The medieval era of King Matthias came to life as thousands gathered recently in Kolozsvár/Cluj to celebrate the 576th birthday of Mátyás (Matthias Corvinus), the great Hungarian King. During the torchlight parade, a couple of thousand people bearing some 600 torches marched from the Reformed Church of Farkas Street to the Matthias Corvinus House, one of Kolozsvár’s oldest buildings, the house where the King was born. Just as they are today, in King Matthias’ times, these marches were community building events, attracting locals from all walks of life. Soldiers and beggars, craftsmen, aristocrats and tenants all joined in the procession.
Video: Blanka Székely