Six young men chased away the heathen, in a village in Mures. “It’s been a tradition for as long as I can remember. From my grandparents”

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They attended the Easter service, feasted on selected dishes, and then ran away to the hills of the village, followed, of course, by other villagers. We are talking about the running away of the heathen, a custom respected with sanctity in a locality in Mureș county. As tradition says, the young man who goes out to plow first, is chased by other villagers, who can’t wait to catch him and… throw him into the stream.

By Sorin Tantoş on 06.05.2024, 11:42

Immediately after the Easter service, six young people from Sânmihaiu de Pădure chased the pagan, whose goal is to climb the church tower and ring the bells without being caught.

Boy: Every year, at Easter, this tradition takes place. They say that the most industrious boy must run, that is, the one who plowed first this year, and we see if he is the most industrious in the whole village.

It is a test of endurance, which the pagan has to pass in order to save his reputation. Otherwise, it risks being thrown into the stream that runs through the village.

Local woman: If they don’t catch him, they bring him to the church, put him on his back with his hands like this, in the shape of a cross, and he is surrounded by red eggs and “Christ is risen” is sung.

Local: Pogănici called the one who whipped horses or cattle to make them walk. And then they chased him up the hill and if they didn’t catch him, if he could run away from catching him, when he came to the church, he would ring the bell and he had to sit back and put 10 liters of wine at his feet, at head – a kilogram of brandy and, around, eggs.

The heathen was caught and thrown into the stream

Beyond the show and fun, people say that the tradition also gives them motivation.

Local: He made people more industrious, that is, he hurried to go to the plow.

Local woman: This tradition with the pagan has been around for as long as I can remember. From grandparents ancestors.

This year the heathen was caught and thrown into the stream. The punishment that the first householder of the village must now bear is to honor all the boys who caught him.