On Sunday, May 11, 2024, the Golești Museum will host an exceptional cultural event dedicated to preserving and promoting Romania’s traditional heritage: The National Romanian Traditional Gatherings („Șezători”). The courtyard of the historic Golești Manor will become, starting at 11:00 AM, a vibrant meeting place for lovers of Romanian folk traditions and traditional costumes.
Organized by the Argeș-Mușcel Gathering (Șezătoarea Argeș-Muscel) in partnership with the Golești Museum, the event will bring together nine „șezători” (traditional women’s gatherings), each representing a different region of the country: Făgăraș, Veneția de Jos, Avrig, Sfântu Gheorghe, Codlea, “Șezătoarea dintre cărți” from Brașov, Ținutul Pădurenilor, Buzău, and Argeș-Mușcel.
The event will begin with the welcoming of guests and the presentation of the participating groups. Each party will contribute its own regional flavor—through folk costumes, traditional songs, rhyming greetings, and storytelling—rekindling the warm and communal spirit of the old-time village gatherings. In front of the manor, hosts and guests will exchange festive greetings in the traditional Romanian style.
At 12:00 PM, guests will be invited to enjoy a traditional Romanian lunch at the museum’s rustic inn, where dishes will be prepared following authentic regional recipes.
The program will continue at 1:00 PM in the Golești Park Pavilion, where the museum will unveil the exhibition titled „„Colțul cu șezătoare”, showcasing the art, atmosphere, and customs of these traditional gatherings. The celebration will also feature artistic and musical performances by the children’s folk ensemble “Resteul” from Bogați (Argeș County), instrumentalists (accordion, flute, voice), and folk singers: Ileana Jacola Machidon, Sasha Ciurea, and Daria Prică, performing alongside the choir “Mărturisitorii” from the Curtea de Argeș Children’s Club, coordinated by professor Ileana Jacola Machidon.
Throughout the day, participants will have the opportunity to engage in conversation, share experiences, and exchange knowledge—strengthening cultural bonds in the spirit of mutual respect and appreciation for heritage.
At 2:30 PM, everyone will join in the traditional Hora Mare—the Great Circle Dance—in the courtyard of Golești Manor, a powerful symbol of unity and joy rooted in Romanian folk tradition.
At 3:00 PM, the nine gatherings will travel to the Mioveni City, where they will take part in the Parade of Traditional Costumes, organized in celebration of Romania’s National Day of Traditional Dress. The day will conclude on a festive note, highlighting the living connection between past and present, craftsmanship and identity.
The National Romanian Traditional Gatherings will be more than a cultural event—it will be a heartfelt celebration of Romanian identity and an homage to the communities that keep tradition alive through gesture, word, costume, and song.
