Romanian youth spin burning tires in Lent ritual
Romanian children and youth spin burning tires and light fires in the Transylvanian hills in a ritual that marks the beginning of Orthodox Lent.
Dozens of young residents gathered on a hill outside the village of Poplaca, in the foothills of the Cindrel mountains on March 10, a day before the annual "Clean Monday" ritual, which is traditionally believed to ward off evil spirits before the onset of Lent.
As night fell, teenagers spin around flaming old car tires attached to metal chains, spraying burning rubber and making loud noises.
The children, some with their faces blackened from soot, jumped over fires during the festivities outside the village, about 315 kilometers (200 miles) northwest of Bucharest.
Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter on April 28 this year, a week later than Western Christians. Clean Monday, also known as Pure Monday and Ash Monday, traditionally begins on the Sunday evening before, and is seen as the last opportunity for culinary excess and partying before Lent begins.
Children and youngsters stand by burning tires during a ritual marking the upcoming Clean Monday, the beginning of the Great Lent, 40 days ahead of Orthodox Easter, on the hills surrounding the village of Poplaca, in central Romania's Transylvania region, Sunday, March 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
A young man spins a burning tire on a metal chain during a ritual marking the upcoming Clean Monday, the beginning of the Great Lent, 40 days ahead of Orthodox Easter, on the hills surrounding the village of Poplaca, in central Romania's Transylvania region, Sunday, March 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
A little girl struggles to lift a tire during a ritual marking the upcoming Clean Monday, the beginning of the Great Lent, 40 days ahead of Orthodox Easter, on the hills surrounding the village of Poplaca, in central Romania's Transylvania region, Sunday, March 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Children sit on tires during a ritual marking the upcoming Clean Monday, the beginning of the Great Lent, 40 days ahead of Orthodox Easter, on the hills surrounding the village of Poplaca, in central Romania's Transylvania region, Sunday, March 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
A little girl spins a burning tire on a metal chain during a ritual marking the upcoming Clean Monday, the beginning of the Great Lent, 40 days ahead of Orthodox Easter, on the hills surrounding the village of Poplaca, in central Romania's Transylvania region, Sunday, March 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Children jump after pushing a burning tire during a ritual marking the upcoming Clean Monday, the beginning of the Great Lent, 40 days ahead of Orthodox Easter, on the hills surrounding the village of Poplaca, in central Romania's Transylvania region, Sunday, March 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
A young man spins a burning tire on a metal chain during a ritual marking the upcoming Clean Monday, the beginning of the Great Lent, 40 days ahead of Orthodox Easter, on the hills surrounding the village of Poplaca, in central Romania's Transylvania region, Sunday, March 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Children spin burning tires during a ritual marking the upcoming Clean Monday, the beginning of the Great Lent, 40 days ahead of Orthodox Easter, on the hills surrounding the village of Poplaca, in central Romania's Transylvania region, Sunday, March 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
A child cries after arguing with another during a ritual marking the upcoming Clean Monday, the beginning of the Great Lent, 40 days ahead of Orthodox Easter, on the hills surrounding the village of Poplaca, in central Romania's Transylvania region, Sunday, March 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
A young man spins a burning tire on a metal chain during a ritual marking the upcoming Clean Monday, the beginning of the Great Lent, 40 days ahead of Orthodox Easter, on the hills surrounding the village of Poplaca, in central Romania's Transylvania region, Sunday, March 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
A boy handle tires during a ritual marking the upcoming Clean Monday, the beginning of the Great Lent, 40 days ahead of Orthodox Easter, on the hills surrounding the village of Poplaca, in central Romania's Transylvania region, Sunday, March 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Children play with used tires before a ritual marking the upcoming Clean Monday, the beginning of the Great Lent, 40 days ahead of Orthodox Easter, on the hills surrounding the village of Poplaca, in central Romania's Transylvania region, Sunday, March 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
A young man throws a tire during a ritual marking the upcoming Clean Monday, the beginning of the Great Lent, 40 days ahead of Orthodox Easter, on the hills surrounding the village of Poplaca, in central Romania's Transylvania region, Sunday, March 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
A child spins a burning tire on a metal chain, during a ritual marking the upcoming Clean Monday, the beginning of the Great Lent, 40 days ahead of Orthodox Easter, on the hills surrounding the village of Poplaca, in central Romania's Transylvania region, Sunday, March 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
A young man spins a burning tire on a metal chain, during a ritual marking the upcoming Clean Monday, the beginning of the Great Lent, 40 days ahead of Orthodox Easter, on the hills surrounding the village of Poplaca, in central Romania's Transylvania region, Sunday, March 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
A little girl rests leaning against used tires during a ritual marking the upcoming Clean Monday, the beginning of the Great Lent, 40 days ahead of Orthodox Easter, on the hills surrounding the village of Poplaca, in central Romania's Transylvania region, Sunday, March 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Text from the AP news story Romanian youth spin burning tires in Lent ritual, by Vadim Ghirda