Săpânța is
situated on the bank of Tisza River and dominated by the Carpathian peaks.
The village
has 5000 inhabitants. The commune is similar to many communes of Maramures. The
people who live here are well-known for their loyalty towards their land, their
powerful spirit of independence and strict observance of their customs and
traditions.
The
orthodox religion and its traditions are part of their everyday lives. On
Sunday, at the service, people wear the traditional national costume.
The base of
economic activities is the forest. Wood is all over present.
As known,
Romanian peasant was never afraid of death. For him, the cross represents some
kind of entrance gate towards eternal rest.
Merry Cemetery
is situated in the centre of the commune. Crosses are sculpted in oak wood,
painted and versified through countersink by the famous sculptor, painter and poet
Ion Stan Pătraș and continued by Dumitru Pop. The epitaphs written in short
verses are simple, spontaneous but are very spiritual and sensitive. Some of them also have a certain sense of humour,
from this reason the cemetery is called „the Merry Cemetery”.
However,
the main characteristic is not the joy, but the fact that life is above death
here. The main point is as ancient Roman said when somebody died: he lived !
instead of he died.
/The text
and its information is based on that brochure which was written by Lutai Iustin
Leon and can be bought at the ticket office Săpânța, Merry Cemetery./
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