Vrancea entered the UNESCO heritage with a transhumance route that crosses ten localities, namely Soveja, Năruja, Nistoreşti, Tulnici, Paltin, Nereju, Bârseşti, Coza, Păuleşti, Negrileşti.
In 2022, 10 European countries, including Romania, have submitted to UNESCO the multinational file “Transhumance, the seasonal movement of herds” to be included in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The entry into the UNESCO heritage took place at the 18th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. Transhumance is an ancient custom of migration of shepherds with sheep, depending on the season.
In Vrancea, customs such as the baptism of the sheep are still preserved today, when, on May 21, Saints Constantine and Elena, in Negrileşti commune, the village’s flocks of sheep leave accompanied by shepherds in transhumance, towards the best pastures.
The bleating of the sheep begins with the haggling between the owners and the shepherds, the owners trying to haggle for as much cheese as possible in exchange for the sheep they will give to the shepherds.
Later, the village priest holds a service intended to protect the sheep and the shepherds from wild animals, but also from the fury of nature, during these months while they stay on the mountain.
The flocks of sheep return to the village on Saint Dumitru.