Maramures

The tradition that was kept in the villages in north-western Transylvania is legendary. The inhabitants of these valleys come from the Dacians. Their state independence had a period of maximum flourishing during Decebal’s ruling in the first century A.D., before the roman conquest. It was followed by successive migration waves.

Despite all the hostilities, those who leaved in these villages kept their traditions and folklore alive. Today, you can visit these places and admire the unique life style of the people who leave here. Few other regions in Europe have developed such a strong rural culture.

Agriculture has always represented the basic element that ensured the existence for people in the mountains. This fact reflects in local traditions. The December Festival takes place in Sighetu Marmatiei, during which costumed parades are organized. There you can see interesting masks that portray animals.

Sighetu Marmatiei is a town typical for Maramures, famous for its fairs, popular costumes and lively atmosphere.

The most representative characteristics for villages in Maramures are the churches with a tall steeple and a roof made of shingle. Some of these date back from the XIV-th century. Another very developed art is how to embroider traditional costumes. At Sunday afternoons, both men and women show off their costumes and they dance, the way it has been done for centuries. Women wear colored kerchiefs, flowery skirts and black sheepskin coats. Men wear black pants and white sheepskin coats. There are some differences in costumes from one village to another.

The city Baia Mare is located right in the heart of this region. Thanks to its many hotels, this city is the starting point for many trips. On of the most appreciated is the one from Surdesti, where you can find the tallest wooden church in the region. Another trip like that can be made in Sapanta, place famous for its “Happy Cemetery”, whose carved tomb stones, along with the humorous epitaphs, represent a celebration of the dead.

The Happy Cemetery is famous for its colorful grave crosses, naïve images picturing scenes of the life and work of the buried people. On some crosses there are even lyrics that remind, many times with humorous nuances, of those people. The novelty of this cemetery is the differentiation from other cultures, who consider life a solemn event.

The particular culture of this cemetery has been linked to the Dacian culture, whose philosophy was based on immortality and the thought that death was a reason for joy, because that person would reach a better life.

The cemetery has its origin in a few crosses sculpted by Ioan Patras. In 1935, Ioan Patras sculpted his first epitaph, but since 1960, the whole cemetery has been populated with approximately 1000 crosses, carved from oak trees, and thus becoming a unique museum in open air.