Object Book WEB EN

DISCOVER
IZVOARELE
DISCOVER
IZVOARELE
This material was made during the project ”Izvoarele Unveiled”
[2016-3-RO01-KA105-035584], an EVS project cofunded by ANPCDEFP through European Union's Erasmus+ Programme
and implemented in Romania by Curba de Cultură
The information and views set out in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official
opinion of the European Union. Neither the European Union institutions and bodies nor any person acting on their behalf
may be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained therein.
DISCOVER
IZVOARELE
This material was coordinated by
Cosmin Catană
Kristina Piskur
Authors
Isabella Campo
Alba Romo Calvo
Roman Kadlec
Gabriel Eduardo Marimón
"A Cultural Monograph of the Izvoarele Commune"
The materials of this book were put together by a team of young people, gathered from all around Europe. Being excited about discovering a small, rural
commune, Isabella, Alba, Roman and Gabriel joined the Izvorele Unveiled project in summer 2017. In the one short year of their stay here they have learned
the basics of the local language, built friendships with the seniors as well as with youngsters in the commune, created an interactive map of the community,
filmed the locals in their everyday life, researched geography, history, culture and folklore in the area. The National Volunteers Gala 2017 has publicly
recognized their efforts by nominating them finalists for the best volunteer team of the year.
Published by Curba de Cultura in Izvoarele, Prahova in 2018
DISCOVER
IZVOARELE
ABOUT THE BOOK_________________________________________________________________________________________________________1
ABOUT THE TEAM__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2
ABOUT THE COMMUNE_____________________________________________________________________________________________________ 3
Geography
The villages
Historical overview
The past through the inhabitants
Demography
UNVEILING THE COMMUNE_________________________________________________________________________________________________4
A house in Izvoarele
Fruitful yards and animal breeding
Pig slaughter
Religion and rituals
Foresty treasures
Abundance of water
WANDERING AROUND______________________________________________________________________________________________________ 5
Paths through Izvoarele
Old wooden bridge
Izvoarele from the heights
Favorite place to chill
Into the forest
Bearless shortcut
Taking a bath
TABLE
A TASTE OF THE COMMUNE_________________________________________________________________________________________________6
Chicken soup
Cabbage rolls
Corn Porrige
Vegetable spread
NOT TO MISS______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
7
Festivities calendar
Places
Nature & viewpoints
Leisure time & culture
Monuments & religious infrastructure
OF
Local administration and accomodation
Services & useful info
BIBLIOGRAPHY___________________________________________________________________________________________________________8
CREDITS_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
9
CONTENTS
ABOUT THE BOOK 1
This material is the result of a 12 months inquiry into the village life of Izvoarele commune, Prahova County, Romania. Without the pretense of being an
academic document and drawing upon modest ethnographic information, it is the focused work of four European volunteers and their supporting team
who embarked upon the discovery of the unusual and the extraordinary in, what is to local eyes, the mundane and the ordinary. This material does not
represent an attempt towards a thick description and analysis of community life in Izvoarele, Prahova yet it may reveal, even to the unwatchful eye,
some of the cultural, personal and very subjective traits of daily life in our village.
It has been a while since the Romanian anthropologist Vintilă Mihăilescu (2013) stated that the community spirit had died, refering to Romanian village
ABOUT
life. We, in Curba de Cultură, have had difficulties in embracing this reality ever since and we've been working towards unearthing a sense of
community identity. A shared one, within our commune. For a shared identity, a conscious one, is what brings people, and helps them stay, together.
This material is centred on the people of our commune and their environment, on the thoughts and practices they have shared with us, on their animals
and geography, on their paths and bathing places. This material is the stepping stone to what we wish would be – paraphrasing George Stocking – a
village building ethnology and hopefully opens a path for other students and scholars who wish to investigate into the daily life of rural Eastern
European citizens.
THE Curba de Cultură

ABOUT THE TEAM 2
Isabella Campo is coming from Italy, yet just before moving to Romania she was studying in Paris where she finished her
master studies in history. Isabella is a walking dictionary, fluent in Italian, French, English, Romanian and Ancient Greek and
able to learn whichever new language she comes across – in the last year she has mostly been practicing Spanish and
Czech with her teammates. She enjoys reading just as much as hiking and wandering around the commune. In her year
here she explored Romanian culture in depth, mostly in the fields of architecture, history and geography of the area. Being
very analytical and skilled in technology, she is pretty much able to answer any question. Also she knows best where places
in the commune are.
Alba Romo Calvo studied Social and Cultural Anthropology in Madrid, Spain. Being very curious about different cultures,
ABOUT
Alba was developing her expertise overseas – in Chile and Japan. In her experience with Romanian culture she was
passionate to understand the festivities and celebrations in the area as well as the role of the Orthodox religion in Romanian
culture. Just as Isabella, Alba enjoys walking around and chatting with the locals. She was the first one to join the Christmas
celebrations and went carolling with the local kids – and gathered an enviable amount of candies.
Roman Kadlec is coming from Czech Republic, where he finished marketing and communication studies. His passions are many
and varied, but playing the guitar like a professional is one of the most obvious ones – in just a few months in Izvoarele that skill got
THE
him a role in a local theater play. Having a history as a frontman in a rock'n'roll band, he is great with charming the locals and
making strong friendships. Roman is curious about the typical Romanian households, agriculture and farming and everything that
involves nature. He says it's the hills, the forests and the mountains that make Izvoarele such an amazing place.
Gabriel Eduardo Marimón is coming from Spain, but is originally Argentinian. Passionate about music, cinema and
animation and skilled with both computer and camera, Gabriel has been the main cameraman and editor for the digital
materials of the project. Besides all the hard skills, Gabriel was (along with Roman) always the first in contact making with
the locals, being highly sociable and enthusiastic about… well, pretty much everything. He is also specialized in Romanian
sweets for 1 leu, trendy music and places to have fun when you are 21.
ABOUT THE COMMUNE 3
The commune of Izvoarele, formed by the villages of Malu

Vânăt, Homorâciu, Izvoarele, Schiulești, Chirițești and
Cernești, is situated in the north of the Prahova County,
which is part of the Muntenia region (also known as
Wallachia).
The commune itself is the administrative means of

organization of the six villages mentioned (that was
officially done in 1968), and according to the Romanian
administrative division of the territory, this means of
organization usually implies that it is smaller than a town.
The total surface of the commune is 75 km², including the
areas reserved for agriculture and cattle and the habitable
area.
This place is relatively close to 3 cities: in the South, there

is the industrial city of Ploiești, further south, there is the
capital city of Bucharest, and in the North, crossing the
Carpathians Mountains, there is the city of Brașov. The
connections between those 3 cities and the Commune of
Izvoarele are possible thanks to the national road that it is
mainly used for commercial transportation.
GEOGRAPHY
GEOGRAPHY
GEOGRAPHY
The Carpathian Mountains, one of the largest mountain range in Europe, are also close to the commune, specifically the Southern Carpathians. The area is
characterized by the hills that surround the Commune and by the Teleajen Valley and the Crasna river that crosses it. This place is rich in natural springs and
water, which are close to the surface, making the formation of the river possible and also, it explains why it is possible to find so many wells and fountains (most
of them with potable water) along the commune.
The commune also benefits from a relatively undisturbed ecosystem with a rich landscape and biodiversity in flora and fauna, being the habitat of endangered
species such as brown bears and wolves and with old forests of pine and fir trees. This environment is characterized by a temperate continental climate,
meaning that the differences between the seasons are notable, with warm summers that can reach 30°C and cold winters with temperatures of -20°C. The
snowing season can happen between the months of November and March, and the rains are common during spring and autumn, making the perfect conditions
to preserve those big forests.
The geographical emplacement of this rural commune partially determines the living conditions and the lifestyle of the inhabitants. The agriculture and cattle are
the principal activity and the main source of income and subsistence for the population. The houses still maintain the traditional heating system, which means
that the houses generate and maintain the warmth through the fire made in stoves. This interaction with the environment, using and maintaining the natural
resources, makes it possible for the commune to be almost self-sufficient.
GEOGRAPHY
THE VILLAGES
Izvoarele: ”The springs”, from the numerous springs found in the area
Homorâciu: From the Magyar word homor, which means “quick”. It could refer to the speed of the river or, according to others, the sight of the
shepherds and their animals running down fast from the steep hills; Homorâciu Pământeni “indigenous”, inhabited by locals; Homorâciu Ungureni
“hungarians”, meaning in general people who migrated from the mountains.
Malu Vânăt: “Purple cliff”, referring maybe to the dark color of the clay or the salt in the hills.
Cernești: family that lived in that village, whose name was Cernat.
Chirițești: From the name of a certain Chiriţă, whose heirs supposedly settled here together. Also known as “over the river”.
Schiulești: From “Schei Brașovului”, a part of the city of Brașov from which the merchants came through the mountains.
THE VILLAGES
HISTORICAL
OVERVIEW
Nowadays, the commune of Izvoarele is crossed by a national road, the DN1A, which connects the cities of Bucharest and Brașov. Here, big trucks and car honks mix
with horse carts and cow moos. You could say that it is a place on the way to somewhere else. The village is well connected to the rest of the wider world through the main
road, but it looks at it speeding by while keeping its own slow and steady pace.
For a long time, this has been a place that connects. The position along the river Teleajen, a great channel for communication, has encouraged people to settle in this area
since Prehistory. Archaeologists have found traces of settlements in the village of Homorâciu dating back to what we call the Neolithic Age (5000-3500 before Christ).
Fertile lands and mild climate must have helped as well.
On a hill called Cetățuia were found the remains of a citadel belonging to the ancient population of the Dacians. Now the ruins are not visible anymore, but the metal
objects that the archaeologists have found there are displayed in the Museum of History and Archaeology of Ploiești. Villagers say that for a long time people have
continued digging at the top of the hill in search for more “treasures”.
HISTORICAL
OVERVIEW
The citadel was destroyed by the Romans who defeated the Dacians and conquered the region. They built a fortress not too far from there, on the other side of
the hills. In the 2nd century AD this area was at the border of their empire, but these borders were not like walls meant to keep people out, or strict lines that
separated the inside from the outside. Instead, the idea was to control who was coming in and out. In the case of the Teleajen valley, it was like a corridor
between the Danube in the South and Transylvania in the North where nomadic populations came and went and traded products, like the salt this area is very
rich in. This is why we can find remains of Roman fortifications all along the valley, so that they could keep an eye on the movements of these barbarians and
control the resources.It was a good strategy, but it did not last forever. After the end of the empire, different populations occupied the area one after another.
During this time of invasions, since there was not a strong central power to make the population feel safe anymore, people relied on their local community for
defence and trade. Cities lost part of their importance while villages flourished.
We do not have a way to know exactly when the villages in the area of the commune were formed, but, as many other settlements in this part of Romania, they
were inhabited by free peasants, called moșneni, who owned the land they lived and worked on, as opposed to the serfs who had to work on land that
belonged to someone else and obey their lord's will. The independence of the farmers is shown in the shape the villages have: they are not built around a
noble's castle or a powerful monastery, but they follow the road or concentrate around an element that is important for the community, like the church. People
today still pride themselves in their tradition of rural independence and self-sufficiency.
Still, these communities were not at all isolated and in the 13th century the Teleajen valley continued to be a border area and an important connection between
the North and the South, especially for the people escaping Hungarian rule in Transylvania. As Hungarian lords took control of Transylvania, they acted to
have more power over the land and took away the traditional liberties of the inhabitants, so people moved toward the South, and part of them settled around
here, close to the border.
However, being in an area of passage also means that it is convenient for enemies to come through. The Turks of the Ottoman Empire, which had conquered
the Balkans, came through the valley and a battle was fought against them in 1602, close to the village we call today Malu Vânăt.
HISTORICAL
OVERVIEW
A cross on top of a hill overlooking the village of Homorâciu
commemorates a legendary local hero named Stoica, who supposedly
warned the local population of the arrival of Turkish invaders by lighting
an enormous fire. He was killed by the enemies, but everyone in the
valley had time to prepare their defences. The legend says that he was
buried on a hill, which was then named after him.The villages kept
developing in the 18th and 19th century, during which documents record
many sales of land and reorganizations of the territory as well as new
common buildings like churches and schools.
Communism in the 1940s accelerated these changes and brought more

