„COMOARA SATELOR” – TEZAUR DE ÎNȚELEPCIUNE POPULARĂ
COMOARA SATELOR– A TREASURY OF FOLK WISDOM

Summary/Abstract: ,,Comoara satelor” [Treasure of the Village] (1923-1927) is a monthly folklore magazine, edited in Blaj, under the direct supervision of editor-in-chief Traian Gherman. The founders and collaborators of the periodical are a group of exceptional intellectuals: Alexandru Lupeanu-Melin, Iuliu Maior, Ioan Moldovan, Laurean Moldovan, Ioan Pop-Câmpeanu, Ion Pop-Zăicani, Ştefan Pop. The editorial board announces its schedule in no. 1, the main objective of the publication being the collaboration of all (especially priests and teachers) for the collection of Romanian folklore as material to be used by those who write the history of the nation, and to save this national treasure from extinction. From the outset, it was clear that the magazine was not intended to become a scientific publication of analysis and interpretation of the popular product, but rather a "diligent collector", concerned with preserving and conveying to the world the authentic popular tradition.Going through the entire collection, the reader is truly amazed at the richness and diversity of the content, which includes a wide area of national folklore. Here is the structure of the materials published by the journal in 1927: I. Customs and Beliefs, II. Popular poems, III. Incantations, IV. Riddles, V. Stories, VI. Kidnapping, VII. Children's Games, VIII. Dialectal Words, IX. Meaningful words, X. Tongues Twisters, XI. Popular Medicine, XII. Christmas Carols, XIII. Old Song, XIV. Miscellanea , XV. Books and magazines, XVI. From the editor.The magazine, supervised by Traian Gherman, has a number of incontestable merits: it is one of the first publications of a strictly folkloric character in Transylvania; the magazine involved several important folklorists as collaborators, among whom it is worth mentioning: AlexiuViciu, AlexandruLupeanu-Melin, Ion Pop-Câmpeanu, PompeiuHossu-Longin, S. T. Kirileanu, ŞT. S. Tuţescu, G. Bichigeanu etc. and published an interesting and rich folkloric material, especially from the Transylvanian region.Traian Gherman's role in supporting this magazine was an essential one. It has led to an increase in the interest of intellectuals in this type of creation. In conclusion, we support the idea that the "Treasure of the Village" magazine - through its varied content, the crowd of collaborators from all over Romania and the area of its spreading - represents the first folklore magazine in Transylvania that truly deserves the interest of national media.

• Details
• Contents