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Are Transylvanians prepared to obey Brussels and give up their ancient ways of slaughtering their Christmas pigs?
Switching from a traditional to a more Western life-style may bring higher comfort and civilisation standards to Transylvanian rural areas. But there is a risk that the charm of these villages be lost on the way.
Take Christmas prepapartions. A pig slaughtered and burned out in straw on the ground, roast, and a shot of schnapps on blood-stained snow that crunches under your feet. This experience, equally common in past and nowadays Romania, has good chances of becoming history, as the European Union is going to impose here its strict regulations on animal slaughtering.
Tradition goes well with a 'shot'
However, some voices claim that Romanians should not act as yes-men when it comes to adopting new practices from the West. Attila Kelemen, a Hungarian-Democrat MP and euro-observer, says Romania must claim its right to allow pig slauthering in traditional households on Christmas, as it is part of this country's cultural heritage. In Spain they perform their corridas today as they did it in the past, and Brussels has no problem with it, notes Mr Kelemen, who has been involved in Romania's agriculture policy-making.
'I don't think that pig slaughter should be considered such a serious crime, and I cannot conceive the Romanian and Hungarian villages of Transylvania without pig screaming and glass tinkling,' says the UDMR (RMDSZ) representative, adding that 'pork isn't tasty if the animal hasn't been burned out in straw.'
Ovidiu Brânzan szociáldemokrata politikus, volt egészségügyi miniszter csütörtökön kijelentette: a giule?ti szülészeten bekövetkezett szörny? tragédiáért...
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Are Transylvanians prepared to obey Brussels and give up their ancient ways of slaughtering their Christmas pigs?
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