The British Ambassador on Sunday praised the Haferland Festival, which celebrates age-old Saxon traditions, and said if it didn’t exist, it would have to be invented.
The three-day festival now in its 11th year has become a magnet for politicians and princes as well as thousands of ordinary tourists. It showcases Saxon culture, traditions and hospitality with book launches, village balls, brass bands, dancing, traditional cuisine, pottery-making and open-air dining.
It takes place in the villages of Crit, Viscri (where King Charles has a house), Mesendorf, Saschiz, Homorod, Archita, Roades, Cloasterf and Bunesti and the town of Rupea, in south Transylvania where the Saxons settled in the 12th century.
Andrew Noble, a regular visitor to the festival, who speaks Romanian and German, warned that “time was running out” for the small community, most of which emigrated to Germany during communism and in the immediate aftermath. During communism, they were sold by Communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu to Germany for hard currency.
Noting that his boss, King Charles III, was an expert in Saxon village life, Mr. Noble praised the continued success the festival, but warned that in 10 years time the Saxon community could dwindle to three figures, i.e. less than 1,000, which would make sustainability harder.
He also acknowledged the efforts of Michael Schmidt, an entrepreneur and philanthropist, who started up the festival in 2013 and continues to be the motor of its success.
This year, the high-powered event which focused on sustainability took place under the patronage of His Serene Highnesses the Prince and Princess Alexander von und zu Liechtenstein. It’s the first time when they have patronized a cultural event in Romania.
Mr. Schmidt, his wife Veronica Schmidt who run the festival, Princess Astrid von and zu Liechenstein, Mr Noble, German Ambassador Peer Gebauer, Israeli ambassador Reuven Azar, Romania’s Ambassador to Austria, Emil Hurezeanu, and Romania’s Ambassador to Cyprus Dan Mihalache, were among the people who gave speeches Sunday lunchtime.
The event was hosted by well-known television personality Andreea Marin, who looked charming in traditional Saxon dress. Other personalities who attended the event were former Foreign Minister and historian Adrian Cioroianu, manager of the National Library of Romania, Irina Cajal, undersecretary of state in the Ministry of Culture, Liviu Jicman, manager of the Romanian Cultural Institute.
Haferland which means Oat land in English came about thanks to composer and musician Peter Maffay and entrepreneur and philanthropist Michael Schmidt who was born in the Saxon village of Crit, a hamlet of 600, before emigrating to Germany and then returning to build business.
On Saturday evening, Cecilia Noble, a mezzo-soprano, Matilda Noble, a soprano, daughter of the British ambassador and Adina Cocargeanu, piano performed works by Antonio Vivaldi, Robert Schumann, Gabriel Faure, George Frideric Handel, Andrew Lloyd Weber, Alessandro Stradella, Leo Delibes, Tomaso Giordani, Christof von Gluck, Franz Schubert and John Rutter.
At the end of the event, organizers presented Mr, Noble with a copy of a book from 1826 containing 170 dangals or local symbols, representing each Saxon village in the region.
„In 41 years of diplomacy, I was 100 % certain, nothing could surprise me anymore. This friendship is not a surprise, only the form, because I feel here, in this community, a lot of warmth and friendship and future,” he said, promising to return after his term ends.