infrastructures and modern buildings. However, land was confiscated
from its owners and collectivized. The return of the confiscated
properties in 1991 probably resulted in an even stronger attachment to
the land, in spite of the emigration towards bigger cities that was
encouraged by the communist regime.
Since then, the inhabitants have felt the rhythm of change accelerating
even more. They look back and see all the things that have been lost.
Memories, traditions, commodities, cultural heritage… On the other
hand, a first-time visitor might feel the exact contrary, that time here has
stopped and the past has been preserved as if it were in a jar. It is not
necessarily contradictory, though. After all, the shepherds here have
whistles and a Nokia.
HISTORICAL
OVERVIEW
Izvoarele - Prahova

[2016-3-RO01-KA105-035584], an EVS project cofunded by
ANPCDEFP through European Union's Erasmus+ Programme
OVERVIEW
HISTORICAL
THE PAST TROUGH THE
INHABITANTS
“I had a very beautiful childhood with my gradparents that were really caring and with all the spaces around here were green and open. There were not a lot of
fences in the village at that time. “ L., Izvoarele
“An old legend says a treasure was burried here. People were coming here to dig in order to find the treasure, but I don't think there ever was one. And we
were coming here as kids, just to sniff around here, walk around… It was a beautiful forest… The way to here seemed to be shorther back then, now I find it
long.” A., Cernești
This used to be an empty place. Just hills and fields. Initially it was few people coming from elsewhere, that created a small settlement over our creek, Crasna, a
very small settlement, created about 40-50 years ago. Small, with just a few small houses. N., Schiulești
In the 60's a change came, new houses were built in the area, old ones were brought down, because people needed new space, but a lot of barns stayed, as the
commune had a lot of animals; in their way of living people kept traditional activities.” A., Izvoarele
“In the communist times, with modest means of back then, just after the war, conditions for the development of the commune were created. We were having a town
hall, militia, doctor, vet, we had a cultural center, here in the commune. ” N., SchiuleștI
in that period, before 1989, so in communism, people had this tendency towards the modern. It was considered old-fashioned to have a carpet, woolen carpet, in
the house. It was more fashionable to have a persian carpet. I remeber the obsession of my mother to buy one.” A., Izvoarele
“When my son got married, 24 years ago, I brought the carpets to the cermony hall, put them on the walls, on the floor, woolen carpets. I exposed all the dowry
carpets from my mom. My son's wedding was the first wedding in Homorâciu village that had carpets on the walls and cloths on the tables. I started with it in our
village and from then, one by one everybody did it, now there is even a company that is decorating the chairs and the tables.” M., Schiulești
THE PAST TROUGH THE

INHABITANTS
DEMOGRAPHY
Although there is no updated database about the inhabitants of the commune, some census have been done that can give an insight of the demographic situation of the
place. In Romania, the censuses are done every 10 years, so the last two ones are from 2002 and 2011. It shows a progressive depopulation in the Commune of
Izvoarele, being in 2011 a total of 6577 inhabitants, a progression that started in 1984 and continues until the present with some variations during the 1990s.
st
From the end of the 18th century to the mid-80s of the 20th century, the population increased. But since the beginning of the 21 century, the depopulation has been
constant. Those years of increasing population, especially since the mid-60s, went along with the Ceausescu regime and with all the policies applied to control and
increase the natality in the whole country, as well as with the new industrialization of rural areas in Romania and with the collectivization of the agrarian lands and the later
division and returning of those same lands and forests to their respective owners.
Among the total population, the majority declared themselves to be Orthodox (Romanian Orthodox Church) in the official census, an aspect that is visible in the
Commune. Each village has either an Orthodox Church or a Troița (a cross that represents the Orthodox belief). Also, the majority of the population belongs to the
Romanian ethnic group, while the minority belongs to the Roma ethnic group. The census also shows that the biggest age groups go between 25 and 54 years old
(especially the group of 40-45 years old), and the lowest groups between the ages of under 5 and 9 and then more than 65 years old.
The numbers that come from the statistics are felt and perceived in several ways among the inhabitants of the commune. Some of them sense that the commune is aging
and that the generation gap is big.
DEMOGRAPHY
That feeling is partially related to the migrating movement of the
inhabitants, because some of them go to other Romanian cities,
some go to other European countries, and some, after spending time
in other places, return back to the commune.
Those migrating families are not uncommon, and there are examples
of it. Some of them have the youngest part of the family in countries
like Italy, in search of better salaries to, later on, pay for the buildings
of their family house in the commune; others have seasonal jobs in
Spain or Germany to have an extra income, but still prefer to make
their lives in the commune; and others, especially the youngsters,
prefer to continue their future abroad or in a Romanian city. On one
side, the young groups of the population migrate, and on the other
side, the adult groups after migrating come back to the commune.
DEMOGRAPHY
Izvoarele - Prahova

DEMOGRAPHY
UNVEILING
THE COMMUNE
UNVEILING THE COMMUNE 4
Being a foreigner is sometimes a great advantage. In a completely new environment everything is so different – the way houses look like, the small
gestures people make, the invitations you receive, the offer that the shops have, the food that is on the menu. These small, everyday situations can
provoke thinking about general cultural patterns and social facts. The following texts are inspired by those situations, by feelings, by thoughts and brief
conversations that can – studied under a looking glass – unveil the life of the commune.
UNVEILING
THE COMMUNE
A HOUSE IN
IZVOARELE
I was very sleepy the first time I entered my new Romanian home in Schiuleşti. It was dark and my impressions of it are a little
vague now. I had been told that I would be living in a typically Romanian country house, but I had no idea at the time what that
exactly meant. Estelle and Kristina helped me drag my luggage through the yard while Fifty Shades, the dog and guardian of the
house, was barking around. I loved it immediately. I chose to stay in the room with a door to the outside because in summer I
loved to sit on the porch with a book in the morning and absorb as much sun as I could before the rest of the house began to wake
up. That was my ritual to relax and recharge before dealing with the overwhelming novelty of this foreign environment. Now
Schiuleşti really feels like home.
Talking with people, I was surprised by their strong attachment not only to their hometown, but to their family house.
The volunteers' house in Schiuleşti is indeed an example of a typical country house in the village. It's been modified over time, for example the cow barn is now a
second, solar-powered bathroom, but the overall structure has been maintained.
The house can be entered through two different doors, one on the side and another facing the street. In the houses we visited that have the same layout, the side
door is used much more often than the front one, which is more like an official entrance for guests and special occasions. Only once in tanti P.'s house we saw her
use the front entrance, to let in some guests coming for lunch (a tanti: the equivalent in English would be “aunt” or “madam”). The front part of her house is the most
maintained and acts as a showroom for the carpets she made.
Another typical feature of these houses is the outside kitchen. This kind of annex building is called “summer kitchen” because during the warm season cooking
inside the house can make it too hot. However, the kitchen still appears to be the gravity centre of the house, and the place where guests are received. One of our
informants who lives in a newly-built, modern house, even has two kitchens: one in the back for cooking and another one close to the entrance for chatting with
guests.
Houses have often more than one secondary building, especially if the inhabitants have farming activities. There are barns and coops for the animals, and storage
space for wood and hay. Often in a corner the outside toilet can be seen, as having a bathroom inside the house is not possible for everyone in the village.
A HOUSE IN
IZVOARELE
According to an Eurostat study published in January 2016, it is the case of 38.1% of Romanian households. Tanti M. told us: “The majority [has the bathroom] in
the yard. For example my next door neighbour hasn't done it yet, there was not the possibility.”
The expense is a major obstacle, but more importantly there is the difficulty of connecting to public water and sewage canalizations. Currently only 30% of the
rural population of Romania has access to water supply.
The annexes like the bathroom are usually built directly on the ground, sometimes made entirely of wood. Most of the main buildings, however, are elevated
above the ground. It can be seen from the outside, where the stones of the basement are apparent in the bottom part of the wall. The basement can be used for
storage; there we have seen stored food, in some cases great quantities of empty plastic bottles, and in the volunteer's house in Schiuleşti, a natural spring.
It's very common in the village to see houses under construction or renovation. Two of the families we visited were constructing new buildings, and the majority
of them are doing modifications to the houses. “It's never-ending work” one of them said, since fixing the house is something they do in between their full-time
jobs.
There is rarely an architect involved in the process; the builders' expertise comes from the family or work experience in the construction sector. “My son took
care of it, he is the constructor”, tanti M. told us.
The buildings we see in the village are the expression of what is called “vernacular architecture”: the architecture carried out by people who are not
professionals, using local materials and building according to their own needs, in the context of their local community. Every area has its own particular form
vernacular architecture that develops on its own because it reflects the geography, climate, culture and community of that specific place.
The M. household in Izvoarele is going for a renovation of their annex following local traditional construction techniques; the quality of the insulation, ecological
concerns and preservation of the tradition are their reasons for this choice.
A HOUSE IN
IZVOARELE
A guide was recently published by the Order of Architects of Romania with the intent to
preserve these traditional architectural practices. The aim is to “improve the quality of
life”, while “preserving the traditions and cultural landscape” of the area, which reflect
the M.'s concerns. Stone, wood and clay are traditional construction materials in the
area, but people who are aiming for a modern-looking house can employ cement,
bricks and metal. It's not unusual to see houses with raw concrete walls, looking
unfinished, but with people living in them. The construction of the house can be a long
process, depending on the availability of time and money.
The reusing of materials is not an unseen practice; regardless of their awareness of

