Claca

Country
Republic of Moldova
Organization name
``````Orheiul Vechi Cultural-Natural Reserve
Storyteller
Doina
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Overview

Claca is an event where villagers help each other with household chores, house construction, harvesting, etc. According to tradition, the clácas gather at the household of the resident who organized it, where they are given the necessary tools for work. Then everyone heads to the destination where the party will take place. During the process, women come with baskets full of snacks and traditional dishes (pies, cakes, wine). The participants sing and tell jokes, thus the ”claca” was a form of socialization and exchange of impressions on various community issues.

Where there are many, power increases! – is the proverb that is attributed to the custom of the claca, but much more relevant when the villagers joined forces to build a house. From small to big, people from the village gather to take part in the event, because it is a unique experience through which they come into direct contact with the people's values. Each participant has a purpose – men carry water, clay and straw, women and children tread clay with straw. A few housewives take care to cook meals for the workers, while they work they serve them with pies and wine. The most skilled craftsmen-participants emphasize the transmission of techniques and tools to others, thus achieving the continuity of values and knowledge. The club takes place in a festive atmosphere - with songs and good cheer, the elders sing popular songs, sung by everyone. The tradition of working in a clan(clacă) ensures social inclusion, promotion and perpetuation of customs.

European Dimension

In our view, European heritage is the expression of cultural diversity, animated by the desire to consolidate peace, social cohesion and intercultural dialogue. The custom of the claca is a local event that integrates all the defining elements of the European dimension of the notion of heritage. Thus, the claca - a national tradition that values democratic principles (inclusion, freedom, equality, participation, information) and ensures inter-generational cooperation and the development of the cultural horizons of the future generation.