Mountain move represents a traditional custom practiced in some communities in the Apuseni Mountains in Romania. This pastoral custom has its roots in the distant past of rural communities and plays an important role in preserving traditions and maintaining a close connection with the natural environment.
Mountain move tradition involves the temporary relocation of the community from the mountain villages to a hamlet located in the heart of the mountain, called a “mountain slope hamlet (move)”. This migration usually takes place between May and June and is mainly aimed at grazing and feeding the animals during the summer. Moving to the “mountain hamlet”, people and their animals benefit from the rich pastures and natural resources of the mountain area.
Before departure, the community meticulously prepares for the mountain move. People collect their household belongings, including smaller animals such as pigs, chickens and sheep. Larger animals, such as cows, are driven to the “mountain slope hamlet” on foot, and small ones can be transported in carts or other suitable means.
When they arrive in the “mountain slope hamlet”, people build temporary wooden shelters, called “huts”, which are small in size, usually with one or two rooms. These huts are not thermally insulated and are not intended to be permanent homes, but rather summer shelters.
Life in the “move” is devoted to shepherding and grazing. The community takes care of feeding the animals, gathering hay and fodder to ensure they have enough food during the winter. Farming and pastoral activities are carried out at a specific pace, respecting natural cycles and adapting to the resources offered by the mountain environment.
In addition to household activities, the mountain move also has significant social importance. The community gathers around the fire and shares specific traditions, stories and songs. This contributes to the strengthening of relationships among community members and the transmission from one generation to another of values and knowledge related to pastoral life.
At the end of summer or in autumn, the community returns to the village of origin. This return marks the end of the mountain season and preparations for winter. People are engaged in harvesting agricultural crops, gathering firewood and other activities specific to winter preparations.
Milking is an ancestral tradition that has survived through time and continues to bring rural communities together. Although globalization and socio-economic changes have brought some changes in the way of life of these communities, mountaineering remains an important pillar in the identity and traditions of these mountainous areas.
So as to conclude, mountain climbing represents a pastoral custom specific to the mountain areas of the Apuseni Mountains. This tradition involves the temporary relocation of the community to a mountain hamlet where shepherding and grazing activities are carried out. The muntărit has a strong social and cultural significance, contributing to maintaining community ties and preserving ancestral traditions.
Contributor: Cluj County Centre for the Conservation and Promotion of Traditional Culture
