The National Village Museum Dimitrie Gusti is expecting visitors between September 8 and 9 for the traditional Saint Mary Fair. The event marks the end of summer and the beginning of autumn with specific activities in agricultural communities.
The Saint Mary day used to be celebrated with fairs held in Romanian villages and cities, which were an opportunity for communities to meet and market autumn products – crop products or home-made items.
Several religious music moments will be offered at the fair by Anton Pann Byzantine music band while the children theatre Tandarica company will bring fans the opportunity to meet the favorite puppets Vasilache and Marioara.
As part of the fair’s program, visitors can be initiated in the art of making glass and wood icons, whose main painted character is Saint Mary and can purchase traditional products.
The program also includes handicraft demonstrations by established icon painters and launches of painting albums; religious musical moments with the Byzantine music band Anton Pann of the Romanian Patriarchy, traditional folk music and gastronomy. Visitors can purchase pies, honey, jams, sponge cakes and gingerbread, and many more surprises.
The entire program can be seen below:
Saturday, September 8
12.30 – Icons exhibition with Saint Mary. Artists: Vladimir Baciu, Mihaela Bădescu, Stela Costache, Carmen Catană, Cecilia Cişmaşu, Radu Dincă, Ileana Ometiţă, Irinel Parasca, Oana Ducu, Vasile Moldoveanu.
13.30 – Tandarica Theatre performance: “Vasilache si Marioara la targ”
14.00 – concert held by the Byzantine music band Anton Pann of the Romanian Patriarchy
14.00 – 16.00 – art of making glass and wood icons workshop
15.30 – Tandarica Theatre performance: “Povesti cu Vasilache si Marioara”
16.00 – Traditional Romanian music. Artists: Maria Butaciu, Maria Stroia, Ana Maria Arnăutu
16.30 – musical performance – The sound of music. Artists: Cornelia Tihon, Daniel Bădoi.
Sunday, September 9
12.00 – Clasic Band 2000 Fanfare performance
13.00 – Traditional Romanian music. Artists: Rodica Anghelescu, Georgiana Mănăilă, Ion Drăgan, Alexandru Pătraşcu
14.00 – 16.00 – art of making glass and wood icons workshop
15.00 – Creveniceanca Folk music concert from Crevenicu, Teleorman
Photo: Dimitrie Gusti Museum Facebook Page
Oana Vasiliu