The Festival Roaina from Cristian
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The 1st edition of the Festival Roaina took place at the end of February, in commune Cristian, the county of Brasov. This event, which is organized using UE funds, is part of a project for the promotion of the tourism potential of this place. This festival revives an old forgotten custom which used to be practiced by the local Saxon community in the pre-Lenten period. The importance of reviving this custom is added to the other events which remind of leaving winter behind and the rebirth of the whole nature.
After 20 years
"Year 2012 means for the people from Cristian the resurrection of a custom dedicated to the rebirth of nature. After 20 years since the last time it was celebrated because numerous Saxons had left for Germany, Roaina is a custom deeply rooted in the life of the Saxon community. We will now re-enact it and transmit it to the future generations from Cristian. The re-enactment of the custom was possible with the help of a few Saxons still living in Cristian, for whom this festival was still fresh in their memories, as well as thanks to the priest of the Evangelical Church from Cristian, Uve Seinder," said Mr. Serafim Dragos, Mayor of Cristian.
The meaning of the celebration
The Festival Roaina has been resumed after a preliminary research carried out by the specialists from the Service for the Preservation and Promotion of the Traditional Culture within the Cultural Centre Reduta from Brasov. This custom involves a parade made up of the members of the folk group called Junii Cristianului and the middle school students from Cristian. It is for the first time that children are involved in the performance of this custom and they get to choose the symbols. There is no allegoric cart as it happens at other festivals from other places such as the Saxon Fasching or the Hungarian Farsang.
The meaning of this celebration is the struggle of people to chase away all evil things connected to darkness and coldness and to help daylight triumph.
The schedule of the event
The Festival lasts two days. It opens with the procession Roaina accompanied by brass band, marching through the streets from Cristian. On the second day the festival includes a carnival, a masked ball and an artistic show opened by the folk (brass band and dance) group Korona.
Other moments of the show include German and Romanian folk dances performed by the folk groups from Cristian, dance competitions, light music recital, comic moments, folk music concert performed by orchestra "Plaiuri transilvane" and the group of singers "Tara Barsei" and an extraordinary recital delivered by Cristian Pomohaci. The host of the show is Claudia Miritescu.
