Gyimes

Between the Ciuc/Csik basin and Moldavia, the Csángó Hungarians of Gyimes live in the snowy passes of the Gyimesi Straights in the Carpathian mountains of Transylvania.  Living in the narrow vallies alongside the tributaries of the Tatros/Trotuș  river, their villages lie along the long stretches of the streams with houses scattered further up the mountains. Originally owned by five Szekler villages, the land was populated and leased for grazing to Transylvania and Moldavia from the 17th-18th centuries. The people primarily made a living from alpine livestock farming and logging.

Due to the isolation of the area and the lifestyle of the old Gyimes Szekler people, a more archaic culture was preserved until recent decades and can be seen through the material environment of the region: in the costumes, music, dance, customs and folklore.

Since the end of Communism in Romania for more than 20 years change has accellerated in Gyimes. With job losses and the buying up of agricultural schemes, in the absence of a livelihood people are facing serious difficulties. Young people, however, are at the heart of preserving their heritage in the region, experiencing and passing their traditions on. At the festival, young people from the Gyimes region will showcase their unique-sounding music, dances and costumes; alongside telling stories about the lives of Gyimes people.

Young Musicians from Gyimes

Musicians and Dancers from Gyimes:
Loránd Bodor, Henrietta Simon, Mária Irén André, Csaba André

  • Festival Calendar
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    JUNE
    24
    25
    JULY
    1
    2
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