ecological matters, villagers are used to making the most of all available resources:
collecting empty jars, “upcycling” car seats, converting kitchen windows to a
greenhouse… One interviewed participant said he was using stones from his aunt's
demolished home to build a new one.
He also expressed regret for demolishing his own old house: “We had a house here,
an old one, I am sorry I demolished it, I was influenced by others… Such was the
conjuncture.” As the house constitutes the most visible public face of a family, social
pressure can be a determining factor in choices regarding construction. Building
bigger and more modern can be a way to seek better social standing in the village.
A HOUSE IN
IZVOARELE
Still, many buildings still maintain their old appearance, at least on the outside. Some older houses have a siding of wooden shingles on the walls. Locals praise it for its
aesthetic qualities and good insulation, but it is very expensive as an artisan needs to cut, polish, waterproof every piece, which also need regular maintenance, and no
craftsman in the area is doing that work anymore. The shingles are typical of mountain areas in the north and in Prahova County, due to the availability of wood and the
need for thermal insulation.
People in Izvoarele are house owners: in 2015 the house ownership rate in Romania was 96.4%, which is the highest in Europe. Since the end of communism in 1989
and the restoration of private land properties in 1991, almost every Romanian has been the owner of the house in which they live. After living in a period in which this
was not possible, people now attribute a deep meaning to the ownership of a house. Migrants maintain strong ties to the land and come back to build in their native
village. It is the case of tanti M.'s son, who is working in Italy and investing his money in the expansion of the family house.
The Romanian word for house is casă: it has the meaning of “dwelling”, the location - house or flat - where one lives, or the family, as a unit. There is another word,
acasă, which is more similar to the meaning of the English “home” but is actually an adverb. You can go acasă, or feel acasă, but it is not a tangible object. During my
stay in the village I had time to observe the commune's own particular landscape created by the character of the houses that compose it, but also the feeling of “home”
the inhabitants created by living in it and sharing it with the volunteers they welcomed inside their houses.
A HOUSE IN
IZVOARELE
FRUITFUL YARDS AND
ANIMAL BREEDING
When I first visited some of the inhabitant's houses I was amazed by their yards and how many possibilities they have when arranging it. I
did not expect at all to find in their yards places for growing vegetables and fruit trees, taking care of animals, while still having space for a
floral garden. I also found out how well maintained they keep that space, especially during the spring and summer, where they have all
the blooming flowers, grown vegetables (such as tomatoes, green beans or zucchinis), fruit trees (like apples, pears or plums) and all
their animals running over the place inside and outside the yard area (specially chickens, cows, horses and sheep). I saw how important
it is for the inhabitants to take care of their yards and their animals, because those are a central part of their subsistence in the rural
environment.
The commune of Izvoarele is mostly self-sufficient in agricultural and cattle resources. The total surface is 7501 hectares, from which
2767 hectares are reserved for agricultural purposes. Due to the geographical placement of the commune, the climate is favourable with relatively mild temperatures for
agriculture and spontaneous vegetation (the average annual temperature is 6ºC). Despite the general similarities that the soil offers to the commune, there are slight
differences between the villages. There are bigger areas for agriculture in Malu Vânăt, Homorâciu and Cernești, while those areas are more limited in Schiulești and
Izvoarele.
In the commune it is common to have a yard, or even more than one, in the house area. The inhabitants use that space for their own subsistence, meaning that they use it to
grow vegetables, fruit trees, raise animals or to store hay and wood. Each house arranges that space differently, depending on the location of the house, because the
ground can be flat, sloped, closer to the river or on a hill, among other possibilities. Also, it depends on how much surface the area of the house has, meaning that maybe
one house has a small yard, because the ground does not allow it, but the owner might have other bigger yard close to the house but outside that area. When an inhabitant
has several sheep or goats, he or she probably has a bigger yard separated with fence outside the central area or main streets of the village, mainly situated on small hills
with more grass.
The cows are taken daily by the văcar (the person in charge of the cows) during the spring and summer to the outskirts of the village, in places called izlaz (the meadow) with
enough grass and water for them. At the end of the day, the cows go to their respective homes by themselves when they are in the main street by stopping at their gates and
mooing at their owners to open the door. The văcar is making from this activity his or her job by charging the inhabitants that need someone to take care of their cows.
In general, the main vegetables that are grown in those private yards are: onions, carrots, potatoes, peppers, corn, tomatoes, pumpkins, cucumbers, zucchinis and
cabbages. And the main fruits that are common to grow here are: apples, pears, plums, grapes and forest fruits. About the animals, the inhabitants usually have pigs,
chickens, roosters, ducks, cows, goats, sheep, turkeys and horses, apart from dogs and cats. From this diversity, they also obtain milk, eggs, cheese, honey, jam, dulceață
(thick sweet jam made out of fruits), as well as producing their own non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks such as juices, most, vișinată (alcoholic spirit drink usually made out
of sour cherries with a sweet taste) and țuică (strong alcoholic spirit drink made out of plums). However, not all the inhabitants have this variety in their personal yards, so
they exchange between each other what they have and what they need, a usual practice done in this commune. Another common practice in the commune is to take care of
pigs to later sell them or kill them for self-consumption, and in the last option, it is done between November and December because the main Christmas meals are made out
of pig meat. This practice makes the commune a quite self-sufficient one.
FRUITFUL YARDS AND

ANIMAL BREEDING
Also, it is a common activity for the inhabitants to go periodically to the forest in search of mushrooms and diverse forest fruits for personal use. They usually go to
pick up mushrooms during the months of autumn because it is the best season to find those. There is a specific place in the commune that is a usual spot for the
search of the mushrooms, it is close to Schiulești around the monastery, and it can be reached from Schiulești and from Izvoarele. That part of the forest is quite
accessible, although the road has the exact width for two cars to meet. Also that area is clean and well preserved, making it easier for the mushrooms to grow there.
With these agricultural and cattle resources, the inhabitants make their own local meals by combining the different food resources. It is possible to find meat meals
such as sarmale (meat, vegetables and rice rolled in cabbage leaves), chicken soup, pig soup or mici (a grilled pork meat roll served with mustard and bread). But
also there are meals made out of vegetables like salată de vinete (mashed grilled eggplants and onions), salată de fasole (mashed brown beans), mămăligă (puree
made out of corn with sour cream), vegetable soup or grilled vegetables. Besides, they also prepare some sweet dishes like cozonac (it is similar to a sponge cake
with chocolate, walnuts, raisins or rum) or gogoși (it is a small and round sponge cake with chocolate or jam inside).
As seen, depending on the area the house is placed, the arrangement of their yards will be different. One example of a specific usage of the yard is having it in the
same area of the house: this house have a front yard with a vine covering an arch, and in one corner there is a small sink with water, which makes easier the task of
cleaning the vegetables that are self-produced. Then, there is the house. After the house, there is a second yard with a barn, where the animals, such as chickens,
ducks, goats and even cows, can go in and out freely around that area. In that same yard there are several spaces reserved to grow vegetables like tomatoes,
peppers, onions, carrots and corn. After that yard, there is a third one mostly reserved for fruit trees, such as plums, pears and apples.
FRUITFUL YARDS AND

ANIMAL BREEDING
Another example of a different usage is having the yard outside the
house area: in this case, the yard is close to the house. One of the yards
is in front of the house, on the other side of the path that crosses it. In the
yard that is inside the area of the house, it is used to have a couple of
small fruit trees, but in this case it is mostly used as a garden for flowers.
Meanwhile, on the other yard (which has a flatter ground) outside the
house is used mainly for growing more and bigger fruit trees as well as
to grow other vegetables like onions or carrots.
For the inhabitants there are several chances during the year to display
and sell their products to the public. It is common that during some
religious festivities, like Saint Paraschiva, the locals arrange a small
market in the village, where they sell their vegetables and fruits, as well
as prepare mici to eat there.
The Day of the Commune, held during the first weekend of July, offers
also the opportunity to sell their home-made products, such as jam,
dulceață, honey, țuică and vișinată, a small market that is accompanied
by traditional music and dance. But the inhabitants not only display their
products inside the commune, but also outside it. That is the case of a
fair held in Ploiești on 15 October, where they sell their handcrafts and
home-made products. Similar to that fair, in Vălenii de Munte it is held
the Țuică festival on 29 October, where țuică producers from the
Prahova area participate to show and sell their products.
FRUITFUL YARDS AND

