Weaving

Weaving

.Săpânța is not a common village, precisely because it holds on its territory a rare treasure, hard to value in money or words – CIMITIRUL VESEL (THE MERRY CEMETERY). The Merry Cemetery of Săpânța – globally unique and world value monument, where tomb’s crosses are not only guarding the graves, but they are also explicitly speaking in words. The Merry Cemetery of Săpânța, where the epitaphs, unique in the word, show the richness and originality of the Romanian life philosophy and the Romanian mentality of thinking lively and authentically even about after-life things.

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A țăse

12/06/2025

17/06/2025

Memoria Ethnologică: https://www.memoria-ethnologica.ro/articole/page/98/

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current,47.966669,23.7;

University of St Andrews

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Weaving as many of the cultural practices in a small community, represented just another opportunity to gather the community and enhace social bounding.

Noemi Ganea

Manual weaving in Maramureș is a deeply rooted tradition that requires a combination of technical skills, artistic creativity, and cultural knowledge. This practice, passed down through generations, involves intricate techniques and an understanding of natural materials, patterns, and symbolic motifs. Weavers must master both the mechanical aspects of loom operation and the creative elements of textile design while preserving and passing on this valuable tradition to future generations.

It can be a family tradition passed on from generation to generation, usually on the maternal side of the family,also the skill that can be acquired and mastered during the community meetings ( the so called sezători, especially in the winter when there is less fieldwork to be undergone), and nowadays there are courses available in craft schools/organizations.

Especially women had the responsiblity of learning and transmitting this cultural practice, but also men were involved in the process of wool processing and in some cases also worked alongside their wives. Anuța Stan, the weaver interwied by our team acknowledged that her husband is helping her weaving to be more productive.

Weaving fosters a sense of belonging and shared cultural identity, as it is often a community-driven activity passed down through generations. Local festivals, workshops, and artisan markets provide spaces for weavers to interact, share knowledge, and preserve traditional techniques. The craft reinforces regional identity, as Maramureș weaving patterns and styles are distinct and recognized as part of Romania’s cultural heritage Older generations play a key role in teaching younger family members, ensuring that weaving remains a living tradition. Many artisans continue to weave for economic sustainability, selling handmade textiles in local and international markets. The resurgence of interest in eco-friendly and slow fashion has increased the demand for ethically made, handwoven products, supporting local artisans.

Weaving is one of the oldest practices in the area of Maramureș, practitioners are proud to use generation transmitted tool. They practice it as a source of income by selling their products, usually their workshops are on the premises of their homes.

Local authorithies and regional authorities became lately aware of the fragility of these practices, consciously promoting craftmen and practices . There are folk art schools and craftmen organisations that activate in conservation and promotion of these crafts, but NGOs are usually the strong voices behing the craftmanship.

Loss of biodiversity

lack of first hand raw material

Industrial production

industrial production impacts slow hand made production

Misappropriation

The availability of mass produced, in many cases fake products that have attractive prices, can affect the interest for genuine hand made authentic products

Aged practitioners,Diminishing youth interest,Reduced practice

the practice is not appealing to younger generations

Insufficient renumeration,Rapid economic transformation

there are no policies/strategies or action plan that directly address the issue of conservation and promotion of traditional cultural practices.

Rural-urban migration

small community, younger generation preffer the opportunites of living in the urban area where authentic cultural practices are difficult or unappealing to be practiced

Rapid sociocultural change

it is difficult to addapt adapt traditional cultural prectices to an everchanging socio cultural environment.

Loss of cultural significance

The ever changing cultural environment might disconsider the significance of traditional cultural practices.

Săpânța village is situated on the right bank of Tisa, next to Valea Tarasului, close to the confluence of Săpânța and Tisa rivers, in the extreme north of Romania, where Maramureș County, borders Ukraine.

The tools used are the loom (război de țesut) more that 100 years old in lour case, reel (crâng/vîrtelniță), carder (rășchitor), sley (sucală), warp (urzoi), spindle (fuse), spinning wheel for a thicker type of wool (drugă/fuior). The weavers produce a large ranhge of products, but in our case the practitioner interviewed produces: traditional bags ( traistă), blankets (cergi) and carpets

All small scale cultural practices positively impact the social cohesion of the community

The practitioner uses locally sourced wool, having zero waste ( even lower quality wool is being repurposed), natural dyed colors from plants are used without impacting the enviroment, considerable manual work involved.

The practice has low economical impact, but it is still used by the practitioner as a source of primary income.

Responsible Consumption and Production

Săpânța, Maramureș

fibre and textile crafts

declining

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