The history and traditions of the Hungarian subgroup: the Szeklers
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The Szeklers – sometimes also referred to as Székelys – are a Hungarian subgroup in Székely Land, Romania, and they speak Hungarian. The first written document about this ethnic group comes from the 12th century, 1116. During the middle ages, there were two groups of Szeklers: the western and eastern Szeklers. In the 14th century, the lesser populated western region of their territory melted into the Hungarian nation. The eastern Szeklers kept on fighting for equal human and government rights during their separation, and after the 15th century, they became a nation in Transylvania.
Magyarországom collected a historical article with everything we need to know about the Szeklers.
Where can we meet with these people?
Nowadays Szeklers live in the western regions of Romania which is called Szeklerland, but many people who live between the region of Brasov and Nagyszeben also avow themselves the members of the subgroup. Bukovina Szeklers left this region in 1764 and settled down in Hungary in the county of Tolna, Baranya and the region of the Vajdaság. But we can also find smaller groups of Szeklers in the capital, Western-Europe, United States and even in Australia.
The history of Szeklerland
During the Hungarian Revolution and Uprising in 1848, many Szekler people took part in the battles and fought for Hungary and wanted their nation to be united with the Hungarian one. After World War I and Trianon, Székely Land became part of Romania in 1920. During the 1940s, this part of the Romanian country became Hungarian territory again for a short period. Russian and German military forces occupied Szeklerland in 1944, and after Hungary lost in the war the Szeklers’ land became Romanian again in 1947.
According to Romania’s statistics in 2011, approximately 581,159 Szeklers claimed that they are Hungarian out of 810,367, which is 71.72% of the whole nation. The Romanian authorities had many attempts to make Szeklers part of Romania during the Socialist era and although it is part of the Romanian polity Szeklers always emphasise their need for an autonomy, a separated and independent land.
Traditional Szekler clothes and wearing
As every ethnic group, Szeklers also have their traditional clothes and costumes. Szekler clothes and costumes are unique because every one of them is made of special linen which is also made at Szeklers’ home by hands. The traditional material of this linen is usually sheep, hemp, wool and line. Every part of these clothes and costumes are sewed and designed by handwork.
