The Epiphany, called ?Boboteaza? in the Romanian Christian calendar, is celebrated in various ways in the villages of Brasov county. The feast marks the end of the winter Holidays and it?s celebrated as a big popular feast.
The Holly Water
In the commune Cristian, the Epiphany is celebrated after the religious service held in the church. The men come out holding the vexilla ? the church flags ? and submerged them in the water of Ghimbasel creek. The priest sanctifies the waters and every spreads every parishioner with holly water.
In many villages of Tara Fagarasului, local men dive into the nearest creek around the village. This year, due to the frost, villagers were forced to break the ice in order to celebrate the Epiphany.
The Ice Cross
In Beclean commune, villagers make a cross of ice. They go then to the river to sanctify the water. The youths make a barrage of stones to accumulate as much water as possible. Then they dive in; it is an ancient habit, transmitted from father to son.
The Elders on the Logs
In Felmer village, on Rupea area, the Epiphany is the moment when locals announce the weddings. Usually, people used to make the weddings on winter. because during summer they were to busy with the field works. If until Epiphany, the future grooms failed to announce the wedding, they had to go into the forest, cut some large logs and drag them to the village, with the elders riding the logs.