ANIMAL BREEDING
Izvoarele - Prahova

FRUITFUL YARDS AND

ANIMAL BREEDING
PIG
SLAUGHTER
At the beginning of summer, I came to the beautiful area of Romania—Izvoarele in the county of Prahova. It is a place where the world
will stop completely and one can think of other values. Over the few months, I met one great family living in the small village of
Izvoarele. I often visit them with other volunteers. I also help in the garden and with the many animals they have. One day, the family
decided to end the life of one of their animals—the pig they cared for a few years. The family invited us to come to this important day to
see the whole process of killing a pig. Since these moments and situations do not happen every day in my life, I decided, along with
other volunteers, that we would definitely go.
We all met in the morning at 7 am at the family's house. Tanti M. prepared breakfast and her husband G. brought țuică for a festive
opening. During breakfast Tanti M. talked about the whole process that would take place today. Then G. stood up and said, “So it's
time!” So, I moved to their garden to see everything from beginning to end. G. took the knife and waited for the moment when the pig was quiet. Then I saw only a pig lying
on the ground. I watched the whole process in amazement and waited for the next steps. G. looked at me at one moment he said: “Roman come here.” He told me: “We
had to pour a little bit of our favorite țuică on this important day.” I agreed. We talked and drank together and enjoyed the day while he told me also, “Roman, this is an
important day for our family.” I was confused about what he said because I was looking around and seeing only the blood and the dead pig. I could see this process for the
first time, and maybe for the last time in my life, so I needed some memory so I took camera and shot some parts of the killing of the pig. In the meantime, I saw that M. and
her daughter were preparing a small grill in the garden. After a while, I saw the fresh meat on the grill, roasting for lunch. The place where the pig was killed was full of
blood and dirt and so G. and I cleaned up everything. At some point he took the nose from the pig and hung it on the window, “for good luck” for the family. Then it was time
to sit down with the whole family and other volunteers and celebrate this day at the table and we tasted a variety of freshly grilled meat of pig, mămăligă, fresh bread and
cheese.
The slaughter of a pig or, as they say in Romanian, Omorârea porcului, is an event shared by families throughout the village. The day of the slaughter is an important
moment when the householder's pigs are killed, their body dismembered and the meat processed to store it into the home stocks before the coming winter.
Since the slaughtering process is a little bit technical, and the kitchen facilities and number of coworkers are very challenging, at the time of the slaughtering the extended
family, neighbours, etc., join the members of the household to carry out assistant work. At the beginning of the process of killing a pig local people and experienced
butchers need to prepare some important equipment.They use to stun the pig a heavy stick or a slaughter gun - a stun gun to kill the pig without excessive pain and stress
– or, as George did, a sharper knife. Lots of containers are needed to prepare large amounts of hot water used to remove dirt and blood from the skin. Porcine skin must
be slowly removed with flammable gas; sharp knives are also important to remove impurities from the skin. It is also important to have a place ready to store the meat
from the pig to last the whole winter - it is best to freeze some of the meat. Separating of pig organs is the most important step that can be managed only by an
experienced farmer or butcher. After the bristles are removed from the pig, the abdominal cavity is opened with a cut.
PIG
SLAUGHTER
The butcher carefully removes the bowels without damaging them so that they do not make the meat dirty. Then parts of the innards are separated: esophagus, trachea,
lungs, heart, liver, spleen, kidney, stomach, intestines. All the pig's entrails must be clean with water to avoid contamination and remove dirt. People from this village work
mostly in their fields, gardens, and mainly take care of their animals. The family we visited because of the killing of the pig has a large farm. They take care of pigs, hens,
chicken, horses, cows and ducks. In this family from Izvoarele it was possible to see how the individual roles were split when killing a pig. Men killed and separated
portions of the pig, while the women cleaned the pig, prepared the fire for warm water, and the lunch for all the participants.
In traditional village culture it is customary for this day to be important not only because the meat of a slaughtered pig is an asset for the family, but also because it is a
gathering of people, both friends and family members. Traditionally, pork slaughter is performed during the pre-Christmas season because meat products are prone to
rapid ruin and should therefore be prepared in the cold. Slaughters are usually performed in the countryside and in smaller towns during winter. From a simple gain of
meat for the individual house, the slaughter has transformed into a social and folkloric action; the slaughter may make an appearance as a performance of folk crafts at
fairs, advent markets, carnival events, festivals. Ritual pig slaughter takes place around Christmas holidays, reminiscent of animal sacrifices practiced by ancient
societies (Egyptians, Greeks, Romans) in periods of transition from one year to another or from season to season. At a time like the one between the old year and the new,
sacrifice has a regenerative function. By this sacrifice, which is the equivalent of the year that is put down and dies, a new life is infused, the life of the new year. And this is
because the sacrifice, like violent death, leaves the unconsumed vital energies free. Through these unconsumed energies, the sacrificed can return to life, can be reborn.
PIG
SLAUGHTER
RELIGION AND
RITUALS
When I first entered in a church of the commune it was in summer during Saint Elijah day. I was with some Anthropology students from the
University of Bucharest, and we were invited to accompany a tanti to go to the church. It was my first time assisting to an Orthodox mass,
and I discovered a different ritual from the Roman Catholic Church. It surprised me a lot of details. I did not expect a sung mass, neither to
find out that outside the church there were some speakers to keep following the mass from the outside, or that when the mass is finished,
the believers can eat for free in a dining room with the food that the priest, monks (in the case of the monastery) or some volunteer
inhabitants prepare. But what confused me the most was to know the right direction of crossing yourself and when to do it (for example,
when entering both the narthex and the nave, or at specific parts of the mass), because I have been more familiar to the Roman Catholic
rituals.
Religion plays a central role in the commune and among its inhabitants, being the main religion the Romanian Orthodox Church. This belief is part of their daily life and
routines as well as part of their celebrations and festivities. This kind of religious routine is not limited to the belief and faith itself but is also present in the culture, in the
socialization, in the education or in the architecture among other aspects. In the commune of Izvoarele there are four Orthodox churches with their respective cemeteries,
two Adventist churches with one cemetery and one Orthodox monastery on the outskirts, as well as numerous crosses or troițe spread along the commune.
The religious tourism is common here, being popular the short excursions to discover other churches, cathedrals or monasteries in Romania. Not only the inhabitants of
Izvoarele join those excursions, but others from different parts of the county also visit this commune, especially to see the church of Izvoarele village (Biserica Nouă) and
the monastery of Schiulești.
The crosses or troițe in the commune are usually placed on the crossroads, near some fountains, close to the church or near a house, and are done in different styles.
Those crosses are made out of wood or stone, decorated with inscriptions, sculptures and different icons, related to the crucifixion of Christ or to the icons of Virgin Mary
and the Orthodox apostles. Some of the crosses are housed in a closed small wooden building with a window or a door. The interior is decorated, resembling a small altar,
with the cross with Christ crucified, icons of saints, flowers and candles.
In general, the Orthodox churches from the commune follow the same architectural pattern, being the basic structure: a small porch outside (in the main gate), the
narthex, the nave, the sanctuary (which is private, only accessible for the priest) with an altar, the templon and the dome with a Pantocrator.
RELIGION AND
RITUALS
In Izvoarele, the two Orthodox churches are used in different ways from one another. The Old Church or Biserica Veche (Saint Archangels Michael and Gabriel) is used
nowadays mainly for funerals because there it is the cemetery and a fountain reserved for baptisms. But in the past this church was used for the daily masses, mainly
because it was the only church in that area of the commune, and also it was part of the central area, where the festivals and markets were held.
This church was built in 1801 and later reworked in 1854 and fully finished in 1938. The architectural style can be considered as neo-classical, due to its trilobite plan with
semicircular apses, a triangular fronton and a bell tower on the nave. There are still some preserved paintings in colours inside the church, with biblical topics that were
made by the painter Răducanu Vintilescu, who also re-painted the walls of the nave and the altar. In the porch, there are also paintings that represent religious scenes as
well as in the narthex, in this case made by Petre Zugravu. In addition to the paintings, it is possible to find some icons and engraved scenes inside the church, which were
added along the years representing the different contexts that Izvoarele experimented. Those scenes make references to the Emperor of Russia, to the ones fallen in the
wars of 1877, the First World War and Second World War.
As mentioned before, there is another church, a newer one. It is located on the national road that connects București-Ploiești-Vălenii de Munte-Brașov. This new church
changed not only the daily religious rituals, but also the centre of the village, it being nowadays in the front street of this church, where the festivals and markets are held.
This church is dedicated to the “Spring of Healing”, and it is known as Biserica Nouă (New church) and Catedrala Plaiurilori (Cathedral of the plains).
About the history and architecture of this church, it was built between 1931 and 1940 through the priest Gheorghe Iliescu, with the contribution of Nae Gaftoi as the main
benefactor, owner of the Gaftoi mansion of Izvoarele village (but nowadays, due to the pass of time and the lack of maintenance, that mansion became ruins). Also, the
church was painted between the same dates as it was constructed, but it was sanctified on 1945. For the painting, they used mainly the oil paint, following the neo-
byzantine style, a work done by Gheorghe Cepoiu. Meanwhile, the furniture and the sculptures in the interior were crafted by Ion Profirescu from Măneciu Ungureni. This
church has been through some reinforcements on its structure because in 1977 there was an earthquake in this area that damaged it. In addition to the church, there is a
small museum where they keep some ecclesiastical objects, icons and old ritual books, and a room dedicated to serving the food.
In Homorâciu there is one church, named Biserica Veche or Adormirea Maicii Domnului (which means “Old church” or “The sleeping Mother of the Lord”). The inhabitants
from both Homorâciu and Malu Vânăt come to this church because it is the closest one for them, so in specific celebrations this church is full of people. It makes the centre
of this village, because close to it there is also the Cultural Centre and the bus stop. All the markets and festivals are held on the same street of the church.
RELIGION AND
RITUALS
In celebrations such as Sfântul Ilie on 20 July, the mass can last around 4 hours. When entering to the church, is usual to cross yourself, first to the right shoulder and then
to the left (in Roman Christianity it is first to the left shoulder and then the right). During the mass, which is sung, it is normal for the people to go in and out of the church, as
well as pay respect to the icons displayed inside. It is also part of the ceremony to name some specific persons. One believer, before the mass starts, can give one name
(an alive or dead relative or friend) to the priest, in exchange for a donation, to say it during a specific moment of the mass, this way the person named will be blessed. It is
also noticeable that in the churches and in the monastery, there are several speakers outside the building, making it possible to follow the mass from the outside.
The building underwent several changes during the years, from 1848 until 1952. Outside the church, there is a new building, still under construction, that in the future will
serve as a reserved place to those believers that are in need of a space where they can meet together and discuss or help each other in topics related to ceremonies (such
as weddings, funerals or baptisms).
The murals outside the buildings have been done thanks to donations from some families of the commune. It is still possible to read the names of the families under the
paintings. Also, those donations allowed some families to have a reserved chair inside the church, but sometimes the chairs can be also a sort of a present to other family.
Depending on how much money the family donates, they will have bigger murals or be in the first rows inside the church.
The other village where it is possible to find an Orthodox church and a monastery is in Schiulești. The church is named Biserica de Lemn (Wooden Church) or Sfântul
Nicolae. The first document in which it appears dates from 1833, and had some works on the building structure in 1842. Unlike in Izvoarele village and Homorâciu, the
placement of this church is not part of the centre of the village, meaning that nowadays no festivals or markets are held there. Also, this lack of activity is related to the
distance from the main national road and to the difficulties that the public transportation represents.
On the outskirts of Schiulești there is the Crasna monastery, overlooking the Teleajen valley. Since the Fifteenth century, this area has been populated and small monastic
communities established. The monastery was founded around the Eighteenth century. The buildings and other monuments have been well preserved, and as example of
it, it is possible to find on the north-eastern side of the monastery, a painted stone cross that dates from 1873.
RELIGION AND
RITUALS
On the surroundings of the actual area of the monastery there are the Hero's Trophy, a small pond with water lilies, several gardens for growing vegetables, two
greenhouses, orchards and the monastery house. Inside the monastery area, there are two churches (with paintings representing the Romanian saints) and a building
that works as dining room and kitchen for the pilgrims, and close to them, a fountain that was dug for three years reaching a depth of 24 meters, a work done by miners of
the salt mine. Also, this place has water brought from the mountains and a thermal plant.
The masses in the monastery, although they have the same pattern as in the other churches of the commune, have some specifics. During the celebration of the
Assumption Day on 15th of August, the mass lasted around 6 hours. The masses were held inside one of the churches and outside, in a space reserved for the monks to
sing the mass. At the end of the mass, the priest blessed the people one by one and the food. Also, in the building they have reserved as dining room and kitchen, the
people go there and the rest of the monks prepare and serve food to them. A similar ceremony happened during Sfânta Paraschiva on 14th of October, but in this case the
mass was held mainly inside the church as was a bit shorter, probably due to the cold weather.
RELIGION AND
RITUALS
FORESTY
TREASURES
During one of my first visits to tanti A. we went to the forest, we took a long walk around it and finally entered through a narrow spot. Once
in the forest we took a rest, then tanti A. started to tell some legends to one of my colleagues from Bucharest that were in Izvoarele. After
