On January 22th and 23th Brasov County Centre for Preservation and Promotion of Traditional Culture has organized the Foscnich's Holiday in Fantana and Cuciulata villages belonging to Hoghiz commune, in Bunesti commune and the pertaining villages, in Comana de Jos commune and Ticusul Nou village. This holiday is 200 years old and it has been borrowed from the Saxons who used to live in a large number in these regions.
The Unification Day
Parties similar to the Masked Balls of the Saxons and Hungarians are organized around January 24th in Rupea region, namely in Bunesti, Comana, Hoghiz communes and Mercheasa, Viscri, Fantana, Cuciulata villages. In some places, this holiday is called Fosnich (Cuciulata) and in others such as Daisoara, it is called "Vecinătăţi" (proximities) or "Nobării". "Fosnich" comes from an old Saxon holiday which has been taken over the years by the Romanian communities from these regions. As time passed by the holiday has been associated to the patriotic symbol of the Unification Day which is celebrated on January 24th.
The Proximities
"Being far from the neighbouring settlements forced the people from certain communities to organize themselves inside their local collectivity. Therefore, small associations were set up such as or < Nobarii >, whose names came from similar associations created in Saxon villages such as Daisoara, Ticus, Merchiasa, Parau or Rupea. Depending on the street, there was the Lower Proximity, the Upper Proximity, the Front or the Back Proximity. Through this custom some artistic groups specific to their area were formed, and cultural exchange between them was possible," said Mr. Adrian Valusescu, Manager of the Brasov County Centre for Preservation and Promotion of Traditional Culture.
Mutual Aid
The members of Proximities help each other with money, agricultural products, food and labour force when the community faces natural disasters. At important events in a family's life such as wedding, baptism or funeral, the villagers gather in a large number, each of them bringing something.
A traditional event called "The Assembly of Proximities" takes place every year on January 24th, under the symbol of the Unification of Principalities.
