This weekend was a really fun one for me as I was at the Transylvanian Crafts Festival and did not only see crafts, but there were a lot of activities for all ages, among which the youngest had the more fun.
It was an attempt to show visitors how things were done once, before electricity, industrialization and mass production, but was also an attempt to show kids what games were played s long time ago. There were plenty of these games, all of them made of organic material, like wood, metal, rod, rope and so on. Children had the chance to try their luck at any of these games, but there were also people trying to make kids smile one way or the other, one of which was the team of stork legged guys I want to write about today.
These legs were once used by people (in the middle ages or even after) to be able to walk on the muddy streets and avoid being dirty. Back in those days asphalt was unknown and people were walking with muddy shoes.
I ran a check and it seems in English the call these stilts.
Stilts are poles, posts or pillars that allow a person or structure to stand at a height above the ground.
There were three, all on stork legs. One had a musical instrument, that he was playing from time to time to capture people's attention, while the other two were calling people to join the story corner organized for kids, while saying funny stories.
A good part of the adults know this means of transportation, so to speak, but even so, look at the faces.
If you ever want to make an entrance, make yourself noticed by literally everyone, this is definitely the way. Everyone was taking photos, or taping them and the smallest were left with their mouth open. Many of them have never seen people this tall and saw grannies, grandpas, and parents explaining them what they are looking at an why these people are so tall.
Apart from the trousers and legs of course, they were dressed in folk costumes. My knowledge of folk costumes is not enough to recognize the region they were representing, but usually men were wearing white shirts, black, embroidered vests and hats.
It was really funny to look at them walking and it was even more funnier to listen to their jokes and accent.
They didn't get far as this was a story corner, a different one than the one these stork legged guys were lobbying, and the lady, who I believe was a kindergarten teacher, asked them to join.
The trio on the left played a song for kids. Must have been a known one as kids and parents were singing. I didn't know the song by the way, but it doesn't matter.
I loved how they played along and helped entertain kids here, although this stop was not included in their program. They still stopped, waited till the song was over.
Then shook hands with the teacher, wished good day to versioned and launched another invitation to the story telling corner. But this was not ever.
Then I met them again at the market. The ladies were foreign tourists as they were speaking English. I was ready to jump in if they needed help, but everyone understand jokes and they only wanted to walk through between the legs of these guys and laughed. Most likely the guys are used to this as they knew what to do and they laughed as well.
The ladies were not the only one up to a good joke. The granny of this little guy thought it was funny to push the pram through between the guy's legs and everyone was laughing.
I'm not sure the little guy understood what was going on, but the others around them found it funny.
It was really funny watching these guys from so close and I'm glad I could take so many photos and witness how they moved and entertained people.
Now let's see, have you ever heard or seen these stork legged people where you live? Is this type of entertainment popular there? How are these called?
If you're a newbie, you may want to check out these guides:
