Romania (AP) - Epiphany celebrations bring together hundreds of people in the Romanian village of Pietrosani for a day out in freezing temperatures that culminates in a bareback horse race across muddy
The horse race tradition started in the area more than a century ago
and it was banned during the years of Communist rule because of its association with a religious holiday
The Balkan festival is the main event of the year in the village
The race generates high anticipation and lively discussion over hot glasses of red wine about who will be this year's winner
or debates about the best looking or decorated horse
are known for the extravagant attire of their spectators
in Pietrosani it's the horses' outfits that capture the most attention
People try to secure position on higher ground or stand in carriages holding up cellphones as they gather in the field outside the village to admire and photograph the animals sporting colorful textile
Owners warm up their horses for the race while others show off the strength of their animals by making them pull tree trunks or concrete blocks in competitions
Villagers gather around the horses trying to get a closer look
An Orthodox priest arrives in a horse drawn carriage after midday amid the cheers of spectators and starts sprinkling holy water on animals and owners rotating around his carriage in a chaotic and very noisy procession
Villagers then compete in the bareback race
is thought to bring good luck and protect them from disease and accidents in the coming year and dates back hundreds of years
While church dogma allows only humans to be blessed with holy water
the day Christians celebrate the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan river by John the Baptist
priests nowadays allow the blessing of animals and
Villagers take part in the traditional Epiphany horse race in Pietrosani
7 (Xinhua) -- Villagers take part in the traditional Epiphany horse race in Pietrosani
6 every year and celebrates the end of the Christmas season festivities
50 km north from Romanian capital Bucharest
local people celebrate the event with an epiphany race
Villagers arrive in a horse-driven cart for the traditional Epiphany horse race in Pietrosani
Decorated horses are seen ahead of the traditional Epiphany horse race in Pietrosani
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<a href="https://theweek.com/author/anahi-valenzuela" target="_self" class="link author__name_link" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://theweek.com/author/anahi-valenzuela">Anahi Valenzuela, The Week US</a>Social Links Navigation<a class="button-social   " href="mailto:theweekonlineeditors@futurenet.com" target="_self" aria-label="EMAIL"></a>Anahi Valenzuela has worked as an editorial assistant at The Week since 2022
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