Unique traditions in Sercaia
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Sercaia, situated on the road connecting Brasov to Sibiu, is ready to welcome its tourists who wish to spend their Christmas holidays and New Year`s Day in a traditional way, attending the celebration of old customs and tasting food specific to the region of Ardeal.
Sercaia includes the villages of Sercaia, Vad and Halmeag, which in time have become an important connection between the Romanian, Hungarian and German cultures, thus leading to an increased attractiveness of this place as a destination for tourism.
These localities are ideal to stop over or visit for a few days. One can find here old churches of different religions and genuine customs and traditions still continuing to be celebrated.
An invitation to Şercaia
"Sercaia still preserves its old customs and traditions, some of them being quite unique. The people here are friendly, eager to receive guests in their prosperous households. The local cuisine is specific to the region of Ardeal influenced by the Transylvanian Saxon and Hungarian cuisines. The chain of monasteries (Sambata, Bucium, Dejani, Carta and Fagaras) surrounding this place offer to the tourists the chance to find out more about monastic traditions and they are a good place for meditation. All these can be a good opportunity to spend the winter holidays here, enjoying the parade of Ceata of young men, horse-drawn sleigh rides, listening to carols and admiring the national costumes and the Christmas tree," said Mr. Cristinel Paltin, Mayor of Sercaia.
Ceata (group) of young men
The Festival of Cetele de feciori (the groups of young men) is the most spectacular event around here and it is organized each year in Tara Fagarasului. It is a parade of groups of young men from all the villages in the region.
In the villages of Vad and Sercaia, young men dressed up in traditional costumes go from one house to another accompanied by musicians, horse-drawn carriages carrying the gifts they receive from the peasants` houses. Sometimes girls are also carried in these carriages. Ceata custom is celebrated between Christmas and Epiphany. Tourists are also invited to join this traditional procession.
Events during the year
"Ceata de feciori" is not the only event from here. There are also other customs, festivals and fairs such as: "Plugarul", which is organized the day after Easter in the village of Vad when the most hardworking young man in the village is honoured by being taken to the river onto a harrow carried on the other ones` shoulders; the Daffodils Festival which takes place on the occasion of Saints Constantine and Helen`s Day in the Forest of Vad; the Days of Halmeag in August which features parades of national costumes and bucolic parties; and the Goods and Livestock Trade Fair taking place twice or three times a year in each village.
