Sacele
Encyclopedia
Săcele is a city in Braşov County
, Romania
, in the region of Transylvania
, with a population of 29,915 inhabitants in 2002. It is practically adjacent to the city of Braşov
, its city centre being situated 15 km away from downtown Braşov.
After the second half of the 11th century the villages are mentioned as "septem villae valacheles" (seven Vlach
villages).
The first official mention is an act issued on May 16, 1366, by the Hungarian King Ludovic I de Anjou in which he offers the area between the Timiş and Tarlung
rivers to a trusted friend - Count Stanislav. Later it was under the Saxon management of Kronstadt (Braşov).
The German name was "Siebendörfen" which means "seven villages" and which is close to the Hungarian name "Hétfalu" or "Négyfalu". During the middle ages three other villages belonged to the nowadays four, those three were: Tatrang, Zajzon and Pürkerec. The Romanian name "Săcele" is first mentioned in a letter between the Wallachia
n Prince Vlad Călugărul
(1482-1495) and the magistrate of Braşov.The Romanian etymology of "Săcele" is from "sătucele" meaning "small villages".
The inhabitants were the "mocani" - local shepherds. They are mentioned in a few official documents and appear to have owned thousands of sheep, the villages being among the wealthiest in the area. They carried the local traditions across many Romanian lands due to the transhumance
method of shepherding.
Their customs exist to these days: the "Sintilie" (Saint Elijah) festival, national costumes etc.
Between the 13th and 14th centuries, an important Hungarian population has established in the region and marked the further development of the area.
After the fall of Communism
in Romania
in 1990, the city has diversified its economy. In Săcele there are nowadays several small furniture factories, lumber-mills, as well as meat-packaging facilities.
, Lutheran
, [Reformed], Roman Catholic
.
, 24% Hungarians, 4.3% Roma and 0.3% Germans
. 69% are Romanian Orthodox, 15.2% Evangelical Lutheran, 4.9% Roman Catholic, 3.4% each Reformed
and Pentecostal
, 1.1% belong to "another religion" and 0.5% Unitarian
.
Brasov County
Brașov ; ) is a county of Romania, in Transylvania, with the capital city at Brașov. The county incorporates within its boundaries most of the Medieval "lands" Burzenland and Făgăraș Land.-Demographics:...
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, in the region of Transylvania
Transylvania
Transylvania is a historical region in the central part of Romania. Bounded on the east and south by the Carpathian mountain range, historical Transylvania extended in the west to the Apuseni Mountains; however, the term sometimes encompasses not only Transylvania proper, but also the historical...
, with a population of 29,915 inhabitants in 2002. It is practically adjacent to the city of Braşov
Brasov
Brașov is a city in Romania and the capital of Brașov County.According to the last Romanian census, from 2002, there were 284,596 people living within the city of Brașov, making it the 8th most populated city in Romania....
, its city centre being situated 15 km away from downtown Braşov.
History
The city is now composed of former villages which now form the main sectors: Baciu (Bácsfalu, Batschendorf), Turcheş (Türkös, Türkeschdorf), Cernatu (Csernátfalu, Zerndorf) and Satulung (Hosszúfalu, Langendorf).After the second half of the 11th century the villages are mentioned as "septem villae valacheles" (seven Vlach
Vlachs
Vlach is a blanket term covering several modern Latin peoples descending from the Latinised population in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe. English variations on the name include: Walla, Wlachs, Wallachs, Vlahs, Olahs or Ulahs...
villages).
The first official mention is an act issued on May 16, 1366, by the Hungarian King Ludovic I de Anjou in which he offers the area between the Timiş and Tarlung
Tarlung River
The Tărlung River is a tributary of the Râul Negru in Romania.-References:* Administraţia Naţională Apelor Române - Cadastrul Apelor - Bucureşti* Institutul de Meteorologie şi Hidrologie - Rîurile României - Bucureşti 1971...
rivers to a trusted friend - Count Stanislav. Later it was under the Saxon management of Kronstadt (Braşov).
The German name was "Siebendörfen" which means "seven villages" and which is close to the Hungarian name "Hétfalu" or "Négyfalu". During the middle ages three other villages belonged to the nowadays four, those three were: Tatrang, Zajzon and Pürkerec. The Romanian name "Săcele" is first mentioned in a letter between the Wallachia
Wallachia
Wallachia or Walachia is a historical and geographical region of Romania. It is situated north of the Danube and south of the Southern Carpathians...
n Prince Vlad Călugărul
Vlad Calugarul
Vlad IV Călugărul, translated as Vlad the Monk, was the pious half-brother of Vlad III , and one of many rulers of Wallachia during the 15th century...
(1482-1495) and the magistrate of Braşov.The Romanian etymology of "Săcele" is from "sătucele" meaning "small villages".
The inhabitants were the "mocani" - local shepherds. They are mentioned in a few official documents and appear to have owned thousands of sheep, the villages being among the wealthiest in the area. They carried the local traditions across many Romanian lands due to the transhumance
Transhumance
Transhumance is the seasonal movement of people with their livestock between fixed summer and winter pastures. In montane regions it implies movement between higher pastures in summer and to lower valleys in winter. Herders have a permanent home, typically in valleys. Only the herds travel, with...
method of shepherding.
Their customs exist to these days: the "Sintilie" (Saint Elijah) festival, national costumes etc.
Between the 13th and 14th centuries, an important Hungarian population has established in the region and marked the further development of the area.
After the fall of Communism
Communist Romania
Communist Romania was the period in Romanian history when that country was a Soviet-aligned communist state in the Eastern Bloc, with the dominant role of Romanian Communist Party enshrined in its successive constitutions...
in Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
in 1990, the city has diversified its economy. In Săcele there are nowadays several small furniture factories, lumber-mills, as well as meat-packaging facilities.
Buildings
The city has 17 churches of the following denominations: OrthodoxRomanian Orthodox Church
The Romanian Orthodox Church is an autocephalous Eastern Orthodox church. It is in full communion with other Eastern Orthodox churches, and is ranked seventh in order of precedence. The Primate of the church has the title of Patriarch...
, Lutheran
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
, [Reformed], Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
.
Population
According to the 2002 census, the town has a population of 29,915 of which 71.4% are RomaniansRomanians
The Romanians are an ethnic group native to Romania, who speak Romanian; they are the majority inhabitants of Romania....
, 24% Hungarians, 4.3% Roma and 0.3% Germans
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
. 69% are Romanian Orthodox, 15.2% Evangelical Lutheran, 4.9% Roman Catholic, 3.4% each Reformed
Reformed Church in Romania
The Reformed Church in Romania is the organization of the Calvinist church in Romania. The majority of its followers are of Hungarian ethnicity and Hungarian is the main church language...
and Pentecostal
Pentecostal Union of Romania
The Pentecostal Union of Romania is Romania's fourth-largest religious body and one of its eighteen officially recognised religious denominations. At the 2002 census, 330,486 Romanians declared themselves to be Pentecostals; ethnically, they were 85.2% Romanians, 10.6% Roma, 1.9% Ukrainians, 1.8%...
, 1.1% belong to "another religion" and 0.5% Unitarian
Unitarian Church of Transylvania
The Unitarian Church of Transylvania is a church of the Unitarian denomination, based in the city of Cluj in the Principality of Transylvania, present day in Romania...
.