Articles by Initial Letters

The Székely people of Szék. This article gives some history on why there are Székely people in the town of Szék/Sic in Transylvania. It started on Saint Bartholomew’s Day in 1717 when the Tartars invaded and destroyed the town of Szék – only about 100 residents lived through the attack. In the same period, 1716–1717, there was a terrible drought further east in Székelyföld –people there were suffering and starving. Some of them left their homes and resettled in Szék (which is not in Székelyföld) – where people were needed. The Székely newcomers had a difficult time being accepted by the few remaining Szék people. There was a problem with religion – the Szék people were Protestants and the Székely people were Catholic. Their clothing differed – a main issue became the white pants worn by Székely men. Over the centuries that followed, the ’newcomers’ from Székelyföld gradually assimilated into Szék culture. By Szász Rozália. Széki Soós János’ column.