Copilăria şi adolescenţa în Dăbâca la sfârşitul secolului al XIX-lea şi prima jumătate a secolului al XX-lea
Childhood and Adolescence in Dăbâca, in the Late 19th Century through the First Half of the 20th Century

Summary/Abstract: In Romanian traditional village there was a special interest shown upon childhood and adolescence, by the community, because during this period of time youngsters were being accustomed to the main elements that were to prepare them to face the adult life. Having these considerations as a starting point, this study is a complex analysis of what childhood and adolescence meant in the Transylvanian Romanian village in the late 19th century through the first half of the 20th century. A few elements of local geography and history are presented at the beginning of the study, elements that create a background to a better understanding of Dăbâca's community. Following this short introduction, there comes an analysis on childhood starting with the first years of life. There are presented the children's clothes, the holidays' traditional local customs, the stories that parents used to tell to the little ones, the disenchantment used on those who had been bewitched by the evil eye, the childhood's games and toys, the school years. In the context of the institution's evolution during the above­ mentioned period of time, there is also presented the school's importance within a child' s life. Adolescence is analyzed considering the national costume and nourishment, the traditional local customs at certain feasts, and the pre­ wedding local customs. The evening sitting of village women and the different feast local customs are detailedly analyzed. Besides analyzing childhood and adolescence this study also presents numerous aspects of Dăbâca's community traditional life style, accomplishing a true real image of a Transylvanian Romanian village, in the late 19th century through the first half of the 20th century.

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