At a festival in Transylvania, Romanian and foreign officials on Sunday spoke about “diversity, tolerance, cultural openness and economic cooperation” and the need to protect democracy in Europe.
The last day of the four-day Haferland Festival in central Romania was attended by Senate speaker Mircea Abrudean, European Parliament lawmaker Siegfried Muresan, and Romanian and foreign diplomats.
The message went far beyond the small Saxon community of 12,000 who live in the rolling hills of Transylvania to appeal to Europeans to defend democracy and their neighbors who are under assault from Russia.
“In the 27-member European Union, you can only live in safety if your neighbors, Moldova and Ukraine are also safe,” said Mr. Muresan, who is the vice-president of the European People’s Party.
“The values of the democratic world, which also allow us to be here today, have been tested, here in Romania, in other European countries and in countries in our neighborhood. “Let us express ourselves, let us defend these values, no matter where you are,” said he said.
“The Haferland Festival has become a tradition in Romania and a symbol of intercultural dialogue…. which create bridges between the past and the future,” said Senate speaker Mircea Abrudean. “Diversity is seen as a precious resource for Romania’s cultural heritage”, he added.
Some 8,000 people attended this year’s Haferland Festival which was held across 10 villages.
“Thirteen years ago, this festival was just an idea. Today (it) has become a meeting place for thousands of people. … For us Saxons, community does not only mean having houses that are close together, but building true connections between people,“ said the founder of the festival, Michael Schmidt, also chairman of the M&V Schmidt Foundation.
“In the Saxon villages, the neighborhoods were like extended families. In the current context, these models are more important than ever and have kept us Saxons close, regardless of distance or time,” said the Crit native, the village which is at the center of the festival.
“ The values of the neighborhood are the engine of the rebirth of this area. The Haferland Festival successfully supports the revival of villages and the development of the local economy,” he added.
In a video message, Angela Ganninger, Germany’s ambassador to Romania said that “the diversity of the different ethnicities here and their religious communities can develop their identity and culture in freedom.”
Israel’s Ambassador Lior Ben Dor, praised the “cultural openness” that the Saxons offer.
“We thank the Romanian people for the common history that the Jewish people has lived here, over hundreds of years. The festival is about how communities live with each other. As Israel’s ambassador to Romania, I cannot fail to talk about the Middle East neighborhood. We also dream of good neighborliness, but now we must first of all ensure our existence, our lives, and we still have to fight and work to bring home all the hostages who are still in captivity in Gaza, in dark tunnels. We know that 20 of them are still alive. We are here among friends and thank you!”, said the diplomat.
Apart from speeches, there were events to revive old Saxon traditions such as a ritual of chasing away evil and remembering the Saxon identity. Locals wearing hats, masks and whips paraded at the festival, and symbolically chased away evil spirits.
The personas known as ‘Iolas’ (or Urzeln in German) are said to be responsible for protecting the values of the local community,
According to legend, the residents of the village of Agnita withdrew to the community fortress which was under siege by the Turks. The village was rife with disease, locals were dying, and discouraged and frightened and wanted to surrender.
They needed a miracle which came in the form of a demon, who chased off the attackers with whips and screams.
The lolas parade n Sunday was accompanied by traditional Saxon brass band music and Saxon dances.
This year’s edition of the Haferland Week Festival took place under the High Patronage of the President of the Romanian Senate and under the Patronage of the Head of the Federal Chancellery of Germany, Thorsten Frei, Minister for Special Affairs.