the rest, the first of many that day, we walked through a clearing in the forest where I saw a strange mushroom I'd never seen
before.Tanti A. told me it was poisonous so I left it behind and followed her. At a certain point she gave me the axe she was carrying to
chop a small tree on the side of the path, it took me a while, it was the first time I chopped a tree, but around 10 minutes later the tree was
down and the tanti was cutting out the small branches. Before leaving the forest we took one last break. While tanti A. and the Bucharest
student were talking I started to take pictures of a mosquito that was sucking my blood: since then she's always been reminding me of
that moment. At a certain point of the conversation she told a short story to us which the Bucharestian preferred not to translate to avoid
stopping her constantly, once it was over we went back to her house, fed her baby goat with the tree leaves and prepare for lunch.
Cernești and Chirițești are the least populated villages from the Izvoarele commune, but along their small number of houses the villages have several forests. Some of the
forest paths are made to walk animals through it, some others are for trekking or even riding. The forest visited with tanti A. had a road moving along the mountain under
open sky to reach it but, inside, tall trees project their shadows all over the place and there are numerous open spaces. Here trees, mushrooms, small plants and flowers
grows. The forests represent more than half of the land of the commune, being 4298 hectares out of the 7501 that make the commune. The forest belonged to the locals
until 1948 when the land became property of the state. Currently much of the forest has been returned to its owners or heirs. These forests are located between 560 and
750 metres on the hills, the surface is mainly land without surface rocks, brown and brownish-yellow soils with mild, medium productive flora. On the higher heights the
autochthonous trees are oaks and beeches but they have been partially or totally replaced by hornbeam and tremulous poplar. Meanwhile in the middle of the hills the
natural tree is a medium-sized oak, anyway it has been affected by the same phenomenon leaving the forests highly different from the original ones.
People from the villages usually visit the forest to cut branches which they use to feed their animals, with the leaves, as well as logs to burn or to work with, and they also
collect branches from the floor. It is common around the commune to see people carrying logs or branches on their shoulders or even carriages with several logs. Usually
when the locals go to the forest whatever the activity they go for they also collect wood.
FORESTY
TREASURES
Tanti A. likes to visit the forest everyday during summer and at least once per week during the winter, it has been a part of her poetry work and it is her relaxing place.
Through the animal trails in the forest walk cows, goats and sheep; they are fed with the grass of the mountains. Near the forest mentioned in the text there is a sheepfold
raising all of these animals and even some donkeys. The place also manufactures sheep cheese.
About the village stories and legends mentioned in the text, tanti A. told us that in Izvoarele there is a legend about a treasure hidden in the forests she likes to visit in a
place that, some say, used to be a Dacian fortress, even thow it is a legend from time to time people try to find the treasure but no one was lucky, yet. Another legend,
commented by one of the Seniors Club members, mister R, is about a big rock, next to a well in Homorâciu, that grows. Some locals say that the rock keeps growing even
without proof. It has to be say the rock has a strange nodular shape. In addition to this rock there is another stone in Homorâciu's kindergarten. These ''growing stones''
are called ''trovants'', they are in some places of Romania, including a natural reserve full of them and they grow after heavy rains. Stones can be found almost anywhere
in the commune in an infinity of forms and uses not only in the nature but in the local houses where rocks and stones have various and different purposes as memories
from the past or to remember ancestors, either with a mystical purpose or with a practical purpose. It's easier to find stones in older houses or where freeholders' families
lived in the past, the stones being a way to show their wealth.
FORESTY
TREASURES
ABUNDANCE
OF WATER
During the summer one of the local volunteers came to invite us to take a bath in the river Crasna in a spot he said was really good. Even
though I had work to be finished that week I thought relaxing a bit would be really nice and went with him and some other friends to the
place. We walked around 15 minutes crossing the road through the shortcuts that are in the village and when we arrived there we saw a
calm place in the river that lead to a small waterfall with some people bathing there. Our friend told us that we had to walk through a
narrow, slippery, risky path and then hold on to a tree to go down to the place. Some people were jumping straight in the waterfall. We got
undressed or changed to our bathing suits and went to the second water pit. I had enough space to swim a bit or stand and we were
talking while chilling in the cold water. The people around us were loud, playing, throwing each other and jumping bomb style into the
water. A child was taking a shower in the place with shampoo and soap and a couple was a bit further sunbathing. After the sun set
everyone started to leave and so we did, we dry a bit, got back into our clothes and started the way to our place.
The main road crossing the commune is the national road 1A connecting Bucharest with Brașov, given that is one of the main roads straight to the north leaving from
Bucharest it usually has a large flow of trucks driving through it, even though is possible to walk next to it there are shortcuts to avoid the curves around the village. Some
of them are narrow, some are just a walk through some of the roads inside the village but most of them are a slope because the curves they avoid are built to climb the
mountain.
The wood factory even though being near to the river has not affected the bathing place, the locals have no complaints against it and they are still enjoying the river as
always. The road runs also close to the bathing place but it is kind of hidden behind the trees and besides big trucks there is no noise in that spot.
River Crasna, a tributary of Teleajen river is discharging in Homorâciu. It crosses the villages separating Homorâciu and Izvoarele and also Izvoarele and Schiulești.
There is also the Valea Mare river, another Teleajen affluent that separates Măneciu and Izvoarele.
Teleajen river also hosts the hydroelectric central of the village. The central, which provides energy to the villages, makes use of an artificial lake built next to it and the
flow of the river.
Crasna and Teleajen carries water during almost the whole year, in some points during summer it dries but after autumn and winter with the rain and snow it gets its
fluency back. People from the commune usually take advantage of the river by washing there their clothes and carpets, collecting stones to build their houses or to sell
for construction and also collecting pebbles which they use to decorate they yards and buildings.sts: it is easy to picture that the locals also like to spend time there.
ABUNDANCE
OF WATER
It is also because of the abundance of water the main village (and the commune itself) is called ''Izvoarele'' meaning ''The Springs''. It is not difficult to spot the
amount of wells, fountains and springs the whole commune has which are constantly flowing with water from the different mountains around it.
Along the river crossing the community there are numerous places where locals like to go bathing during summer, the place mentioned in the story is between
Izvoarele and Homorâciu, next to the bridge connecting both villages and in a hidden place next to the road and the wood factory. Locals mention that they usually
have different spots they go with their friends to bath, but this on, due to its central location, depth, size and calm water, is the most popular one.
Seniors usually goes to the river to take relaxing baths, but those around the village that do not have a shower in their houses usually go to the river during summer
taking full showers there.
Besides the different rivers and the lake in Măneciu local people usually likes to hike around Ciucaș mountains but not only in summer as it is an activity they also
enjoy during winter and the rest of the seasons, knowing that in the commune besides the rivers and mountains the other nature wonder there is are the fore
ABUNDANCE
OF WATER
WANDERING AROUND 5
Izvoarele is not a place you should visit with a tourist guide. You will not find elaborate touristic infrastructure and even public transport options are
sometimes limited. But that does not mean there is nothing to see, as long as you know what to look for – and if you are ready to walk around or hop on
a horse carriage. Our team gathered some very special trails through which you will experience the commune in an authentic way. Following
personalized routes you can get into a real adventure and discover the countryside through the eyes of the locals.
WANDERING
AROUND
PATHS THROUGH
IZVOARELE
PATHS THROUGH
IZVOARELE
When I have an argument or some problem I always like to take a walk to rethink it and/or calm down. I usually have a path in the places I
live, in Izvoarele mine takes me inside the village until a point where the road melts in the mountain and offers you a view of one of the
beautiful landscapes this commune has to offer.
The path in Izvoarele starts from Curba de Cultură, where I work, but can be started from every point of the main road because we have
to reach the inner street of Izvoarele that starts next to the Agroland shop. Once in the street there's no way to get lost, we have to walk
straight and follow the path that is marked, short after the beginning of the walk you have a small shop at your left and short after it you
can see the Adventist church of Izvoarele at your right. If you are thirsty or hungry, don't worry, there are some more shops along the
walk, but pay attention or you will confuse them for houses.
After leaving behind the railroad the asphalt will turn to dirt and the houses into farms and small thickets, once we reach the end of these tree plantations we are in front of a
beautiful landscape where we can see Schiulești in the distance, the different mountains and the sky over it. It's a fantastic trip to do during summer but it's great in every
season since the landscape and the locations surrounding the walk change through them. This walk holds a lot of stories for the EVS's in the village, like the time our
Italian colleague with some local volunteers lost a cow (yes, a cow).
Take the path and make your own! But try not to lose any more animals.The length of the route is around 3,5 km starting from Curba de Cultură, it will take us no more than
1 hour for one way but it also depends on the way we take it.
PATHS THROUGH
IZVOARELE
OLD WOODEN
BRIDGE
OLD WOODEN
BRIDGE
I started from the local organization Curba de Cultură where I packed everything I needed for this trip - some food and drinks, beer,
camera and my lover - the guitar. It is good to go on this trip with a few friends but on this day I just wanted to have time for myself and my
guitar. I went further west on the asphalted road.
Since it was hot, I decided to buy something in the minimarket on the left side of the road. They have also chilled beverages or ice creams
that are suited to hot weather. If you do not have money at all, you can also use the wells for water that are on the way. I have used what is
marked by a purple dot, there is a pot of water here. I went to the end of the village, where the asphalt road ends, here is only the stony
and small paths.
A lot of horses with carts walked in front of me, because the local people carry grass and wood to their home. One horse driver asked me if I needed to take somewhere and
I said yes! it was an adventure to ride on a horse carriage and see beautiful views of the mountains, grazing animals and meadows where local people cut the grass by
hands. The cart driver dropped me off at the crossroads.
From there, I continued on a small road that led to the river. After some time, I reached a large plain from where I saw the river and the bridge. In this place there is a big old
wooden bridge that is not completely stable. But since I love adventures, I just had to try it. And it was quite funny because the bridge is moving so much and so one can
hardly take a picture.
t was summertime so I decided to have a picnic in this place and just a have a good time. Then I took off my clothes and jumped into the river. Since I was quite tired and it
was really quiet I just decided to take a nap. There are 4 km from the village of Izvoarele to the place where the old bridge and it takes approximately 1 hour by walk.
I spent in this place half a day, in the evening I went on to the village of Schiulești where I live. I definitely recommend visiting this place. When it is time and nice weather I
always choose this way, from time to time one needs to stop and just relax in nature.
OLD WOODEN
BRIDGE
IZVOARELE
FROM THE HEIGHTS
IZVOARELE
FROM THE HEIGHTS
I really like maps. As a child I would open my dad's atlas and walk my plastic animals through the Siberian plains or the South of
France on some imaginary paper journey. When I lived in Paris, I always carried a map of the city in my purse. True, the data to use
Google Maps on my phone was too expensive for my limited student means, but I also think reading a map is the best way to really get
an idea of a place.
When instead of typing a name on the GPS you have to look through the pages to find your way, little by little you begin to assimilate
its geography. As a result, my Parisian friends can tell you that I know more about their city than they do! This is why I was very excited
when I found out that I would have to work on a map the commune.
Walking around literally everywhere, I learned a lot of things about the place. The best thing, though, is when I can look at the whole village from somewhere high so it
spreads out like a map and I can recognize things and say “Look! That's the church of somewhere and that's the house of someone and that's a factory of something! Isn't
that cool?” Some people would say that I don't need to climb hills because I'm already tall enough to look at things from above, but anyway here are the best places to
have a view of the commune from the top so you can do the same.
IZVOARELE
FROM THE HEIGHTS
Schiuleşti Park - The park of Schiuleşti is surprisingly nice for such a small village. Apparently it is the result of a national park-building plan, so that's where the money
came from, regardless of the fact that there is a forest literally two minutes from the entrance. Coming from the city, to me a park mostly makes sense as a spot of nature
between the concrete and asphalt; however in the countryside I began to think of it as a piece of domesticated nature, as opposed to the wild vegetation of the forest. After
all, the park is clean, electric-lighted and free of bears. Here you can sit on a swinging chair and enjoy the view of Schiuleşti without worrying about unexpected animal
encounters.
The crest of Schiuleşti - I want to apologize to the owners of the nice house on the side of the hill in Schiulești, because every time my colleagues and I come there
together, we have to stop exactly in front of their garden to look at the view, locate our house, and declare that we want to live there because it's a really nice house.
Cetățeaua - This site is referenced under Cernesti in the catalogue of historical monuments in Prahova, but actually it's closer to the Drajna commune on the
other side of the hill, and, I suspect, easier to access from there. To get there from our commune, you I will have to walk to the very end of Cernesti. This
place was the location of a settlement in the Bronze Age, a very strategic position. Unfortunately the remains have been covered by vegetation, but some
friend of local 1800s celebrity Nicolae Iorga was there and wrote about it, so we are going to trust him on this one. Local tanti Adela said that people used to
dig around here hoping to find more treasure. They didn't, but some artefacts found around here are now in the historical museum of Vălenii de Munte.
IZVOARELE
FROM THE HEIGHTS
Dealul Stoichii - It was this Autumn on a windy Sunday that my
Schiuleşti roommates and I packed our picnic to go look for the big
glowing cross of Homorâciu.
We saw it every time we came home after dark, up in the hills of

