Mezőség

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mezőség or Câmpia Transilvaniei is an area in the historical region of Transylvania in Cluj County, Romania. The term is also used to reference a form of dance performed by the ethnic Hungarian inhabitants of the region. This improvisational couple dance, known as the Mezőségi (meaning "from Mezőség" in Hungarian) has two parts: lassu (slow) and friss (fast). Different villages within Mezőség have their own variations of the dance. Mezőségi is the most popular dance done at Tanchaz.

The settlers before the Hungarians were mainly Slavs and Vlachs. In 10th century Hungarians began to establish first settlements near the main rivers of the Câmpia Transilvaniei, the both Szamos rivers Szamos and the Maros. According to the newest historical founds the middle of the Mezöség was never really populated during the Middle Ages. We can divide the Mezöség into two parts, a hilly one in the North-East and a plain one in South and West.

Some of the important Hungarian villages of the Câmpia Transilvaniei are for example the former salt-mining city Szék, Mezöbánd, Magyarszovát and Bálványosvásár.