Union under the reign of Alexandru Ioan Cuza. The inhabitants of Ardeal, the other historical principality, wished hardly to participate at the event. ?At that time, Ardeal was under Austrian-Hungarian domination. Nevertheless, its inhabitants danced the Union Round, in honour the great occurrence. Their descendents celebrate since then this national feast, emphasizing the distinctive elements of the each locality? the ethno-folklorist Ioan Pumnea says.
Table covered with meals
At Daisoara, an 800 inhabitants village, there are four vicinities. Each one sets at the communitarian house a long table, putting on it various meals they cook at home. Everyone seats next to its neighbour, they eat and party together; at the end, they dance the round, dressed in folkloric cloths.
The Vicinity?s World
The vicinity is constituted only by the families formed around a household. The members of the vicinity help each other with money, agrarian products, food, in case of catastrophe, take part at the most important moments of life ? weddings, funerals ? help each other in building a house or farming. They participate together at the public works: streets scavenging, fountains cleaning, dikes digging or repairing the bridges destroyed by the flood.
The Vicinities Encounter
The vicinities also have a cultural purpose; its members are encouraged to respect and love each other, to love their country and transmit the tradition to the young generations. Every vicinity is lead by a three persons committee, wherefrom the leader is selected. The vicinity also administrates a popular bank, constituted from the annual fees and the hire of the furniture On January 24, the Romanian Principalities? Union occasions the traditional event
?The Vicinities Encounter?
Impersonating Characters
In Mercheasa village, local people turn back time to celebrate the Union in a distinctive manner. They use to impersonate famous characters of the time as the prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza or the peasant Mos Ion Roata. Dressed as the originals, they cross the village, exhorting the people to dance the Union Dance and participate at the big ball.
