Hay management follows a well-established calendar of activities, involving maintenance activities of meadows and hayfields and the actual work of making hay.
Mowing group work (claca la coasă) in Mărișel village, Cluj county
Social practice in mountain communities
In the Romanian village, in ancient times, group work (claca ) was one of the most popular forms of assistance. During the time of sowing, mowing, or reaping, but also for breaking the corn, spinning the wool, or when they were building or covering their houses, people called on the help of their fellow villagers. All claca gatherings ended with food, drink and games.
In the mountain area of Cluj county, such as Mărișel, the mowing was done by the hosts (who had a lot of land), but also by single people, widowed women or sick people. Calling people to claca was done by the host, two or three days before, on Sunday, when leaving the church, or on that day. At the same time, people announced to each other, sending word to relatives and friends.
In some places, mowing claca took place in the afternoon, on certain holidays during the summer, less important in the religious calendar, and lasted for several hours. In others, they went to claca on daybreak because “the scythe cuts the grass well “, according to the village elders. The mowing was never started on a Tuesday, only on Monday or on other days “so that the work could be done with great efficiency”.
In ancient times, mowing the grass was of great importance in a household. From time immemorial, men bought a scythe from the market, made scythe handles (codorăște), or scythe tails, as they are also called, and thus prepared to cut the first lot of grass.
After preparing their tools, the scythe, the handle, the sandstone (cutea), the hammer for sharpening (“beating”) the scythe, those called to the claca headed to the place where the grass was to be cut. First of all, the work began with the sharpening of the scythe. The mowing was started by the one who finished sharpening the scythe first. Then, while working, the scythe was sharpened from time to time with a sandstone, held in the holster on the hip. And, to pass the time, the mowers would exchange scythes with each other, to see which cut better, they would whistle and sing.
About two hours after the beginning of the mowing, depending on the time of the day when the claca was unfolded, in the morning or around “ugina” (time of the day halfway between noon and sunset), the hostess, helped by other women, would bring food for mowers. She brought sheep’s cheese, lard (clisa), onions, bread and brandy. Once there, they would spread the cloth on the furrow, put the food and the men would sit in a circle around the cloth.
After they had finished eating, the mowers continued their work, and during this time the hostess and the other women spread the furrows, so that the grass could dry. Then, it was transported home from the land border, so that, in winter, it would be food for cattle, sheep, horses or whatever other animals they kept.
Meanwhile, other women were gathering at the host’s house, preparing dinner for the members of the work group, but also for their wives and neighbours. Pies were made on the hearth, smeared with cream (groştior) and sour polenta (balmoș), water was drawn from the well and the mowers were awaited, to be rewarded for their work. They were all seated at the table and served with the dishes prepared. In the meantime, they talked about what had happened in the village, told jokes and riddles. After they had eaten, the hosts called fiddlers (ceteraşi) from the village and everything ended with dance and merriment.
Contributor: Cluj County Centre for the Conservation and Promotion of Traditional Culture
