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Cultural Events and Customs in Romania
Dragobete is an old Romanian tradition that celebrates
love and its guardian, Dragobete, which is identified
with Cupid and Eros, the gods of love in Roman and Greek mythology.
This
day marks the first day of spring and the beginning
of the birds matting season.
Dragobete is the patron of pure love and good
will and he personifies
the engagement of the animals and the youngsters
as well. In the past, young unmarried women and men
had to meet this day in order to be in
love within the year. They used to gather in small
groups and go into the forest to pick up the first
spring flowers, while singing and shouting
with joy.
The unmelted snow still present in many
villages at that time of the year, used to be collected, and the water
obtained used as a magic potion
by young girls during the year. The tradition is
well preserved especially in the villages of Oltenia.
The 'Martisor' represents a tradition that goes back quite far
away.
From olden times, this little ‘amulet’ was made of two entwined pieces of lace, coloured white and red.
They represent the days, the weeks and months of
the year all bound together. They are offered as a good omen on the
very days that used to mark the
beginning of the New Year for the Romans.
The women especially used to tie it to the necks
or hands of their loved ones. That is why it was especially popular with
children and young people, but
to this day, the date of March 1 marks the beginning
of several days when little 'March gifts' or 'Martisoare' are exchanged
with a frenzy that is
paralleled only by the impetuous coming of Spring.
After they wore them, people used to tie them to
the blossoming branches of trees around their homes.
They were sure they were going to be all healthy,
as beautiful as flowers, pleasant and loving, rich
and lucky, protected from illnesses and the evil
eye.
May this spring bring the same to you and may you
come to Romania, where you can discover this and many other fascinating
traditions along Cultural
Travel & Tours!
Flowers Day (FLORII)
Flowers Day is celebrated on the last Sunday before
Easter. It marks the resurrection of nature, when
the trees and the flowers blossom.
It was initially dedicated to the Roman
goddess Flora, but then it
was celebrated in the memory of the Jesus’ entrance to Jerusalem.
On
this day, people use to bring flowers and willow
branches to the church, for being sanctified by the priest. With the
holy willow branches,
symbol of spring and fertility, cows and little
children are touched, in order to grow and bloom
as the willow. The holy branches are then
placed near the icons or above the door and are
used throughout the year as a medicine or for protection
against the natural disasters.
It is also believed that the people who wear the
willow branches as a belt will not suffer of loin
aches.
It is also a day for commemorating the dead, when the burial places
are cleaned and willow branches are put above.
On Flowers day women take out the “martisor” and they hang
it on the blossoming branches around their homes.
Christmas in Romania
In Romania, Christmas is known
as “Craciun” and it is considered
one of the most important religious holiday. When the holiday arrive,
the romanian people go shopping for decorations for their houses and
the Christmas Tree, bake cakes know as “cozonaci”, send
Christmas cards and decorate the Christmas tree
in the Christmas Eve.
A very important Christmas
custom practiced is the sacrifice of a pig a few days before Christmas
Eve.
So, the celebrations start in the day of the Christmas
Eve “Ajunul Craciunului” when children decorate the Christmas
Tree and their mothers cook the dinner. The hole family meets in the
Christmas Eve and they eat and the children wait for Santa Clause “Mos
Craciun” to arrive with gifts. They sing traditional carols such
as Steaua (”The Star”), Trei Pastori (”The Three Shepherds”)
and Mos Craciun (”Santa Claus”) and after that Santa gives
them their presents.
On the first day of Christmas
many carolers walk through the streets holding a star made of cardboard
and paper. They also carry a large
wooden star “Steaua”, which is wrapped up with metal foil
and adorned with bells and coloured ribbons.
Traditional
foods of Christmas in Romania:
Ciorba de perisoare – a slightly
sour vegetable soup made with fermented bran and pork meatballs.
Piftie
Sarmale – Sour cabbage leaves stuffed with ground pork and served
with polenta.
Friptura de porc – pork garnished with pickled vegetables or mixed
salads.
Cozonaci – cake filled with nuts, cacao and raisins.
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