Shooting the Scape ? rooster
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Apaţa village is situated at the natural border between Braşov and Covasna Counties, separated by River Olt, on the railroad Braşov-Sighişoara which makes the connection between Romania and Central and Western Europe. ?The village is picturesque, and the tourism will become very profitable. The population is already aware of the agro-tourism activities; they know what it represents and what the incomes may be?, mayor Boloni Iuliu considers.
The shooting of the rooster
The oldest tradition in Apata is ?the shooting of the rooster? and it dates back to 1600, during the Tartars' invasions. They say that the people in Apata have hidden in the citadel to escape the invaders. At that time the citadel used to be surrounded by water. The inhabitants have also hidden the animals; when the invaders came, they found the village deserted. They decided to leave, but a rooster scared by some noises started to fly. The Tartars came back, found the people inside the citadel and killed them all. The tradition is to shoot a rooster in commemoration of the inhabitants killed by the Tartars. Nowadays, the killing is only symbolic; the rooster is drawn on a metal sheet and it is fired at with a special bow.
Reward for the heart
The young people of up to 14 years gather at a peasant's house 6 weeks before the Easter and they start the rehearsals for the ?shooting of the rooster?. On Easter?s first day, they go roundabout the village together with the brass band and sing specific songs in Hungarian. The tradition is considered to be unique. The ceremony takes place on the hill near the citadel, and the participants shoot the rooster one at the time; at the end they go back to the farmer's house where they start eating.
The one who hit the rooster's heart gets a reward. In the evening they organize a ball at the Community Centre.
The rifle with arrows
The ancient rifle is a special one: it is made of wood and it looks like a bow with arrows. The boys wear clothes specific to the area, a green hat with a rooster feather, black leather boots and black pants.