Homorâciu on our way to Schiulești, but during the day it was
impossible to locate, probably covered by trees. So we set off in search
of the cross.
We didn't find it. I was happy to go home because the others were
complaining a lot; clearly they didn't realize the expedition was never
fruitless because the real treasure was the friendship we cultivated
along the way. So I came back another day, this time starting from
Homorâciu. And surprisingly it was very close to the other volunteers'
house! Just up and straight from there, on an open field on the right of
the path. It was very easy but extremely muddy.
The cross is supposed to commemorate the legend of a local hero,

Stoica, who helped the village by lighting up a big fire on the hill to warn
off the villager from incoming invaders, who promptly got rid of him as
soon as they got their hands on him. There's a bench so you can sit and
enjoy. You can even see Cernesti from here!
IZVOARELE
FROM THE HEIGHTS
Rusty cross hill - I found this spot by total accident one day when I was
looking for the way to Cetățeaua. Following the main road in Cernesti,
past the school and past the cow pasture, instead of staying on the road
that turns to the right, keep going straight following a small, muddy path.
After a few minutes the path disappears, but you can keep walking
uphill. And a bit to the right. On top of the hill you will find a terraced
orchard, and a path leading to the opposite slop of the hill. Among the
trees I found this rather rusty cross, and a very clear view of the
commune to the West and all the way to Vălenii de Munte to the South.
I found this spot by total accident one day when I was looking for the way
to Cetățeaua. Following the main road in Cernesti, past the school and
past the cow pasture, instead of staying on the road that turns to the
right, keep going straight following a small, muddy path. After a few
minutes the path disappears, but you can keep walking uphill. And a bit
to the right.
On top of the hill you will find a terraced orchard, and a path leading to
the opposite slope of the hill. Among the trees I found this rather rusty
cross, and a very clear view of the commune to the West and all the way
to Vălenii de Munte to the South.
I began to look at the commune from the top. I found out that's not how
most of the villagers manage, though. They know what patch of land is
whose, what everyone's houses look like and expect me to know how
many houses there are between the park and the one where I live. I
have no idea!! Am I supposed to count them?
IZVOARELE
FROM THE HEIGHTS
Izvoarele - Prahova

IZVOARELE
FROM THE HEIGHTS
FAVORITE
PLACE TO CHILL
FAVORITE
PLACE TO CHILL
Whenever I feel like having a relaxing moment only for me, I go to the Crasna river bank in Schiulești, for me, it is the perfect place to read
a book, to have a small picnic or to go with your camera to take nice pictures. I recommend you to go there using two different paths
because they are the easiest to walk. I always use one to go to the river and the other to return. The first one is in the Strada Ulița, you have
to continue till the end of the street and keep going straight on the small stone path. However, I do not advise you to use it when it is raining
because it gets quite slippery and muddy. You just have to keep following that path, and in ten minutes or so, you will see the river. The
best part of that path is that is surrounded by trees and when you are getting closer to the river, some water will start going down on that
path. The other way is using Strada Cot, and is less sheer and a bit longer than the other one, this is why you can encounter some căruțe
(horsecarts) going from and to the river bank. The river bank is full of stones, and the water level is a bit low, making it a good place to walk
around the area or just to sit down and relax. There you can walk along it in both directions, and maybe you will have the company of some
cows or horses. The place is surrounded by the forest, and you can see how it changes colours depending on the season, from the green colours of spring to the browns
and reds of autumn. I especially enjoy going to the wooden bridge, which is on the right and near a small dam. The wooden bridge is entirely made out of old wood boards
and joined together with metal strings that work as handrails. When it is summer, there is not much water in the river (when it did not rain for a couple of weeks), so it is
easier to cross it using only the stones. But there is no problem if you end up stepping out of the stone, because the water will cover you till your ankle. So, in that specific
part, you can choose to cross the river using the old wooden bridge or the stones of the river if you want to keep going to Izvoarele.
FAVORITE
PLACE TO CHILL
INTO THE
FOREST
INTO THE
FOREST
Izvoarele area is a wonderful part of Romania where everyone can really find what they like. I am a lover of nature and mountains. So
this is really the right place for me to take a break from overcrowded cities.
One day, with the local family – tanti M. and her husband G. and EVS volunteer Gabriel we decided to go out and see some local hills
and nature behind the village. And because it was September, Tanti's husband G. figured out we could ride the horse cart and bring
wood for the winter. He prepared the horse and cart for the trip and we set out early in the morning. Our trip was starting from their
house in Izvoarele. There was asphalted road only at the beginning, and after the village of Izvoarele, we continued on a stony trail.
The way is a bit more challenging by horse carriage, but if someone decides to go by foot it's also a great choice.
One can see beautiful mountains, small rivers, animals and sprawling meadows where local people cut grass for their animals. During the trip, I sang traditional
Romanian songs and Tanti M. told me some stories about the village and her family.
We arrived to a place where the paths are splitting. There is the possibility to continue towards Măneciu or toward Crasna monastery - near the village of Schiuleşti. In
this place we decided to stop and have a picnic which Tanti M. prepared for all of us. We enjoyed the silence of this place and the fragrance of the forest and flowers. From
this place can be seen the landscape opposite Schiuleşti hills and also in the distance the high mountain range where the snow is visible on the mountain.
When the darkness approached we decided to go back to the village. We wanted to choose a return trip through Crasna monastery, but it was raining and so we went
back the same way. From the village of Izvoarele to the place where the paths are divided are 7 km, approximately 2 hours by walking. With the horse carts we were there
in an hour. If you really want to see beautiful mountains and nature, I definitely recommend this place for a trip. During the trip there is the possibility to try local sources of
water or forest fruits.
INTO THE
FOREST
BEARLESS
SHORTCUT
BEARLESS
SHORTCUT
One afternoon last August, at the end of my day in Curba de Cultură I decided I wanted to go home by foot, as I often did when the weather
was good. I took the usual road along Crasna river.
On the way I was happy to see tanti P. standing by her gate and waved at her. She asked me how I was and what I was doing there, so I
pointed at the general direction towards Schiuleşti and said I was going home, miming the act of walking with my fingers. She didn't seem
very happy about that.My Romanian was not that good at the time, but it was enough to grasp some important keywords:
What dangers could be lurking there?
#1, nu: she didn't want me to go that way, and thought I was crazy for wanting to walk home alone. I didn't understand why because we always take that path to walk to
Schiuleşti on sunny days. Roman tells you everything about it in the Old wooden bridge.
#2, urs: which made my Latinist senses start tingling, because I could guess urs is related to the latin ursus, which means bear. Of course it's also very similar to the Italian
orso but it sounds way less cooler to say that than to throw in some reference to a dead language. Not that the tanti would have cared anyway.
#3, pod: this was trickier, but I remembered from my Romanian lessons that it means bridge. I thought something happened to the wooden bridge across Crasna river,
and began to worry.
BEARLESS
SHORTCUT
While I was trying to make sense of all this Romanian that was being thrown at me, the neighbor tanti M. walked by on the way back from the shop. Tanti P. signaled her to
join us and told her about my unfortunate plan. Tanti M. was equally vehemently opposed to it, also because nu, urs, and pod.
I understood that they didn't want me to take that road because there was a bear around and it was dangerous to go there. But they were also pointing towards the shop
and I was really struggling with the pod part.
The tantis then called to the rescue some other neighbor who was chilling on his porch, who confabulated with the rest of his chilling family, and pushed a small boy in flip-
flops towards the tantis. They gestured me to follow him. The boy looked like he had better things to do but still he obliged his elders and showed me the way.
There was a small path behind the shop and we walked down there, then followed the train tracks to the right. That's when I understood what the pod was about: it was the
train bridge over river Crasna. It's an impressive sight!
I didn't stop because I didn't want to seem too much like a tourist and also I could hardly keep up with the flip-flop child already. In my defense, I was carrying my laptop and
Romanian grammar book, but I felt my dignity was bruised enough as it was.
The kid left me at the end of the path which rejoined the road from Homorâciu to Schiuleşti. He turned back, not entirely sure that I would be okay on my own, but probably
impatient to go back to chilling as he was before being burdened with a clueless foreigner. I thanked him and waved goodbye.
To this day, I haven't been back on the train bridge because I am more afraid of encountering a train than a bear. I don't know the schedule by heart like the locals do, and
although I know I can check it easily, I'm always a little nervous when I have to walk by the train tracks because I am not used to it. Still, this was a nice, bear-free adventure.
BEARLESS
SHORTCUT
TAKING A BATH
TAKING A BATH
This route is related to one of the stories written by me, it takes out through some of the shortcuts in the main road to a great bathing place
in Crasna river between the road and the timber factory.
One summer day some local volunteers told me and the other volunteers to go to this place to relax a bit after a week of work, it's a great
walk along the road and shortcuts that gives you space to have small conversations with your colleagues or to think about your stuff and it
is not too far from the association. The route starts from Curba de Cultură because we left from there, but you only need to reach the main
road in Izvoarele and then go to the entrance of the timber factory.
Once there instead of entering the door you have to take a path down through the trees, you will reach a calm part of the river that leads you to a small waterfall, usually
there's people bathing there in summer but if there are not you will recognize the place because it's deeper than the rest of the river course.
The two different levels of water preceded by a waterfall and surrounded by trees contribute to make this place a small ''oasis'' next to the road. If you have animals you
can take them with you too, the Curba de Cultură's dogs always like to hang out in this part of the river.
The trip is no longer than 15 minutes and once you are there it is always nice to stay while the weather invites you to.
TAKING A BATH
A TASTE OF THE COMMUNE 6
Local gastronomy is rich and tasty. Local households are an astonishing example of sustainable agriculture that produces all the ingredients of
your meal in the backyard of the house and in the meadow nearby. Collected recepies include tips and tricks from local hosts, that have shared
them generously – as well as the food prepared.
A TASTE OF
COMUNE
Ciorbă de pui (Chicken soup)
Prep. Cook Ready
is a traditional Romanian soup that can't be missed in any household, it's 10 min 60 min 70 min
sour and sweet, hot and velvety, but delicate and simple at the same time.
The soup is most usually served before a meal, but it can also replace a full
lunch because it contains the right mix of vegetables and meat. In the cold
winter this soup is ideal because it gives warmth and delivers energy. ❶ Cover chicken with 2-3 liters of water in a large pot; add salt and bring to a
boil. When foam starts to form; remove as much as possible; lower the heat and
boil gently for 15 to 20 minutes.
· ½ chicken · ½ cabbage
· 3 onions · 2 potatoes ❷ After 20 minutes of chicken cooking add rice potatoes and vegetables:
· 3 tomatoes · 2 teaspoons of salt and pepper carrots, onion. Cut all these ingredients into small pieces.
· 2 carrots · 2 eggs and flour for noodles (taiței)
· 1 small cup of rice · Sour cream ❸ Meanwhile, when our soup is cooked, prepare Traditional Romanian
noodles (taiței) In the bowl, we beat the egg with the salt of salt and gradually
add the flour. Make a dough that does not stick. One egg enters approx. 5-6
tablespoons of flour. Move the dough on the table using the kitchen roller and
sprinkle the table with flour. The next step is to make a roll of dough and then cut
it with a sharp knife that creates a noodle.
❹ 10 minutes before the final cooking, add the noodles (taiței), cabbage,
sliced tomatoes and sour cream into the soup.
❺ Let it cook for about 10 minutes on a mild flame to make all the flavors and
aromas come together. Serve with fresh bread and wine.
A TASTE OF
COMUNE
Sarmale (Cabbage rolls)
Prep. Cook Ready
These traditional Romanian cabbage rolls are made with sour cabbage 30 min 4h 4,3 h
stuffed with pork and beef and little bit of bacon, the best cabbage rolls you
will ever have. First of all, the big difference between Romanian cabbage
rolls and others is that they are made with sour cabbage. In Romania you
can see that families prepare this traditional cabbage rolls at every ❶ First of all, chop the onion and cook it with the oil, just enough until the onion
Christmas and Easter. They are so delicious, you can't stop eating just a is translucent. Add the rice to the onion and cook it together for a minute or so.
couple rolls. In a large bowl, add the ground pork, thyme, onion, rice, and salt and pepper.
· ½ cup of rice · ½ kg ground pork
❷ After you've soaked the cabbage in water, remove the leaves off the
· 4 cups tomato sauce · 1 teaspoon thyme
· Pickled cabbage · Pepper cabbage one by one, and cut each leaf in two, if the leaf is too big. Place them
· 1kg sour cabbage leaves · Salt on a plate so they are ready for you when you start rolling.
· 2 pieces of onion and garlic
❸ Start rolling the cabbage rolls. Usually use about 1 to 2 tablespoons of the
meat mixture in each roll. Roll them up and line them up in your dish. Continue
until you are done with the meat mixture.
❹ Pour the tomato sauce all over the cabbage rolls. If the cabbage rolls are
not completely covered, add water. Cover them up with a lid or aluminum foil
and bake in a preheated 190°C oven for 2 hours. After two hours, you'll notice
most of the juice has evaporated so you might need to add more water, you
don't necessarily have to fill it up to the top this time. Bake for another 2 hours
without the lid on.
A TASTE OF
COMUNE
Mămăligă (Corn Porrige)
Prep. Cook Ready
Is a porridge made out of yellow maize flour. It's a traditional and popular 5 min 15 min 20 min
meal in Romania. Since mămăliga can be used as an alternative for bread in
many Romanian and Moldovan dishes, there are quite a few which are ❶ In a pot, any old regular pot you've got in your kitchen, of any make, model,
either based on mămăligă, or include it as an ingredient or side dish. material or condition, add the water. Get the water to boil.
Arguably, the most popular of them is sarmale (a type of cabbage roll) with
mămăligă. Neighboring countries have their own versions of mămăligă, but, ❷ After water is boiling, reduce heat to the lowest possible setting on your
as far as we know, nowhere except in Romania it is combined with butter, stove that's still “on” and producing heat and add 1 teaspoon of salt.
cheese and sour cream.
❸ Begin pouring in corn meal slowly. Don't just dump it in there but pour it in
· 1 cup of cornmeal · Butter slowly. Meanwhile keep stirring. Stir, add some more, stir, add some more, stir,
· 2 cups of water · Sour cream add some more until all the corn meal is in the water.
· 1 teaspoon salt · Chesse
❹ Using a special wooden stick (făcăleţ) rather than a wooden spoon and
pressing against the pot walls when stirring will help eliminate clumps.
Alternatively, you can try using the tail of the spoon.
❺ Continue stirring for about 5 minutes until the cornmeal changes its
consistency and thickens.
❻ Serve it right out of the pot. Use good quality feta cheese (telemea),
preferably sheep's milk cheese. Use a fork to grind the cheese before mixing.
Place some mămăliga onto the serving plate. Mix it with plenty of butter,
according to taste. Next, add plenty of cheese and mix it well. Finally, add
plenty of sour cream to cover the entire surface of mămăliga.
A TASTE OF
COMUNE
Zacuscă (Vegetable spread)
Prep. Cook Ready
Is a fresh, baked or roasted vegetable dish found in several Balkan 2h 4,5 h 6,5 h
countries. According to the Romanian tradition, after the autumn harvest, #25
some families prepare zacuscă and preserve it in sterilized jars for the ❶ You normally have to grill the vegetables but if you don't have the possibility
winter. The eggplant recipe is the most popular and one of the most loved, or don't feel like doing it, then just place the stuff in the oven and let cook until
but there are other varieties, such as green or dried beans, and mushrooms. the skin blackens and the vegetables are soft.
This dish is optimal to combine with fresh bread and basil. ❷ Take everything out of the oven, let the vegetables cool, then peel carefully
and place everything into a big sieve. Let drain well.
❸ Put separately each of the four types of vegetables in a food processor.
· 4 kg Eggplants · 3 kg Onions And place each in a separate bowl when you are finished.
· 3 kg Red bell peppers · 1 l Oil ❹ Chop the onions (a good way is do it through a food processor), and
· 3 kg Tomatoes · Black pepper together with oil put them into a large pot. And cook the onions until translucent.
· 3 kg Carrots · Salt ❺ The next step is adding the red bell peppers, carrots, eggplants, tomatoes
and salt. Cook everything on a very low flame for about 4 hours stirring from
time to time.
❻ Sterilize your jars while your vegetables are cooking. You should place the
jars and their lids in a big pan filled with water. Bring the water to a boil and cook
the jars and the lids for about 5 minutes. Take the jars and lids out and let them
drain on a clean kitchen towel.
❼ After filling the jars of zacuscă let everything boil again around 20-25
minutes in a pot of water.
❽ Biological processes inside the jars require time, it is important that the
vegetables are stored in a dark place before consumption (cellar or balcony in
winter).
A TASTE OF
COMUNE
NOT TO MISS 7
Izvoarele is a festive commune – when you plan a visit, checking a calendar of festivities is a must. Regardless the season of the year you are
coming, there is always something going on. To be sure you are in the right place at the right time, we have collected dates and places that you
should see when visiting Izvoarele.
NOT
TO MISS
FESTIVITIES
CALENDAR
1st of January: New Year
During this day, another type of sorcovă is done by the youngsters. Early in the morning, they go with a Christmas tree on a cart (căruță) pulled by a horse, and one part of
the group of youngster performs a scene while the other part makes coordinated noises with the whips.
1st of March: Mărțișor

