By taking the cultural road connecting the Region of Fagaras to the former European Capital of Sibiu, starting with localities Mandra, Fagaras, Voila, Vistea, Sambata, Recea or Lisa, every tourist may admire Fagaras Mountains, or may participate in the celebration of Christmas Day and New Year?s Eve with old customs and traditions. These customs combine traditional culture and genuineness and facilitate human interaction. Among those, it is worth mentioning the traditional songs and dances, such as: "Steaua", "Turca", "Capra", "Plugusorul", "Cetele de feciori" and the reunion of those who are blood brothers, a specific tradition in the Transylvanian region.
Lifelong Love
?The spiritual brotherhood and sisterhood is a specific custom to the Transylvanian region that disappeared during the Communism period. The blood brothers and sisters are young friends ready at all times to give their own life for those with whom they made the vow. Their motto is ?Lifelong love?. They never fight or betray each other and never disclose their secrets to others, not even when in danger. The blood brotherhoods are made in adolescence, before marriage. Those who are bounded as blood brothers have powerful feelings for each other, just like between natural brothers. This is a loyalty oath, made with all one?s heart, representative for Fagaras Region, as well as for Rupea or Rucar-Bran region. This kind of vow between young people does not exist in any other nations?, said Mr. Ioan Pumnea, ethnographer.
The Oath
To become blood brothers or sisters, friends used to get together and took an oath on bread and salt, according to the following incantation: ?I shall be your brother,/ As long as I shall live,/ I?d rather give up on bread,/ And salt/ Than giving up on you!?
After uttering the oath, the blood brothers or sisters shook their hands and the brotherhood was completed. In case one of them died, the other one acted as if his/her real brother/sister had passed away. The children of blood brothers and sisters were not allowed to marry one another, because they saw this as a sin.
Together for the Holidays
The story goes that girls also used to become blood sisters, following the same pattern as the young men. On holidays, they would gather at church, go to dance together, become very close to each other and hold on to an object they gave each other as a souvenir when they became sisters. They stay sisters for life. It?s also said that they used to eat boiled wheat, and the blood brothers in the mountain areas used to eat rice pudding or pap. They also used to make little bagels shaped as eights, symbolizing their endless friendship.
