Hora Nuntașilor (HOH-rah noon-TAH-chee-lohr) was presented by Sonia Dion & Cristian Florescu at the 60th Stockton Folk Dance Camp (2007). Dance notes…

The word Nuntașilor¸ means wedding guests. Whether in western Romania (Banat) or any other region in the country, marriage is a commitment that still today is an important stage in people’s lives. Marriage is synonymous with a multitude of rituals and customs, which vary from region to region, but everywhere weddings are always celebrated with a lot of spirit and given much importance. Due to the significance of the event, everyone prepares for it long in advance.

In Romania, two crucial people must be chosen: the witnesses, referred to as the“godfather” and “godmother.” They become members of the family and playa major role in all the wedding preparations, the civil and religious ceremonies, and the celebrations. In the city, organizing a wedding can give rise to arguments about the guest list (you mustn’t forget anyone but you can’t invite everyone!), the date, the priest, the invitations, the hall, and so on. In the country, some of the problems are easily solved. For example, the invitations may be extended by the vornicei (best men), who go around to all the houses, their flasks of ţuica (brandy) in hand, announcing the wedding in song and inviting everyone that way.

An occasion for merrymaking and countless feasts in the country, the wedding begins with the matchmakers’ meal followed by the engagement or “fir tree” feast (the fir tree symbolizes fertility), which reaches dizzying heights of partying, as does the wedding banquet proper. The wedding will begin to wind down with the meal for the vornicei and druşte¸ (bridesmaids), one for the in-laws, another for the cooks, the meal of colaci (a kind of Romanian bagel) and finally the meal held a week after the wedding at the bride’s parents’ to thank them for their daughter’s purity.

At the wedding banquet, guests are welcomed with bread and salt, and in some places, with an offering of colaci. Each guest is greeted with a musical march and then takes his or her place before a first course—usually an appetizer: sausage, salami, mici (meat croquette), caşcaval (cheese), olives, icre (fish roe spread), tomatoes, spring onions and a small glass of ţuica. The best dishes—ciorbe (soups), sarmale (cabbage rolls), mamaliga (Romanian polenta), veal escalope, fish, etc.—painstakingly prepared by the village women, are set down, one after the other, for hours as lively traditional tunes are played. Amidst all these dishes, roast fowl will be presented as people dance and the “godfather” is teased. At all times drink flows, whether it is Murfatlar wines or different kinds of brandy such as ţuica.

One of the most important customs, which is still very much alive today, usually comes after the first coffee and the cake (cozonac) are served: the gifts are announced. The vornicei go from table to table announcing aloud the offers of gifts. The “godfather” will be generous so as to raise the stakes. The grander a wedding, the more guests must loosen their purse strings. Each gift is followed by exclamations and musical approval, depending on the size of the present.

Throughout the wedding, dance has pride of place, of course. In some regions, the dances are done in a precise order and will always be done following the tradition. Hora nuntaºilor is usually done after the newlyweds’ dance. All the guests must join in and the accompanying lyrics sing the praises of the main celebrants. Trãiascã mirii! Long live the bride and groom!