The Saxons are a small but industrious community in Romania that has historically punched above its weight.
In 1224, a Hungarian king invited them to settle and defend the sparsely populated Transylvania from marauders from the east. Originally from an area which is today’s Luxembourg, most emigrated to Germany during the harsh communist years under a cash-for-emigration scheme devised by late Communist leader Nicolae Ceausescu.
Most remaining Saxons left Romania for Germany after communism collapsed in 1989 and travel restrictions were lifted.
Historically, the Saxons or ethnic Germans acted as a buffer between the Romanians and Hungarians whose relations were often fractious. Although a minority, the Hungarians ruled Transylvania until the Austro-Hungarian Empire collapsed in 1918, and Transylvania was reintegrated into modern-day Romania.
Today, the Transylvanian Saxon community numbers just 12,000.
Despite that, Romania’s president of the last 10 years, Klaus Iohannis is a member of the Saxon community, bilingual in Romanian and German and a staunch defender of European values and Romania’s place in Europe.
The Saxons arguably put on Romania’s best summer festival, Haferland, now in its 12th year. It was set up in 2012 by entrepreneur Michael Schmidt and singer Peter Maffay who are both local Saxons.
Haferland or Oat Land is an area located between Brasov and Sighisoara, where Saxon communities first settled in the 13th century. It gets its name from the local practice of cultivating oats and other cereals, which are more suited to the harsh climate of the region than vineyards.
Bishop Reinhart Guib, leader of the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession, thanked the pair for organizing the successful three-day festival which draws thousands of Saxons, Romanians and foreign visitors.
He thanked Mr. Schmidt and his wife Veronica for organizing and financing a concert in Sibiu last weekend where 20,000 celebrated 800 years of residence in Transylvania.
He also thanked him for renovating the Crit rectory which is now the Casa Kraus boutique hotel. The village of 600 is the heart of the three-day festival which takes place over six villages.
In recent years, Mr. Schmidt has invested in the church repairs, including the organ, and sponsored the repair of other church organs, a traditional instrument in Saxon worship as well as investing in the local primary school and disadvantaged students, a letter seen by Universul.net said.
“You are not only a patron of Transylvania and our community, and a great blessing. …Genesis 12: 2 says: “I will bless you and make you a great name, and you shall be a blessing,” the bishop wrote ending his letter on a biblical note.
Thousands expected at the popular Haferland Week Festival to celebrate Saxon traditions
