Manifestări festive ale Societății „Transilvania” (1867–1906)
Festive Events of the Transilvania Society (1867–1906)

Summary/Abstract: The Transilvania Society was founded in 1867 in Bucharest as a cultural and charitable association. The strategic objective of the Society was to assist young Romanians from Transylvania, obstructed by the Germanization policy of the Habsburg Empire, in pursuing studies at prestigious universities in Latin countries, especially in France and Italy. Among the first founders of the Society were patriotic revolutionaries, particularly the “triad” of Alexandru Papiu Ilarian, August Treboniu Laurian, and Aaron Florian, as well as other valuable personalities and young students. The anniversary celebrations of the Transilvania Society took place either on May 3/15 or on a nearby date. The first celebration dedicated to the founding of the Transilvania Society took place on May 3/15, 1868, one year after its establishment. It was a rural celebration held in the Alessiu garden near Bucharest. During the Transilvania Society celebrations, traditional folk games, considered elements of national specificity, were played, and folk, patriotic, and military music was performed. Over time, speeches at these celebrations were delivered by personalities such as Alexandru Papiu Ilarian, the founder and first president of the Transilvania Society; Bogdan Petriceicu Hașdeu, founding member; August Treboniu Laurian, founding member and the second president of the organization; Gheorghe Missail, founding member and the third president of the Transilvania Society, one of its most talented orators. The speeches usually addressed historical topics anchored in current events, presenting Transylvania as the historical cradle of Romanian identity to which all Romanians had a duty. The last celebration took place in 1906, with a speech delivered by Nicolae Iorga, after which this festive tradition came to a complete end.

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