In recent years, the center of “Hederlez” celebrations in Gagauzia has been the famous horse farm “AT-Prolin” in Ceadir-Lunga, where horse races and other equestrian competitions were held, and an extensive cultural program was prepared. The guests had an opportunity to enjoy national cuisine, to familiarize themselves with the traditions and customs of the Gagauz.
Such a rich program usually attracted thousands of guests from all over Moldova and abroad to Ceadir-Lunga. Often the first persons of the state visited “Hederlez”, which emphasized the importance and attractiveness of this holiday for the whole country.
This year, the program of the national holiday of the Gagauz turned out to be a little bit crumpled and more modest. The traditional horse races were abandoned. The official version is the introduction of quarantine measures at the horse farm from April 10 to May 10 because of the difficult epizootic situation in the country and in Europe due to foot-and-mouth disease.
There is another version – many horse breeders from other regions of Moldova and from abroad refused to participate in them in protest against the dismissal of the creator and long-term head of “AT-Prolin” Constantin Keleş, who was always the soul of the holiday and conducted the races himself, telling in detail about all the horses participating in them.
Be that as it may, this year “Hederlez” is widely celebrated in Gagauzia. In many localities of the autonomy there are church services, mass festivities and various events. This is an official holiday in Gagauz Yeri.
The center of festivities remains Ceadir-Lunga. And the choice of places of rest and entertainment has even become wider. The Department of Culture of Gagauzia has prepared a festive program and invited guests to the familiar site at the hippodrome near the horse farm. However, there will be no equestrian competitions. But there will be other sports games, children’s entertainment, performances of artists. There will also be traditional cuisine.
At the same time “Hederlez” will be celebrated in the city park of Ceadir-Lunga, where the organizers of the events are the Mayor’s Office. National farmsteads have been set up there, sporting events and entertainment are planned, and Gagauz cuisine and handicrafts of folk artisans will also be presented there.
Konstantin Keles invited the guests of “Hederlez” to the city park, promising that it would be “interesting, heartwarming and fun”.
