Novaci - The Heart of Pastoral Tradition in Oltenia
Many Romanians who hear about the pastoral area of Oltenia think of Novaci. Here in the foothills Parâng MassifFrom where the Transalpina starts its way to the mountains, shepherds from the Marginimea Sibiului lived peacefully until 1918. In the past, when there was no tourism or logging, the people of Novara lived in a place that could easily be called a forgotten settlement.
Nowadays, more and more tourists are coming to Novaci, who are keen on mountain areas and their customs, traditions and traditions. Many of them don't know where to look first and which scenery to enjoy the most.
In the opera "Picturesque Romania" to him Alexandru Vlahuță we find a description of Novaci as it was at the end of the last century: "At noon we enter Novaci - an endless village, perched at the foot of the mountain, in the beautiful valley of Gilort. White thatched houses rise here and there, scattered among the orchards. The Gilortul flows through the centre of the village, setting in motion mills, windmills and dams whose murmur echoes in the grove of poplars that stretches along the water."
Before the Transalpina was asphalted, tourists and locals had access to the Parâng Mountains via Gilortului Valley, going through Gilortului Gorges. They arrived in Rânca Resort only after leaving behind Mount Dâlbanu.
Since the summer of 2014, when heavy floods destroyed part of the gorge and the road winding through the cliffs, the only access route to Rânca is Transalpinawhich passes through Plaiul Plaiul Novacilorin addition to Scărița Hill and over the Cerbu, Plopu, Florile-Albe and Cornesu mountains. In the past, only the shepherds would venture from there to the high pastures of Parâng to watch over the village of Novaci.
"Sheep Climbing in the Mountains", the shepherds' feast in Novaci.
Not being a religious holiday, "Sheep climbing in the mountains" is the day dedicated to the shepherds of Novaci. It is celebrated on the third Sunday in May, in Hirișești Forestclose to the religious feast of Saints Constantine and Helen. This date is considered by locals to be the best time to take flocks of sheep up into the mountains.
In 1968, the local authorities wanted to organise an event in honour of the shepherds. At first it was simply called "Day of the Shepherds". Over the years, the event has grown to be called Sheep Climbing the Mountain Festival.
The festival carries with it an old custom of the locals, transhumance. After spending the long winter nights on the plains of Bărăgan or Banat, amid blizzards, snow and rain, the shepherds return to Novaci, celebrate their day, then slowly head for the green pastures of the mountains. The road between Novaci and Parâng is also called the old transhumance route. Sheep roam the mountain paths all summer until late autumn brings snow.
Folklore, Novaci's greatest treasure.
The folklore of Novaci includes songs, games, shouts and shepherding. In the shepherd villages neighbouring Novaci, on the left side of the Gilort river, tourists can still hear the ancient language of ancestors and forefathers, with words like "plough", "soriță", "dodă", "Mum", "damsel" or "leliță" constantly used in speech. Those interested can also find out about legends of Novaci... for almost everyone here knows fantastic stories.
Folk songs, whether from Oltenia or Transylvania, are meant to convey ancient messages to listeners. The shepherds' songs from the area around Sibiu and the Novaci area of interference convey incredibly detailed information about the life of the shepherds who went to the mountains and the life of the women who stayed behind to look after the village.
And shouts had an interesting role. To show their joy at being present at time played every Sunday in the centre of the city, the locals used shouts adapted to the different rhythms of the music.
P.S.: If you would like to learn more about traditional music, shepherd's costumes or legends, do not hesitate to visit Novaci. For those who are undecided, we, the team TransaTravel, we can give them information. We have texts on everything. The curious just have to come to Novaci or ask us for information that will convince them to visit the land of the shepherds of Gorj.
