Surrounded by the magnificent Carpathian landscapes and radiating a specific rustic-medieval aura, the Transylvanian household is the key element in the traditional village’s self-sustainment; thus it constitutes a source of natural foods unique in Europe.
The traditional rural Romanian household located on Transylvania World’s territory, remained well-preserved throughout the ages, keeping most of its characteristics since medieval times. On a small scale compared to the Western rural households, the Transylvanian household is self-sustaining in a rustic and unpolluted environment, unique in Europe. Cropping bio foods in this habitat redefines the term “natural product” and generates an ascending international brand in a niche which is starting to take off globally.
The Transylvanian household from Romania is the key component of the traditional Romanian village. It is perfectly integrated with the natural surroundings, it is the main source of traditional and natural goods, but it also has a significant role regarding the arts and crafts and especially the folklore which evolved from the Dacian mythology. The household has a mixed character as the place where the villagers’ basic actions take place: agriculture, raising livestock and pomology.[1] [2] [3] [4]
Usually located nearby the foothills that delimitate Transylvania, on the valleys and mountain plateaus, the village enjoys a highly natural environment full of biodiversity and also the natural beauty unique to the Carpathians; sometimes these villages can be found at over 4500 feet altitude.
Tourists visiting the village or household for the first time are greeted by a rural atmosphere with a medieval flair. The country specific smell - wood, hay and flowers - combined with the songs of birds and the sounds of animals that freely wander the village streets offers a truly unforgettable experience.
The house represents the landmark to which the Transylvanian household annexes report to. Thus, the rustic constructions which form the household are arranged in a certain pattern, closely linked to its utility. Any traditional household includes several buildings which form a whole, the main place being occupied by the building in which the family lives.
Around the house, usually other rustic utilities are placed, such as the workshop, the woodwork, the fodder barn, the poultry coop, the pigsties, the stables for cows and sheep and in some places one can see the special room for storing maize and the cellar (in which vegetables, pickles, alcoholic beverages or canned products are being kept).[5] [6] [7] [8]
The oldest confirmed European civilization, Cucuteni Civilization, introduced the two storied houses in Transylvania. The Romanian peasant introduced his original version of household architecture, one which withstands from the medieval period and fits perfectly with the natural environment, serving for all his activities.
The traditional house usually consists of two or more rooms, an entrance hall which serves as antechamber and sometimes a pantry, a porch and a summer kitchen. About 100 years ago, the living room had a multifunctional role, being used both as an actual living space as well as a storage space for various goods or a kitchen in the cold seasons. When the house had only two rooms, one was destined for living and one for the chest with dowry (in which traditional clothing and valuables were kept).
Nowadays houses with several rooms, sometimes on two levels are preferred, a distinctive feature being the retained interest for the wider use of wood.
The particularity of traditional Transylvanian households is given by their small size. The strong industrialization that has dominated Western Europe removed traditional households from the landscape, Transylvania being virtually the only area in Europe where one can still find these. Pronounced industrialization and the development of exclusively oriented towards profit farms in Europe also led to excessive use of chemical fertilizers, with negative repercussions on the product quality.[9] [10] [11] [12]
The traditional Transylvanian village households are the exact opposite of the above example. The family that owns household uses natural fertilizers originated from their own animals. Food surpluses of household goods end up as animal nourishment, completing this way a closed
Truly natural foods are produced by small farms found throughout Transylvania, and the naturalness of the products can be determined even based on color, size and their unmistakable taste. Traditional cuisine use natural ingredients from farms and this gives them a unique flavor.
The Transylvanian cuisine has been influenced by the intersection of cultures that visited this territory but combining these techniques and influences, which in turn are used to create the products, gives them uniqueness and generates an extremely conducive setting for the development of culinary tourism. The main Romanian products are various types of cheese, milk, ham, and house made cans: jams, syrups or vegetable stew (a snack made from vegetables).
Transylvanian villagers still use hand-operated tools and equipment. Plows pulled by horses or oxen drawn yokes are still used nowadays for the process of cultivation. Wooden mills for grinding cereals are also used in Transylvania, together with wooden version of the modern washing machine, preserved since ancient times and operated using river water.
The tradition of collecting and using medicinal plants has been used since antiquity and is still present today. Exactly like the ancient Dacians, nowadays Romanians’ ancestors, villagers themselves collect the necessary herbs which are abundant in the neighboring hills and the mountains; they place high value on their usage in different varieties of teas and tinctures. The result of these natural treatments is that the Romanian peasant does not need regular doctor appointments; he successfully manages to take care of himself thanks to medicinal plants and ancient methods.
Ancient and medieval traditions were preserved extremely well in the villages and households. Popular feasts, fairs, or hundreds of years old habits are opportunities for the whole village to celebrate together but also an ideal opportunity to gather together several villages.
The family life in a household is conducted in close contact with Transylvanian folklore and folk traditions. The wonderful Romanian legend and stories with fantastic characters such as the werewolf and vampire are among the first things that parents tell their children. In this way both their continuity and the omnipresent mystical Transylvanian atmosphere is maintained.
Men deal with agriculture or raising livestock while some of them specialize in crafts such as working with leather, furriers, saddling or sculpture. Women deal with the household maintenance, the preparation of traditional food, weaving and sewing costumes.[13] [14]
It should be noted that all these activities have common elements; the key point is harmony in the household. Activities are interconnected resulting in various specializations within the village. Thus, some villagers specialize in the production of vegetables, others in meat, and some in dairy products, and when they needed supplies, they trade with each other. Every household is specialized on one or more types of products.
The traditional household is a key element of the existence of the Transylvanian village itself. The self-sustainment of the village is possible thanks to the and vice versa. The referred cyclicality has been kept for hundreds of years, offering a downright unique setting in Europe. Living in a household focuses on the idea of family, home grown exclusively natural products, livestock and crafts, all of this happening in a magical space with a medieval atmosphere.[15] [16]
Note: The Transylvania World concepts are an essential part of the association brand and their usage has to quote the source and reference this website.
