Spiridon Vangheli honored in his native village: “He loved his village”
Two years after the passing of Spiridon Vangheli, the village of Grinăuți continues to honor his memory and celebrate his literary legacy. Villagers and family members remember the writer who brought recognition to their village beyond the country's borders. For the people of Grinăuți, Spiridon Vangheli was not just a famous author; he was a beloved son of the village who always kept his childhood close to his heart.
On the streets of Grinăuți, Râșcani, childhood is still represented by the character Guguță. Spiridon Vangheli, the writer who created some of children’s most beloved stories, was born here. Two years after his passing, the villagers continue to honor his memory.
"He would come to school, read to us, reread to us, talk to the children, and tell us stories. He loved children very much."
Relatives say that many of the stories in his books have their roots in this village, woven from the streets, households, and simple events that inspired his creativity.
"I would often hear him and see him on TV telling stories about 'Guguță's Hat' and all his beautiful adventures. He would tell a story about Mihail Iepure, who had a stepmother and a daughter but couldn't find a drum to beat. He went to old man Toader Crețuleac, right in the slum; the old man took his drum down from the attic, went to the house, and beat the drum. His stories are true. And he had many more," said Maria Lungu, a relative.
For many generations of children, Spiridon Vangheli was not just a name in textbooks but also a beloved guest at schools, where he often met his young readers.
"He was very sociable and loved his village. He donated many second-class books. The last time he was with book donations was in 2000, when he came with his son, Radu. They brought a large batch of books for children, including for our school, our gymnasium. After that donation, the school management and teaching staff decided that the school should bear his name," mentioned Alexandra Tcaci, a former teacher.
"The village of Grinăuți is proud to have such a distinguished personality as a citizen. The City Hall is willing to organize a museum, and by the end of the year, we hope to finalize and open the museum in memory of Spiridon Vangheli," said Aliona Frecăuțean, the mayor.
Spiridon Vangheli wrote about the values that define a people: kindness, family, village, language, and roots. Along with Grigore Vieru, he contributed to the development of the alphabet, which entire generations learned to use for reading. His books have been translated into numerous languages, crossing the borders of the country, and Guguță has become one of the most famous ambassadors of Bassarabian childhood.
