Székelykapu (Székely gates) are the traditional wooden carved double gates of the Székelys, a Hungarian people living mostly in modern Romania's Transylvania district. There are two openings, the larger tall enough for a fully loaded hay-cart, the smaller for people on foot. 
For more urban areas there many smaller variants, but all of the same basic design. The top part should always double as a dovecote, guaranteeing a steady source of food.
The state of the gate was an important cultural signal: a neat, well decorated, welcoming gate, often with an inscription showing care and kindness to travelers, were thought to correspond with the well ordered state of the family who lived within, its neat garden and labor.
In Catholic villages, the last part of the gate was always the cross, which gave rise to the popular saying "Hála Istennek fölkerült a kereszt!" — Thank God the cross is up! (meaning: give thanks, the work is done!).
"Vándor, ha elfáradsz az élet útján, bizalommal térj be e kapu alatt, ha jó a szándékod, itt szeretet fogad." (roughly: Wanderer, if you are tired of the path of life, enter with confidence under this gate, if you have good intentions, here you will receive love.)
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
