On 6th of July more than 1000 Sekler girls and boys dressed up in traditional costume were dancing during the opening ceremony of Thousand Sekler Girls Meeting in the heart of Miercurea Ciuc, on Liberty Square. “Look around! This is Sekler land!”- As the attendances were welcomed by Mr. Sándor Tamás, president of Covasna County Council. Metaphorically speaking, he added that “the Sekler girls and women are weaving their souls in their traditional Sekler costumes and once a year they are kneeling down in front of the Blessed Virgin celebrating and presenting their homage to Her. The traditional costume raises its wearer giving special splendour and a festive mood. We need to be proud of the black-red combination featured on our costumes because we have a past whereon we can build a glorious future. And the here present more than 1000 Sekler girls and women are vitalizing our community.”
The next speech was held by Mr. Csaba Borboly, president of the local territorial organization of DAHR (Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania) in Miercurea Ciuc. As he put forward “we have values, which we should be proud of, and this organization of this event was thinking about a better world full of hope and faith.meeting is a special occasion offering the possibility for celebrating and preserving our traditional values. In the course of the Hungarian history the Sekler girls and mothers always have had an important role in the community’s life. It’s not a coincidence that Mr. Péter Pál Domokos when initiating the organization of this event was thinking about a better world full of hope and faith.
Since then, the Sekler girls’ meeting always has had an important message to transmit. In 2013 the message is that we have to stay together and collaborate with each other in order to have a better future. In this respect, girls and mothers play an essential role, because they are the ones bringing peace, care and love into the life of the community. I think with this attitude we are able to build a strong community based on collaboration”.
After the public dance held in Liberty Square, in front of the building of Harghita County Council, the attendances were travelling with horses and traditional chariots to the church of Sumuleu Ciuc, where the holy mass was held by a Franciscan monk. In his sermon, the Franciscan monk highlighted again the main message of the event: “we want a youth generation in strong faith with pure morality and a stable identity”. He said that God created us here, he imagined us here and we have a mission here.
After the holy mass, the event was continued in Sumuleu Ciuc, on the plateau of the Sumuleu Mic Mountain, where Mr. Róbert Ráduly, the mayor of Miercurea Ciuc and Mr. Attila Császár, the mayor of Racu held their own speeches. In the afternoon, the Harghita National Sekler Folk Ensemble was entertaining the audience performing the “János Vitéz”, which play is based on a Hungarian poem. On the final dance scene they invited those who were present on the event, and based on the traditions –as it is seen on the first picture of the present article - they took a picture with all the participants of the event. Subsequently, it was continued with celebration and traditional dances.
During the programs handcraft exhibition and fair were organized, where more than 60 local producers were offering their products for those interested.
In this year more than 1726 girls and 826 boys were taking part in the event wearing traditional Sekler costumes. Most of the participants came from the village of Sânsimion, who accordingly received the dedicated award of the event, namely the sacrament chair, and also receiving the right to be the hosts of the event next year.
Miercurea Ciuc, 6th of July 2013
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