On the occasion of the Catholic Pentecost, the Peony Festival which gathered several fanfares from Brasov, Covasna and Harghita counties took place in town Budila, county of Brasov. This was the first edition of the Festival and though called the Peony Festival, a flower which can be found in almost every local household, the fanfares were the in the centre of people?s attention, because they combined nature and music in one great cultural event.
Religious culture and tradition
The Festival was organized by the Hungarian community from Budila, assisted by the County Council of Brasov, the County Centre for Preservation and Promotion of Traditional Culture of Brasov and the Sustainable Development Agency of Brasov County, together with the City Hall of Budila. The entire community participated in the event, Romanians and Hungarians living in good peace.
After the completion of the church service, the Catholics headed to the stage arranged in open air, with peonies and birch branches in their hands, both of them symbolizing spring, hope of life, and the vivid green of nature, the spirit of spring and everlasting unaltered traditions being therefore emphasized.
Unique fanfares
The Mayor of Budila commune, Mr. Constantin Galborcea, said: ?The event was presented both in Hungarian and Romanian, thus addressing each citizen in his native tongue. We invited ten fanfare bands at the event, but only six attended which was not bad at all for the beginning. The bands are unique and the instruments cost over 1 billion lei. The Fanfares Festival was organized for the first time on the occasion of the Catholic Pentecost and we hope it will become traditional.?
Mr. Attila Kovacs, Vice-President of the County Council Brasov, said he has encouraged this event and hoped it would strike root just as the peonies did.
The Festival Program
The Festival opened with a parade of Hungarian folk costumes and the traditionally dressed Hungarians parade through the town, with adorned horses and fanfares? parade. The program included: Fanfare Concerts performed by bands from Ozun, Brates, Tg. Secuiesc, Arcus, Crizbav, the German Democratic Forum, Tusnad, Baraolt, Zagon. The participants were awarded diplomas and were invited to return next year for the second edition of the Peony Festival ? the Fanfares Festival.