It is a traditional festivity all around Romania. It is a celebration of the upcoming spring. Small ornaments with red and white strings are offered to women. Although it is
widely celebrated, it is not part of the national free days.
April / May: Orthodox Easter

It is the most important religious celebration. 40 days before the celebration, believers abstain from eating meat, fish or any other animal product. There are 3 holiday
days: the Great Friday, the Easter Sunday and Easter Monday. A midnight mass is celebrated on Saturday in all the churches in the commune, as well as in the monastery.
At the beginning of the mass, the priest passes the “Holy light” to the believers. In the Easter period it is also common to paint eggs in red and giving them to each other, as
well as other food. In the period of 40 days starting from the midnight mass on Saturday people greet eachother with a saying ”Christ has risen!” that is replied by “He truly
did.”
21st of May: The celebration of the monastery bearing the name of Constantin and Elena
This day is a celebration of the apostles of emperor Constantine and empress Helena (his mother). The monastery celebrates that day, hosting pilgrims, visiting the
monastery. The village of Schiulești, being the closest one to the monastery, organizes a fair. The day includes the celebration of the heroes of the I and II World War. In the
commune, it is celebrated in the church of Homorâciu, since this one is the closest to the Heroes Monument.
Day of the commune

It is held in Izvoarele on the first weekend of July. A small market of house-made products is held, and the inhabitants sell their products like jam, honey, dulceață,
țuică, etc.. Also, the local singing group performs traditional songs and dances.
20th of July: Saint Elijah

It is one of the most important prophets of the Old Testament. In the Romanian tradition, Saint Elijah is the guardian of crops. It is a big celebration in the commune
and in all the churches and in the monastery masses are held.
FESTIVITIES
CALENDAR
15th of August: Dormition of the Mother of God
The equivalent in the Roman Catholic calendar would be the Assumption of Mary. It is a big religious celebration in the commune and in all the churches and in the
monastery masses are held. It is worth mentioned that the church in Homorâciu is named the same.
11th of September: School opening

In each school of the commune there is an official event where all the students and parents gather. The event consists of the priest blessing the school and the
mayor and director of the school giving short speeches.
14th October: Saint Paraskeva

This female saint is widely worshiped among the Balkan countries. She is the saint patron of the tailors and marriage. It is an important celebration for the
commune, being held masses in all the churches and in the monastery. Also a small market is arranged in Homorâciu.
1st of December: Unification day

Commemoration of the unification of Transylvania with Moldova and Țara Romanească (Wallachia) in 1918. In the commune it is celebrated on the day before by
preparing a theatre show done by kids from the school.
23rd-25th of December: Caroling

During these days, all the kids from the commune sing Christmas carols and wishing merry Christmas. The kids go around the villages singing from house to house
and adults give them sweets and tangerines.
25th of December: Christmas

That is the official Christmas day for the Orthodox. The mass is celebrated early in the morning in all the churches of the commune.
31st of December: New Year's Eve

Celebrating entering in a new year. During this day the kids from the commune go out and sing carols with a sorcova (a stick with flowers), a tradition called “best wishes”
(urări). They go house-by-house singing and whishing a good new year, and in return, the adults give them a bit of money. At the same time, the boys perform a scene
called Capra (goat) from house to house.
FESTIVITIES
CALENDAR
PLACES
PLACES
Cetățeaua (Cetățuia) peak
It is located at the very end of Cernești, on top of one of the hills, making it a good place to see the views. This place was a settlement during the Bronze age, and
nowadays the remains are covered by the vegetation.
Malu Vânăt picnic place

It is at the entrance of Malu Vânăt, under the bridge. This place is used as a picnic area for the inhabitants because of its pleasant placement on the riverbank.
Schiulești park
This park is situated at the end of the main street of Schiulești and close to the forest. It is a small but nice park with swings, benches, tables and an elevated stage for
performances.
NATURE AND
VIEWPOINTS
Crasna river
The Crasna river crosses the commune of Izvoarele. It is a tributary of the Teleajen, which originates in the Ciucaș mountains.
River view in Schiuleşti

From this elevated point, you can see a view of the river, the hills and the meadows where the cows and goats go during spring and summer.
Schiulești crest
Taking a walk over the crest of Schiulești hills offers you a view over the entire village from an elevated position.
Hydroelectric power plant

