Brasov County Council, the County Centre for Conservation and Promotion of Traditional Culture Brasov, along with Budila town hall and the local house of culture organized the masks cortege, an event awarded with the Title of Excellency in the geographic corridor Prejmer - Budila – Teliu. This year marked the first edition of this event, banned by communists.
Chasing the Spirits
The masks represent important characters of the community, who cross the village asking the inhabitants for donuts, sausages, meat, bacon, wine or plum brandy for the party of the night. The cortege passes from house to house to exorcise evil spirits and purify the households on the verge of spring and a new agricultural year; the entire community attends the evening ball.
The Earl’s Larder
The village elders tell that, on the earls’ time, a gang of villagers in disguise used to enter the counts houses to verify if there was sufficient food until spring and the animals were well cared for and fed. According to Budila mayor, Constantin Galborcea, one of the villagers use to steal form the count’s larder sausages and bacon for the party in the village.
Burning Mummies
The custom takes place in a particular location, with a pillar in the middle and straw around it. The mummies are placed in the middle, and the villagers burn the straw, symbolizing the burning of the old and chasing evil spirits.
