The Brondoşi winter tradition is over 300 years old. They wear white costumes, with sheepskin masks decorated with red tassels, a red wool tongue hanging from their mouth and traditional opinci shoes on their feet. Around the waist they wear many bells — the more the better. The ringing of the bells with each of their movements allows their presence to be heard from far in the distance.
In 1717, the Crimean Tatars launched a raid into the Maramureș region. At the time, the Crimean Khanate, a vassal state of the Ottoman Empire, was known for conducting frequent incursions into neighboring territories, including the lands of the Habsburg Empire, which Maramureș was part of. The Tatars typically targeted border regions for loot, slaves, and tribute, and their raids were often swift and devastating. Maramureș, with its mountainous terrain, offered some natural defense, but the Tatars’ mobility and military prowess allowed them to penetrate the region, killing and destroying many villages.
At Cavnic, however, the Tatars encountered a courageous defense, as around 30 young men valiantly protected their land. Because the Tartars were thousands and they were only ~30, they decided to use a clever tactic and dressed up as frightening monsters, disguised in masks, ringing their deafening bells. The Brondoşi attacked the Tartars, who, frightened by the sound of the bells and the devilish masks, feared that they were being attacked by evil spirits of the forest and retreated from Cavnic.
The legend of the Brondoşi developed the longstanding belief that they have the power to drive away evil energies, and to this day, between Christmas Eve and New Year, they still go from house to house ringing their bells, protecting their community, and bringing smiles to the streets of Cavnic.
