Childhood Christmas Memories in Transsylvania

by Armand Ferenczy
(Eötvös)

Country Christmas Theater. When I was a kid, here in Transsylvania, I used to go with other boys like me and play from house to house the religious drama called ”The Herod”.

The characters where The Angel, The Reverend, The Shepherd, The Soldier, Valthesar, Melchior, Gaspar and Herod. The drama was focused on the birth and death of Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Dialog was in classical poetry verses, easy to learn by kids, and the "action" was performed with ”real” wooden swords. That was our best part of the story where the three Magus are fighting Herod because he ordered the killing of innocent kids.

We had fighting more on the streets because it was cold and we needed the action badly. It was really fun. Christmas is one of the most beautiful times of the year. And especially those Christmases from childhood, which one can remember his entire life.