Window shutters painted in dreamy blues adorn an authentic house from 1885 Tulcea, that dips its shores in both the Danube and the Black Sea. You can visit it now, on my blog, or at the Village Museum in Bucharest, Romania.
We have a Romanian saying, Omul sfinţeşte locul, in English it carries the same meaning as “a good farmer makes a good farm.”
I spotted the bright blue shutters from afar. I quickened my step. I wanted to know who lived in a house with such cheerful windows, and such treasures painted on its doors. Who were they? What was their story?
They say that one should never start work, or a journey, on a Tuesday for it won’t end well. The year 1654 started on a Tuesday, and it is the year when the great Russian Patriarch Nikon decided to re-examine the church books, for “the Greeks should be followed rather than our own ancients.” The schism that followed affected many during the following century, but especially (as always) the masses. Those who sicked to their old believes, the starovery, were forced to pay higher taxes, wear special clothing that will make them stand out… if not burned at the stake.
I have to pause and draw a parallel between the choice the starovery from the Tsardom of Russia were forced to make in the 17th century and the Romanian population of Transylvania who was forced by Hungarian authorities, during 15th – 16th centuries, to convert to Calvinism, “the true faith.”
Thus, the starovery migrated. Some reached as far as Alaska, others loved the serene land around the Danube and, being fishermen by skill and having the sea in their blood, settled in Dobruja, Dobrogea, at the beginning of the 18th century. Today they are known as Lipovans, or Flipovans(after their leader’s name).
The Lipovans brought along their personal style, the men wearing long beards, the women dressed in bright reds, greens and blues, like the feathers of the birds, and the spring shoots, and the ripples of the rivers.
Do you see the thatched roof? The way it extends low over the narrow porch? They are distinctive architectural features, as are the wavy eaves:
The house, built as a home in 1885, came to the Village Museum (piece by piece and reassembled here) from the Jurilovca village, siting at the mouth of Razelm Lake – a freshwater lagoon on the shores of the Black Sea in Tulcea County, Romania.
The Lipovans who lived here painted the tree of life, “as in Heaven, so on earth“, on their door:
Originally painted in 1885, perhaps as a blessing on the threshhold of their new life, in a new land, and a new home:
And because it meant so much to them, the Lipovans painted it again. I like the wavy movement of the greenery depicted above and how the flowers appear to sway in the breeze.
The Symbology behind the Tree of Life – Art in Romanian Folklore, Patterns
The tree of life can be spotted painted on a door, such as above. But more often we glance upon a diminutive symbol of it (such as the branch of a fir tree, flowers in a pot, shoots of wheat or rye, or mere leaves), be it carved on the wooden pillar of a home, on a piece pottery, or embroidered by hand in a Romanian peasant blouse, ia.
The tree of life, or its symbols, they all stand for the biblical image of Jesus Christ, and of the His everlasting spirit.
The leaves, symbolize immortality and resurrection.
It is a cheerful house, and I hope the Lipovans led a happy life in their new home in Tulcea County, Dobruja, by the Black Sea.
For Dan Antion’s exciting Thursday Doors and for Jude’s Life in Colour Photo Challenge 2021 – weekly challenges.
Come to think of it I have this Tuesday superstition myself. I prefer to start things on Monday and if I can’t I postpone them until Wednesday. 🙂 Love the house and the first two pictures… unfortunately, for some reason I can’t see the rest of them. And they sound interesting judging by your description. I’ll try to see them tonight from my tablet…
Oh, oh, after two refreshes, my silly computer managed to upload all the pictures. 🙂 I’m pleased I could see the tree of life. I like the one in front of the full moon better.
I think that most Romanians have such superstitions 🙂 I’ve got a couple of my own too. The people I met here don’t mind as much.
Glad you could see the Tree of Life, Jo. I like the one against the big moon too. Makes me think of a warm summer night.
Exactly! It looks pleasant, exactly like a warm summer night. The days are canicular. 🙂
I saw. The other day the night temperatures of Bucharest were warmer than our daytime – but we had a cold front visiting in the middle of winter 😉
You know what? I’m not a big fan of heat waves, but they sound sooooo much better than cold fronts. So yeah, I’m glad I am here for a change. 🙂
I feel the same. 😉
I enjoyed reading the history very much, Pat. The odors and the other details are wonderful. What an experience it would be to come up to one of those painted doors.
Thank you, Dan. It was a wonderful surprise indeed 🙂 And two of them.
To think that they took each home apart, log by log, rock by rock, transported, and re-built it in the Village Museum.
I really enjoyed the pretty blue but also the history and culture lesson. 🙂
Thrilled to hear it, Susan 🙂
Thank you for visiting.
Thanks for taking us on this tour! I like the beautiful door with the moon best.
Such a pleasure, Susan. Thank you for joining me 😉
I like that door best too 🙂
the tree of life door is beautiful; and thanks for the history lesson!
Thank you so much, Jim. I liked that one too 🙂
And great pleasure. Thank you for visiting.
you are welcome!
Love the blue shutters window
It feels like they invite the sun to come out and shine, isn’t it? 🙂
Thank you.
Love the blue shutters and the painted doors as well as the story that goes with them.
Ah, so glad to hear it!
Wonderful seeing you here again. Thank you for the visit 🙂
Everything about that house is just right. Lovely!
janet
She is darling 😉
Thank you, Janet. xx
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this post Pat, and the windows and blue shutters are fabulous.
I am so glad to hear it,Jude. :0
And glad to have you visiting. Thank you.
I really love these blue window shutters!:)
Isn’t it? 🙂
I love how much positive energy they convey!
Absolutely:)
These are fabulous pictures, Patricia and I enjoyed the history.
Thank you, Roberta. So glad to hear this. Something happy for a change…
I hope that you and yours are safe.
A pleasure to take a trip with you!
Aww, blessings, Cindy! You’re always most welcome 🙂
Hugs.
Thanks Pat!
Hugs back and happy weekending
Great post! Such a charming home, one can only imagine the generations that lived and loved in those walls. Always a pleasure to travel with you, Pat. 🙂
Thank you, Mark! And their dreams were not far from ours…
Lovely house.
Ah, kind thanks, David.
A good little place 🙂
Love love love the blue windows!
Isn’t it just smiling at you? 🙂
Hey, one more thing:
I am hosting a blog party to celebrate 3 years of blogging and 1000 followers, and you are invited! The post will be live tomorrow (Sunday) at 8PM IST.
Hope to see you there:)
How exciting! Congratulations and thank you so much for inviting me 🙂
We’re on GMT+1 here in South Africa, so it will be 16:30. I’ll try my best! 😉
Best wishes. Pat
Thank you so much, it means a lot!:)
Previously unknown history is always interesting.
I know that starovery churches are also in Latvia. While I lived there we were in touch with some. I’m in Canada now, don’t know about here.
Interesting facts and history glimpses!
So glad to hear it sparked your interest, Inese, and always thrilling to discover that the history we read about is still part of our daily lives, isn’t it 🙂
I loved your information on Latvia’s starovery churches. to I was too young when I visited there, or I would have paid attention…
Happy to have you visiting here. Thank you.
How incredibly interesting and the bright blues and tree of life painted on the doors are so gorgeous. How could you live in that house and not be happy. Thank you for the very interesting history too. Joni
Isn’t it? as if nature and life smile at you through them 🙂
I also had the feeling that this was a happy place.
Thank you for returning to comment, Joni 🙂