Events and Festivals » Shooting the rooster - first day of Easter
Place: Apaţa, Ţării Bârsei
Date: first day of Easter
The ‘Shooting of the Rooster’ is a tradition within the Hungarian community of Ţara
Bârsei performed on the first day of Easter. The origin of the tradition is based on a local legend of a Tartar
invasion in the 14th Century that forced villagers to take refuge in the fortress. The invaders were retreating after having
destroyed the village, but they heard the crowing of a rooster from the fortress. This gave away villagers hiding inside, and
the fortress was attacked. The remaining villagers shot the rooster for his betrayal.
Shooting
the Rooster has become a symbol of the village’s survival. Today, the custom continues after church on Easter Day with
children dressed in folk costumes carrying a very specific style of hand carved bows and arrows. Gathering at a central point
in the village, a brass band leads a parade through town, to the old fortress, about a 20 minute walk. The children recite a
story about the occasion, and when given the signal, release their arrows at a target with a drawing of a rooster.
