Discover Moldova with #MOLDPRES: Tradition of towel weaved by hand preserved, maintained in Selemet settlement, Cimislia district

The tradition of towel weaved by hand was reminded at the fifth edition of the iProsop (iTowel) Festival in the Selemet village, southern Cimislia district, on 9 June.    

The Cimislia authorities managed also on 9 June to achieve the goal of the iProsop Festival – to turn to good account the oneness of this object present in each home, by promoting its usefulness, both from the cultural and historical points of view and as an element of decoration. Besides, the festival brought to the forefront the ethnic and regional traditions and customs related to the national costume, gastronomy, folklore, rural lifestyle and traditional sport – values which contribute to the development of tourism.      

The iProsop artistic schedule started with a traditional parade  

The iProsop artistic schedule started with a traditional parade and artistic events, held till evening, when singers and more artistic bands performed on the big stage.    

The 2024 year edition brought together over 30 popular craftsmen, folk bands of Moldova and from abroad, merited artists and ethnic collected of Gagauz and Ukrainians, which presented the nicest collections of traditional towels specific for the origin area.   

The guests were able to admire the diversity of the towels displayed, both from collections of museums and personal collections, to purchase traditional towels and see the process of manual weaving. At the event, weaving workshops were organized and the festival’s visitors were able to try the practice of this occupation. In the Adorned Room, the collection of towels from the Museum of the Selemet village was displayed and grandmother Ana Cotruta told about the tradition of weaving towels in Moldova’s villages.      

The National Ethnography and Natural History Museum of Moldova was with the participants also at this edition of the event, providing the expertise and workshops about the usefulness of towels and ways of safeguarding the Bessarabian towel. Presentations about the traditional ornaments and workshops of embroidery and knitting for the entire family, carried out by Șezătoarea Basarabiei (Evening Sitting of Bessarabia) community, took place in the Evening Sitting specially arranged area.       

Creation workshops were organized for children, where they were able to embroider elements from a traditional towel in the dedicated area, World of Children. Also, people fond of sport enjoyed such traditional activities as: wrestling for living ram, wrestling for living cock, weight-lifting, domino games and many others.       

The participants were able to enjoy dishes specific to the southern region, cooked specially on this occasion by the most skillful housewives. The guests were presented a true show of tastes and fragrances at Curtea Vânătorului (Hunter’s Yard).        

iProsop, dedicated to the manufacturing of the towel weaved by hand, in order to turn to good account this precious object

„iProsop is dedicated to manufacturing of the manually weaved towel, in order to maximally turn to account this precious workmanship object, which is present in each home, promoting it in all shapes possible – cultural and artistic, as element of embellishment and of consolidation of citizens. We want to highlight the ethnic and regional traditions and customs, the rustic lifestyle and the traditional sport,’’ the mayor of the Selemet village, Tatiana Badan, said.     

According to the mayor, the treasure from the southern region is quite rich and diverse. Made up of elements of folklore, gastronomy, trades and traditions settled in history, it is worth being promoted and turned to good account through such a festival as iProsop. ‘’I urge all young from Moldova, who are here, as well as those who left abroad not to forget about the traditions, values, customs, as this traditional towel unites our minds and feelings. This national element participates in the most important events in the life of a man – starting the birth till death,’’ Tatiana Badan said.        

The iProsop festival was initiated in 2015 and is seen by the authorities as a necessary action, as in the last time, this trade has started disappearing, as it implies much patience and attention. ‘’We have chosen the towel as attraction point, in order to bring to the knowledge of people the beauty of the things from grandmother’s box, which have been forgotten long ago. Through the iProsop festival, we were set to fuel people’s longing for beauty, for the authentic values, as well as to facilitate the entrepreneurial opportunities of promotion of the national culture,’’ the organizers said.      

Correspondent: Lilia Grubii
Photo: Mihai Vengher