As part of the field research in Giurgiu county, we also spoke with Elena and Ștefan Pascu (70 and 74 years old respectively), about the occupations, architecture and customs of the Ursari Roma from Vedea commune, Giurgiu county.
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Talking to Elena and Ștefan Pascu, bears from Vedea, Giurgiu county
OCCUPATION
Before the Second World War, Roma worked by day on the lands of the wealthiest. During the communist period, they still worked during the day, but on the farm, the teams being led by some of the Roma from the community. Some of the women worked as fulgari, in organized form (the center was in Giurgiu). They went with the bag of materials, galoshes (gums), slippers and offered these products in exchange for flakes.
With few exceptions, the bearers, because they had little land and were not employed with permanent contracts, but only day laborers, were poorer than the Romanian population or than the fiddlers in the village.
Architecture
They built earthen houses, similar to Romanians, but with fewer rooms (two, rarely, three, of which one was a tent; in the same period, most Romanian houses had three or four rooms) and with materials cheaper. They were often thatched and not whitewashed. A difference from the Romanians was the fact that they had no annexes or at most one - a pantry and, less often, a stable. Initially, few households were fenced.
Confession
The Ursari were Orthodox, but some of them switched to the Pentecostal cult, especially in the last 10 years, a situation specific to the south of Giurgiu county.
Habits of family life
A notable difference was in the way the wedding was organized. Due to poverty, weddings lasted only one day, unlike Romanian weddings, which took place over the course of three days. The wedding gift consisted mainly of dishes (cereals). They didn't always get married in church.
At the funeral, the ritual was similar to that of the Romanians. For unmarried dead young people, a Christmas tree was made, which went upside down and music was played. Interlocutors mention an accordionist who played most often at these funerals. There was a repertoire for funerals, consisting of sad songs. Most likely, this repertoire was not different from the one that was sung in the case of the Romanians. There were no ethnic differentiations in terms of burial places, their only organization being by families.
Elena and Stefan Pascu
Calendar customs
There are two specific customs of the Ursari Roma from the locality: Paparuda and Vasilca.
Paparuda it was done in the hot summer months by girls. They put boxwood leaves, strung on a thread, around their waist and walked around the village, especially to the wealthy households. They mostly received food (a strachin of corn, eggs, etc.). Elena Pascu was cu Paparuda, about 60 years ago, but he only remembers two verses: Paparudă, rudă, / Vino de ne udă. Those who decided to become a Frog were the elders in the community.
Vasilca it is one of the customs still alive today. It is practiced in the evening of St. Basil's Day, until New Year's Eve. In 2021 there were several groups of Ursari Roma who went with Vasilca. Ștefan Pascu has been going with Vasilca for over 50 years. He is very proud of this achievement and cares a lot about preserving the tradition. Vasilca is prepared by his wife - Elena Pascu: a pig's head (duck) on a tray, decorated with a folder with a girl, with garland and beads. There is also the case of a man who, instead of a pig's head, put a boot (which resembled a pig's neck) which he wrapped, but who was chased away by the Romanians because it was not according to local tradition. Ștefan Pascu's son is in Italy, but he is also attached to this tradition. In recent years, it has become a custom for the father to send the carol with Vasilca, through the mobile phone, even in the context of the celebration.
Life quality
In terms of quality of life, interviewees believe that although they are much wealthier than when they were children or young people, they are now less happy. The main cause of this perception is the fact that many of the young people go to work abroad, and the children are raised without parents, by their grandparents. Another cause is the increase in crime (especially drug use and violence).
