ROCKFORD’S ROMANIAN AND HUNGARIAN SISTER CITY HOST SUMMER FESTIVAL
ROCKFORD, IL. – June 22, 2010 - In celebration of the summer solstice, the Sister City committees of Cluj-Napoca Romania and Taszar, Hungary, are hosting Sanziene or Szentivan-Ej; a Romanian-Hungarian Midsummer Garden Party. The event will be held at the Sister Cities Garden located in the Keeling-Puri Peace Plaza on the Perryville bike path at Riverside Boulevard and McFarland Road in Rockford Illinois on Saturday, June 26, 2010 from 11:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m.
The unique combination of the Romanian and Hungarian cultures in this midsummer event brings to the Rockford community the opportunity to celebrate through ethnic music, dance, and food, the beauty and richness of these long-held traditions. “To celebrate the tradition of the midsummer, surrounded by the beauty of the Sister City Garden, allows us to share the culture and art of our countries in the most beautiful of settings,” said Romanian Sister City representative Ramona Cornea.
Historically, Romania and Hungary have often been at odds; however, they have found the Sister City organization in Rockford, which promotes people-to-people diplomacy, to be a common ground for many of their cultural celebrations. Because the Sister Cities of Cluj-Napoca Romania and Taszar, Hungary are two of the smaller Sister City groups in Rockford the dovetailing of their celebrations seemed to be a natural solution to bringing their distinctive cultures to the Rockford community. “The song and dances of both of our countries are beautiful in their own right. The opportunity to bring them both together will allow our guests to truly experience the celebrations that would be happening in Romania and Hungary,” Ms. Cornea pointed out.
The Saturday Garden Party is based on the midsummer celebrations found in Romania and Hungary. Sanziene is the Romanian name for gentle fairies that play an important part in local folklore. Sânziene practices imply that the most beautiful maidens dress in white and picking Sanziene flowers create wreaths as floral crowns which they wear at nightfall when they dance in circle around a bonfire. During the Sânziene night, the heavens open up, making it an adequate time for making wishes and for praying, as God is more likely to listen.
The Hungarian celebration of SZENTIVAN-EJ “The night of Saint John the Baptist” is held on the summer solstice, and the Midsummer Day practices consist of a bonfire with various aromatic herbs and flowers smoke surrounded by women performing Love divination.
A full, ethnic menu, consisting of Hungarian, Romanian, and Transylvanian delicacies will also be available for festival goers to sample. Favorites such as Hungarian Sausages, Romanian Stuffed Cabbage, and Ciganypecsenye, will be a few of the menu items available.
Event organizers have also worked to bring a rich offering of the countries music and dance with performers from the Rockford and Chicago area. “We wanted to make this celebration as authentic as possible,” Ramona stated. “The Rockford region is fortunate to have such wonderful song and dance groups from both countries so accessible.”
While hosting Sanziene or Szentivan-Ej celebrates the rich cultural heritage of Romania and Hungary; it is also a fund raiser for the Romanian foreign student exchange program. Two high school students from Cluj-Napoca, Romania, Diana Matei and Tudor Oltean, will be visiting Rockford from July 7-July 30, 2010. The students will be introduced to the American culture through visits to school programs, meeting with area teens, and visiting the many art and cultural activities in the Rockford region.
Admission to Sanziene or Szentivan-Ej; a Romanian-Hungarian Midsummer Garden Party is $20.00 and includes admission, food, music, and dance. Advance tickets may be purchased at Community Foundation of Northern Illinois or at the gate.
ABOUT THE US SISTER CITIES PROGRAM
The U.S. Sister City Program originated in 1956 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower proposed a people-to people, citizen diplomacy initiative. Originally a part of the League of Cities, Sister Cities International became a separate, nonprofit corporation in 1967.
Sister Cities International creates and strengthens these Sister City partnerships in an effort to increase global cooperation, promote cultural understanding, and stimulate economic development. Sister Cities International leads the movement for local community development and volunteer action by motivating and empowering private citizens, municipal officials, and business leaders to conduct long-term programs of mutual benefit.
ABOUT THE Rockford Sister Cities Program
The Rockford Sister City Advisory Commission (RSCAC) helps to promote and enhance relationships with the City of Rockford and Sister Cities, Friendship Cities and Cities with which there is an Industrial Trade Agreement. The mission of the organization is to: Promote peace and prosperity through mutual respect, understanding and cooperation.
Participating Sister Cities include: Borgholm, Sweden; Brovary, Ukraine; Changzhou, China; Cluj-Napoca, Romania; Ferentino, Italy; Tokmok, Kyrgyzstan; Taszar, Hungary, and Lidkoping, Sweden through an Industrial Trade Agreement.
Address/Location
City of Rockford, IL
425 E State St
Rockford, IL 61104
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 779-348-7300