Sighişoara Medieval Festival has started

In the sound of drums, the drummer of the citadel announced on Wednesday the beginning of the nineteenth Sighişoara Medieval Festival.

In the opening of the event the craftsmen attending the festival were awarded the title of "Free Craftsmen in the Country of Vlad Dracul".

"The 2011 edition aims at offering all craftsmen present here at the Sighişoara Medieval Festival either the title of craftsmen or free citizens in the country of Vlad Dracul so that next year you could wear a costume representative of your own guild at the festival and have high-quality things that pertain to your craft."

"And from this day on may you walk freely, proud of the name you bear, trying to promote good quality. I, the Great Wolf, from the Order of the Wolf Knights tell you only this: if from now on you take into consideration our grievances, things will be as they should be. So help us God! ".

With these words the head of the Order of Wolf Knights, Liviu Pancu, opened the festival.

Sculptors in wood and glass attending the Craftsmen Fair

Emil Mălăşan from Târgu Mureş has exhibited sculptures made from linden wood, in general.

He has been practicing this craft since 1986 and works with any type of wood, but usually he uses linden, which is best wood for sculpting statues.

At his stand one can find bas-reliefs, religious hunting scenes, animals, panoplies of wild boar fangs, for stag or roe deer trophy.

He is participating for the first time in the festival and hopes to be successful because his sculptures are great woks, not kitsch.

Alexandru Rotar is the glassblower of the Order of the Wolf Knights and he tries to carry on the tradition of the glassblowers of Ardeal and practically revive the glass blower guild.

"I have been in this business since 1976 and I consider myself a glassblower who has gone through all the phases of processing glass. I can make any figurine in an open flame on the spot and create an art performance."

"The world is fascinating because I can say that I am the only Romanian who has ever done this", Alexander Rotar said.

Practicing his craft, Alexander Rotar uses traditional tools for working glass.Bottom of Form

Alexander Rotar uses traditional tools when blowing glass.

Translated by: Denisse-Meda Bucura
MA Student, MTTLC, Bucharest University