Sâmbra oilor la stână - sâmbrași la masă. Cercetare teren în Țara Oașului, comuna Certeze, jud. Satu Mare (1980)

Ioan George Andron · 1980

The sheep’s kernels are a custom that the shepherds adhere to each year: in spring, after the first milking, the amount of milk is weighed, and then it is divided to the sheep owners, and in this way it is known how much curd, how much cheese and how much urde is due to each householder during the entire grazing period; the separation and counting of sheep as the measurement of milk by shepherds starting with herds to the meadows in the mountains from which only fall. The gathering takes place on the hill from Huta Certez. The shadow representing a kind of unwritten contract, but respected with holiness, an understanding, a household regulation, a protocol on the major affairs of the oierite. The picture presents how it happens after the “measure” when the ritual feast follows on the meadow in the immediate vicinity of the rock. On the green grass, we spread wiping and carpets over which lay the culinary goodies specially prepared for this festive moment. Women prepare special dishes (lamb’s drob, steak, sarmale, cozonaci, lamb’s stud, etc.) and men take care that the drink is sufficient. Down, on the grass, we place the common table: the artistic and multicolored embroidery of the tablecloths (gloves in the area), the ornate towels (wipes) and the desagas, as well as the vivid colors from the popular holiday costumes, give the eye a picturesque setting of the hill and forest landscape. For this great celebration all the participants wear the most beautiful holiday clothes, many being made especially for this celebration. The prepared alimntes are transported in desagus new “kernel desaga” for the realization of which the women had a lot of imagination and craftsmanship. Veselia is maintained by the “CeterV” (lute singing from the violin) and their specific shouts (“tâpuV” in the area), continuing with the dance “in two” or with the “wheel of the virgins.”