PAȘTI LARGE PAINTING

Part of The Calendar Art collection of 14 paintings depicting 14 of the most important celebrations of the pastoral Romanian year, all created in chronological order (but not necessarily previewed in this manner here). The inspiration came from the rich culture, traditions and mythology of one of the most authentic Romanian area, Mărginimea Sibiului. After thoroughly studying the landmarks of the celebratory year of the locals, rich in traditions, songs and dances, it’s clear that we’re looking at 3 main cultural layers- the base one, an ancestral religion that’s left only residual information for us, a middle layer of the solar cult (inherited by the cult of Mithra) and the last and most present in today’s collective conscience, the Christian layer (their initiators made a clear effort, at Christianity’s beginnings to change the subject of the “pagan”’s celebrations- instead of celebrating the winter Solstice we celebrate the birth of Jesus, instead of celebrating an old Thracian god of thunder and rain, on the exact day, we celebrate Saint Elijah).

THE STORY

In Galeș, Mărginimea Sibiului a hundreds-year-old custom is kept, by which the locals build the “House of God”. According to museographer Carmina Maior, its origin is somewhere in the 19th century, imitating the tomb of the Lord in Jerusalem. A strong wooden skeleton is built, which is covered with fir branches and placed in the middle of the church. It has the shape of a rectangular cell, with an opening towards the door of the church. In the four corners are four small fir trees. Inside, on a small table, an icon and two candlesticks with candles on one side are placed.
In the old days, the honor of building belonged to the lads who cut and brought the logs, and that of keeping vigil, from Friday night until Resurrection, belonged to the children, under the guidance of the cantors.