It is located along Teleajen river between Cernești and Chirițești villages. Going up the dam, it is possible to see the views of the lake and Cernești.
NATURE AND
VIEWPOINTS
Cultural centre Homorâciu
In this Cultural centre weekly meetings of the Seniors Club are held, where elderly meet to discuss about culture and traditions. Cultural Centre also offers singing
and dancing classes, as well as giving the space to arrange different types of cultural events.
Cultural centre Izvoarele

This complex is aimed at offering different cultural activities to the inhabitants. Dancing, singing and karate classes are held here. Also, there is a library and a
spacious room with a stage, as well as giving the space to arrange different types of cultural events.
Curba de Cultură
Local youth association, running a youth center in Izvoarele village. Asociation's headquarters host a library open for public, office space and activity space for
smaller groups. In terms of activities the association is running volunteering programmes for both local and international volunteers, facilitating nonformal and
informal learning activities through organizing international exchanges as well as cultural and social events in the commune and wider.
LEISURE TIME
& CULTURE
Village museum Dumitru Ionescu
The museum hosts household items, furniture, musical instruments,agricultural tools, showing the history of the village. They have been collected thoroughly, door
to door, with the seniors' efforts. The museum bears the name of a former local teacher, Dumitru Ionescu. Located across the road from Homorâciu Cultural centre.
Tennis and football fields

There are two football fields in the commune – in Schiulești village, next to the park and in Izvoarele village (the so-called Stadion „Tinereţea”). While the latter is
used mostly by the local football team, the one in Schiulești village is open for reservations. The same goes for the tennis field right next to it.
Iazul Dorului
This fishing pond is in the south of Cernești. With making a reservation in advance you can come to fish here.
Malu Vânăt willow

This place is where the youngsters from Malu Vânăt and Homorâciu usually hang out during spring and summer.
LEISURE TIME
& CULTURE
Heroes Monument
This monument was erected in Homorâciu to commemorate the local soldiers from the First and the Second World War.
Stoica's hill
During the night, a big shiny cross appears on one of the hills of Homorâciu, which commemorates the legend of a local hero, Stoica (see more in historical
overview). However, during the day it is impossible to see it.âciu to commemorate the local soldiers from the First and the Second World War.
Saint Nicholas church

This small Orthodox church from the 19th century is situated in Schiulești, close to the entry of the village and it is also known by the name Biserica de Lemn
(Wooden Church).
Crasna monastery
This complex is an Orthodox monastery from the 18th century, and it is situated on the outskirts of Schiulești, surrounded by the forest. It can be reached from
Schiulești or from Izvoarele village
Homorâciu Adventist church

It is the Adventist church for the inhabitants of Homorâciu and Malu Vânăt.
MONUMENTS & RELIGIOUS

INFRASTUCTURE
Izvoarele Aventist church
It is the only Adventist church in Izvoarele village and it is part of the Seventh-day Adventist Church (Biserica Adventistă de Ziua a Șaptea).
Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God

This is the Orthodox church of Homorâciu. In this church masses are held for the inhabitants of Homorâciu and Malu Vânăt.
Church of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel (and cemetery)

This Orthodox church and its cemetery are placed together, and date from the early nineteenth century. In the past, they were the centre of Izvoarele because the
church was functional, but nowadays mainly only the cemetery is used.
Malu Vânăt Adventist cemetery

It is a small Adventist cemetery that is part of that same church. This belief represents a minority in the commune.
New cemetery Saint Basil

It is in front of the cultural centre of Homorâciu, and dates from the early 19th century. It is the main Orthodox cemetery of Homorâciu.
Schiulești cemetery
It is situated at the entry of the village, on the main road, and it is part of the Orthodox church of Schiulești.
MONUMENTS & RELIGIOUS

INFRASTUCTURE
Guesthouse Amo
This guesthouse is located at the entrance of Izvoarele village, on the main national road. It has all the facilities necessaries for a comfortable stay.
Guesthouse Lacurile Pastravilor

It is a family guesthouse located in the village of Izvoarele, not far from the main road. This pension also offers to the guests the chance of fishing in their ponds.
Izvoarele Town Hall

The town hall is administrating the whole comme. You can find more information about it at http://www.izvoarele-ph.ro/ or visit them in Izvoarele nr. 687.
Police Station
The commune has a police station, and it is located in Izvoarele village, at Strada Principală no. 384.
LOCAL ADMINISTRATION
AND ACCOMODATION
Schools and kindergardens
There are 3 kindergardens and 5 schools in the commune, two with 1-4 classes and 3 with 1-8 classes.
Bus and train stations

By means of public transport, Izvoarele commune can be reached by bus or train. There are train stations in Homorâciu and
Izvoarele villages. You can find bus stops on the main road in the villages of Malu Vânăt, Homorâciu, Izvoarele and Schiulești.
Post offices
The main post office of the commune is located in the village of Izvoarele (next to the Town Hall). There is another one in
Schiulești due to the distance, but it has shorter opening hours.
Doctors and dentists

There is only one dentist in the commune, and its clinic is located in Homorâciu, behind the bus stop. There is also a doctor in
Malu Vânăt.
Shops
Small all-you-can-find shops are spread all over the commune. They sell different things, from vegetables to clothes.
Pharmacies
You can find pharmacies in the villages of Malu Vânăt, Homorâciu and Izvoarele.
Wells and fountains

The commune is located in an area with portable springs, so most of the wells have healthy water, accessible at several wells
and fountains spread all around the commune.
SERVICES AND
USEFULL INFO
BIBLIOGRAPHY 8
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Articol 2, (n.d.), Denumirea Comunei, Statutul Comunei Izvoarele, Consiliul local al Comunei Izvoarele, pp. 1.
Articol 4, (n.d.), Întinderea teritoriului administrativ și delimitarea territorială, dare geomorfologice, Statutul Comunei Izvoarele, Consiliul local al Comunei Izvoarele, pp. 2-5.
Articol 5, (n.d.), Istoric, Statutul Comunei Izvoarele, Consiliul local al Comunei Izvoarele, pp. 6-13.
Articol 7, (n.d.), Date sintetice despre comună, Statutul Comunei Izvoarele, Consiliul local al Comunei Izvoarele, pp. 14-26.
Bardzińska-Bonenberg, T. (2009). Romanian rural architecture-diversity of homesteads. Architecture Civil Engineering Environment, 2(4), 11–17.
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Costea, N. (2003), Monografia Comunei Izvoarele, București: Ed. Giuleștino.
Crăciunul în România. (n.d.). Retrieved February 16, 2018, from https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cr%C4%83ciunul_%C3%AEn_Rom%C3%A2nia
Dan-Străulești, P. (2009), Atlas Istoric Ilustrat al României, Bucuresti: Ed. Litera.
Daniel, V., Bogdan, S., Liliana, D., & Daniel-Gabriel, V. (2015). Dynamics of housing stock in Romania – between politics and policies. Human geographies – Journal of Studies
and Research in Human Geography, 9(2), 207–223.
Dormition of the Mother of God. (n.d.). Retrieved February 16, 2018, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dormition_of_the_Mother_of_God
Eurostat. (2017). Sustainable Development in the European Union — Monitoring report on progress towards the SDGs in an EU context. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the
European Union.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
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http://www.recensamantromania.ro/rezultate-2/
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Nuţă, M. (2016). Șindrila. Arhitectura, (1).
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Monitorul Oficial Nr. 408 din 24 iulie 2001. România.
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Zamfir, C. (2001). Situaţia sărăciei în România dimensiuni, surse, grupuri de risc, iunie 2001. România Socială – Revistă de Cultură Şi Anală Socială, (2).
BIBLIOGRAPHY
CREDITS 9
We would like to offer our gratitude to the following:

· The Department of Anthropology of the Faculty of Sociology and Social Work – University of Bucharest and anthropologist Claudia Câmpeanu for their support in
providing the initial guidance for our research;
· 1st year Anthropology students for their efforts, hard work, patience and cooperation with our volunteer team during the research done in summer of 2017 and
onwards. Thank you Zenaida, Rareș, Vlad, Andreea and Mădălina;
· The National Agency in Romania and mr. Emanuel Franga for guiding us into the intricate process of abiding all bureaucratic norms;
· The Cultural Centre here in Izvoarele, the Seniors' Club and especially to mr. Ioan Diaconu for opening doors and facilitating our research with the local people of
Izvoarele;
· The local volunteers working hard on translation and interpretation for our EVS volunteers during the research. Thank you Alin, Bea, Bianca, Cozo, Biancaaa,
Florentina, Ivașcu, Laurică, Miki, Simina, Ștefana and Valeriu;
· To Estelle and Matej, that have contributed with their skilled photographic eye and - especially to Estelle - for unlimited patience in the process of taking pictures.
· Dani for the wonderful design of this here object-book, there are no words enough to thank for working on tight deadlines and making all our design curiosities
happen;
· Special thanks to Cosmin Catană, the president of Curba de Cultură for designing and monitoring the project as well as for contributing to the quality of the results by
over-thinking it;
· To Kristina for watching over the lives and activities of our EVS volunteers and for setting deadlines for everyone and everything;
· And last but not least, a huge thank you to our colleague Sorin for making it possible for our Romanian readers to be able to read the material in their mother tongue.
CREDITS

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DISCOVER

"A Cultural Monograph of the Izvoarele Commune"

Published by Curba de Cultura in Izvoarele, Prahova in 2018

THE Curba de Cultură

The commune of Izvoarele, formed by the villages of Malu

The commune itself is the administrative means of

This place is relatively close to 3 cities: in the South, there

Communism in the 1940s accelerated these changes and brought more

This material was made during the project ”Izvoarele Unveiled”

THE PAST TROUGH THE

This material was made during the project ”Izvoarele Unveiled”

The reusing of materials is not an unseen practice; regardless of their awareness of

FRUITFUL YARDS AND

FRUITFUL YARDS AND

FRUITFUL YARDS AND

This material was made during the project ”Izvoarele Unveiled”

FRUITFUL YARDS AND

We saw it every time we came home after dark, up in the hills of

The cross is supposed to commemorate the legend of a local hero,

This material was made during the project ”Izvoarele Unveiled”

What dangers could be lurking there?

1st of March: Mărțișor

April / May: Orthodox Easter

Day of the commune

20th of July: Saint Elijah

11th of September: School opening

14th October: Saint Paraskeva

1st of December: Uniﬁcation day

23rd-25th of December: Caroling

25th of December: Christmas

31st of December: New Year's Eve

Malu Vânăt picnic place

River view in Schiuleşti

Hydroelectric power plant

Cultural centre Izvoarele

Tennis and football ﬁelds

Malu Vânăt willow

Saint Nicholas church

Homorâciu Adventist church

MONUMENTS & RELIGIOUS

Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God

Church of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel (and cemetery)

Malu Vânăt Adventist cemetery

New cemetery Saint Basil

MONUMENTS & RELIGIOUS

Guesthouse Lacurile Pastravilor

Izvoarele Town Hall

Bus and train stations

Doctors and dentists

Wells and fountains

We would like to offer our gratitude to the following:

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