Traditions, Superstitions, Law Enforcement, and Common Sense

Any self-respecting nation possesses a set of traditions with roots planted deep in its ancestral soil. Many families have their own unique traditions. Even major corporations anchor the pillars of their development in such practices. It is clear that we share a special relationship with traditions. We cherish them, invoke them, defend them fiercely, and accept them even when they do not resonate with us. Furthermore, should someone point out that we have crossed a line-be it legal or moral-we are quick to inform them that they simply do not understand these ancestral customs. At times, this explanation is accompanied by punches, shoves, or threats-all to make it perfectly clear that tradition is, quite literally, "straight from Heaven"-much like a good thrashing.

On Saint Demetrius' Day, in Ştefăneşti (Argeş County), firefighters who arrived to extinguish blazes lit by the locals found themselves under attack by the very people they were attempting to protect.

The tradition is well-defined: the "Fire of Sumedru" (Focul lui Sumedru) has existed in these lands for an estimated two millennia. On the night of October 25th to 26th-the eve of the feast of Saint Demetrius, the patron saint of shepherds-communities light ritual fires, around which the youth gather. However, the way this tradition is carried out remains somewhat murky, often showing little regard for safety regulations. In Ruginoasa, Iaşi County, the New Year's Eve encounter between the authorities and those practicing local customs often resembles a civil war more than a folkloric celebration. Gendarmes attempt to maintain order, while some participants seem convinced that public order is a recent invention with no roots in the Romanian village.

These are just two examples-unfortunately, there could be many more!

We are, therefore, dealing with a set of customs that directly involve law enforcement. It would seem that our cultural heritage-beyond carols, masks, dances, and rituals-also includes a certain propensity for brawling. Not all traditions are like this, of course. Most are preserved by people who understand their true meaning, pass them on to their children, and have no need to resort to violence to prove they belong to a place or to honor their ancestors. The problem arises when a custom becomes an excuse for anything-from violating safety regulations to assaulting those trying to prevent a catastrophe. Fire has a long history in folk rituals, but no ancestor bequeathed us the right to set whatever we please on fire, to endanger households, or to attack those who arrive to extinguish the flames. And when a firefighter is assaulted while performing his duty, we are no longer talking about tradition; we are dealing with a matter of public order and basic respect for others.

The fact that an event has been repeated for decades or even centuries does not automatically exempt it from the reach of the law. The age of a custom does not constitute a permanent authorization. Wearing traditional folk attire is no license for aggression, just as a ritual mask does not transform the act of striking someone over the head with a club into an element of cultural heritage.

We enjoy talking about identity, roots, and national character. These are rich themes-perfect for solemn speeches and festive photographs. It is far more difficult for us to accept that a community's identity is also reflected in how it treats others-including those who hold different views on how collective joy should be expressed.

There is a distinction between preserving a tradition and hiding behind one. The former entails memory, community, respect, and responsibility. The latter implies that any action becomes justifiable, provided it is accompanied by the magic phrase: "that's how we do things here." Perhaps we ought to add a "celebration of common sense" to the calendar of Romanian customs-a day for people to demonstrate that they can celebrate without putting anyone in danger.

We must defend traditions that are at risk of disappearing, but we should not compromise them through the way we choose to practice them.