At the Horse Easter in Transylvania, one of the oldest celebrations.

The Easter of the Horses

Surely we have all heard the expression "the Easter of the horses" used when you want to say that a certain thing will never happen, but perhaps not all of us know that the holiday "Easter of the horses" actually exists, is celebrated every year, and is one of the oldest celebrations in the Transylvanian lands.

History of the Holiday

The holiday "Easter of the horses" is celebrated every year on the Thursday of the seventh week after Easter. The history of this holiday, also known as "Ispaș," is over 2000 years old. The legend of this holiday is a beautiful one: it is said that at the birth of Jesus Christ, in the manger where he came to life, there were animals such as cattle and oxen, but also horses, the latter being extremely noisy. Because of this, the Virgin Mary told them not to eat their fill except on one day of the year, when her Son would ascend to heaven.

The Legend of Ispaș

As mentioned earlier, in some areas of Transylvania and beyond, this holiday is also known as Ispaș, a name linked to another legend. Ispaș was said to be a man who, alongside the three Apostles, was present at the Ascension of the Lord, known as a good and cheerful man. For this reason, on the day of Ispaș, it is said that it is not good to argue or be upset.

Significance of the Holiday

Returning to "Easter of the Horses," the fact that this holiday is not celebrated on a fixed date each year gave rise to the expression "At the Easter of the horses," which defines something about which it is unknown when it will happen.

Traditions and Celebrations

In some areas of Transylvania, on this day:

• Horses are taken to a special place to graze where a plant grows that gives them a state of euphoria.
• In other regions, on the day of Ispaș, houses and graves are adorned with branches of walnut and plane trees.
• At the windows, leaves of lovage are placed, a plant said to have been at the base of Christ's Cross.