The Golești Museum invites you to visit the exhibition “The Land of the Forest Dwellers: Memories for the Future,” featuring traditional costumes from the private collection of Mrs. Floriana Anton. The opening event will take place on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at 1:00 PM, in the Ethnography Section of the Golești Museum. Our special guests will be Mr. Rusalin Ișfănoni and Mrs. Doina Ișfănoni, renowned ethnologists and researchers of Romanian folk traditions and traditional dress.
Ținutul Pădurenilor (literally, “The Land of the Forest Dwellers”) is a distinct ethnographic area located in Hunedoara County, in southwestern Transylvania. It lies in the Poiana Ruscă Mountains, at the historical border between Banat and Transylvania. Spread across a plateau at elevations between 600 and 1100 meters, this region is naturally enclosed by deep valleys and dense forests, which allowed for the preservation of archaic cultural forms.
The villages are nestled on sunny hilltops, surrounded by terraced agricultural land. This geographic isolation fostered a relatively insular community with a strong and well-defined cultural identity. The region stretches along the Cerna River and includes communes such as Bătrâna, Bunila, Cerbăl, Ghelari, Lelese, Lunca Cernii, and Toplița, as well as villages like Alun, Cerișor, Poienița Voinii, Plop, Ruda, Vălari, and others.
The area is known not only for its dramatic landscape and pristine air but also for its enduring traditions, preserved across centuries. Historically, the people of this region relied on terrace farming, shepherding, mining (in Ghelar, Vadu Dobrii, and Alun), talc extraction, and woodworking. The first written mentions of local villages date back to 1297.
Traditional Women’s Costume
The women’s traditional dress is one of the most distinctive elements of the Pădureni culture. The blouse follows a straight cut and consists of two parts: an upper section and a long lower section that reaches the ankles. The sleeves are richly embroidered with geometric motifs—zigzag patterns, large rosettes, crosses, stars, and stylized floral symbols—using red, black, dark blue, or violet thread. A specific stitching technique involves densely layered, colorful thread combinations.
Over the blouse, women wore two handwoven wool aprons dyed in natural black, followed by a tightly woven belt and a broader waistband. The centerpiece was a decorated belt featuring cast tin ornaments and clasps made using traditional stone molds—crafted by local artisans in villages like Bunila. Women also wore chains with keys, silver coin necklaces, beaded collars, and ceremonial woolen dresses reserved for festive events.
For holidays and ceremonies, women would wear a richly embroidered sheepskin vest. In winter, they dressed in thick woolen coats and traditional leather footwear with hand-knitted socks. At weddings, the bride’s hairstyle followed a specific ritual marking her transition into adulthood and was adorned with floral crowns and silver coins.
Traditional Men’s Costume
The men’s costume is more austere yet equally symbolic. The long shirt, usually made of hemp or cotton, was paired with white woolen trousers, occasionally decorated with colorful woven accents. Men wore wide leather belts, and during celebrations, they donned embroidered sheepskin vests.
In colder seasons, heavy coats adorned with traditional motifs—such as eight-pointed crosses surrounded by tricolor embroidery, symbolizing national identity—were commonly worn. Hats came in several styles, from wide-brimmed varieties to green ones decorated with wild boar bristles, purchased at regional fairs. Like women, men also wore traditional leather footwear and woolen coats.
The costume was not only part of daily life but was worn with pride during ceremonies and festivals—weddings, church feasts, and seasonal customs—serving as a powerful marker of cultural identity.
Customs and Traditions
Pădureni traditions are deeply rooted in the rhythms of nature and life events. Wedding rituals, for example, include symbolic fertility gestures such as water sprinkling, planting trees, and ceremonial hair arrangements for the bride. Music, provided by folk instrumentalists, and dance were central to these community celebrations.
Other major events tied to the agricultural calendar include the “measuring of the milk,” sheep gatherings, and winter festivities with caroling and ritual games. Traditional dress played a vital role in these contexts, marking stages of life and social status.
Cultural Significance
The traditional costumes of the Pădureni are not only artistic expressions but also living records of local history. They reflect the mountain lifestyle, the social structure, and the connection to nature’s cycles. The Pădureni people have preserved this heritage through oral transmission and craftsmanship. Families like the Lucaci of Ghelari have safeguarded and exhibited authentic garments dating back to the 1930s.
Today, Ținutul Pădurenilor continues to draw attention through the authenticity of its customs, traditional clothing, music, architecture, and gastronomy, standing as a testament to the richness of Romanian rural culture.
