{"id":10178,"date":"2022-01-27T16:55:00","date_gmt":"2022-01-27T14:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/?p=10178"},"modified":"2022-04-29T08:02:29","modified_gmt":"2022-04-29T06:02:29","slug":"sun-rope-horse-tree-of-life-romanian-wood-folk-art","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/sun-rope-horse-tree-of-life-romanian-wood-folk-art\/","title":{"rendered":"The Sun, Rope, Horse and Tree of Life in Romanian Wood Folk Art #Im4Ro"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Sun, the Rope, the Horse, and the Tree of Life are important motifs encountered in traditional Romanian wood folk art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you look at an old house, do you see the hand that built it? The hopes and dreams that made it rise above the ground? The blessings that were whispered on its threshold? When you look at a dwelling, do you see – and wonder – why it was built the way it was, and what wonderful secrets its decorations hold?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Unbeknownst to many, the ancient wood peasant houses of Romania carry astronomical symbols thousands of years old.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stemming from pre-Christian times diverse motifs have reached us through pottery<\/a>, clothing (renowned Romanian blouse, ia<\/em><\/a>), and woodwork. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Solar Motif<\/strong>, the Sun in Romanian Folk Woodwork<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The most popular in Romanian folk art is the solar motif<\/strong>. The circle as a sun symbolizes life, fertility and it is believed to attract positive energy and confer protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Columns (left and right), sun (top right), and zig-zag carved on a wooden door, Village Museum Bucharest<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The solar motif is so powerful that it is seen carved or painted on household objects too, along with other motifs. After Christianity developed, a cross was included in the solar circle \/ halo, a symbol for God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"rope<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Had the wood artists strolled through the woods until a ray of sun filtered by foliage danced on his face, catching his eye? Had he approached the tree with reverence? Had he run his calloused hands along its ancient trunk, feeling the life inside, asking for permission? Had the design came to him in that moment? Had he drew it on the trunk, in a whisper of apology? Asking for the forest\u2019s blessing? I like to believe that he did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"solar
Solar and rope motifs on a Romanian wooden door frame<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

And before any exterior decorations were carved, every so often a branch from a pine tree was placed above the main entrance door, to protect the household.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Rope Motif<\/strong> in Romanian Folk Wood Art<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The rope<\/strong> is often carved on the supporting poles of the front porch, pridvor<\/em>, a symbol of infinity meant to protected the household and connected <\/strong>the earth to the infinite and blessed Heavens above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"rope<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

To mark this connection <\/strong>between earth and Heaven in the Christian Orthodox tradition one would bend and touch the ground when one makes the sign of the crosses on prayer.
Like the monk did (three times) in the video below. <\/strong>
He does so to take the earth at a witness for his love for God, the same earth that was made and blessed by God, but also to show his appreciation towards the earth he lives on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Listen to the song of the wooden vespers bell of Petru Voda Monastery:<\/p>\n\n\n\n