Seasonal traditions draw tourists to Romania's Maramures region

(28 Dec 2017) SEASONAL TRADITIONS DRAW TOURISTS TO ROMANIA'S MARAMURES REGION
In a remote corner of northwest Romania, some locals are preserving age-old customs and drawing tourists to one of the most beautiful areas of the country.
The traditions, which have been around for centuries in the Maramures region, blend typical Christmas activities and rural folk rituals.
Even though thousands of Romanians have emigrated from Maramures to Western Europe for better-paid jobs, some of those who stayed have worked hard to keep their traditions alive.
Tourists travel to the region over the holiday season to admire the landscape and to be charmed by Christmas customs.
Just before Christmas, some houses keep at least one light on to bring good fortune, and carol singers go from house-to-house and serenade villagers.
On Christmas Eve, when the celebrations begin, local religious farmers rub garlic into cattle horns and on barn doors to scare off 'evil spirits', which some people believe could dry up the cows' milk supply and harm villagers' livelihoods.
The winter season is a time for playing with masks, in the belief that they offer magic protection and can even give people superhuman strengths.
Many visitors are drawn to the region to see local residents dressed in folk costumes and performing traditional dances.
Men wear belts adorned with bells and run through the streets to scare pedestrians or 'evil spirits' lurking on corners or in alleyways.

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