Best places for Christmas celebrations in Romania

Halloween and Thanksgiving are a little strange, new and exotic in Romania, but I can promise to organize next year some interesting celebrations, as the globalization works. Keep in touch for that, I wonder how will the Romanians accept the idea, and how many foreigners will like to celebrate them far away from home. And don't forget the expats.

With the Christmas is completely different. There is a long tradition and a long story for celebrating Xmas. It is probably the most beloved day of the year, when the family holds together, waiting for the youngsters which visit them and sing carols. There is also the tradition of a rich table, a Christmas tree and the presents.

This is already merchandising of Christmas, and I don't have the intention to do something like that; on the contrary, I appreciate and love the genuine spirit of Christmas, where I can still find it. It is surely another story, another discussion.

Sibiu and his officially Christmas market is unique in Romania ( here the Liars' bridge)

Everywhere in Romania you may have a perfect Christmas, and it is a very difficult task to recommend one or many certain destinations, but I must do it. The first choice is of course Sibiu, the only Romanian city having an official Christmas market, comparable with those from Wien, Budapest, Prague etc. You must only remember to book in advance and be aware that the prices are high in that period of year.

Bucharest is another hit for Christmas. Everybody celebrates, there are crowds of Carols singers on the streets, there is a wonderful partying atmosphere. Visit one of the many churches of Bucharest on Christmas and you will be delighted, it is such a relief and a relax, and a wonderful occasion regaining yourself.

Bucharest has something magic on Christmas

As the religious and spiritual side of Christmas is   much more important than the commercial one, I can warmly recommend further Bucovina for celebrating Christmas. There are many churches there, and if you are on a budget they will host you. If the budget is not a such dramatic problem, you can choice one of the many hotels,motels or pensions in the area ( ask me, I have some fav and I will be glad to recommend you them). The only problem is the feast, simply too much! The wine is flowing, and if you want something stronger take tzuica (plum brandy) as a help for your digestion.

Suceava and Bucovina are a must for the people who wanna feel the genuine spirit of Christmas.

Thus you will have an unforgettable Christmas, and depends on you how long should be this travel and how much would it cost. Maybe is advisable to stay longer, celebrating also the New Year, but be very careful to your stomach and liver, the meals and drinks are delicious.

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Christmas preparations in Romania

There are some interesting traditions in Romania about Christmas preparations. And these traditions are carefully held in mostly Romania to the countryside mainly, don't imagine that life in Bucharest is very different from the life of Rome very much. You can't avoid these traditions to get lost.

The Romanian traditions are being kept mainly at the countryside (fortunately, 50 % of the population still lives there)

This is a good reason, and maybe the only one, to be against globalization. We don't need the life to be the same in every corner of the world, we need local colors, local smell, local flavor, and this is the most important thing I appreciate when visiting a new place. Cultural exchange is the best and most important issue  in travel, at least for me.

Globalization shall not mean losing roots or losing traditions. This is maybe the reason to be against globalization for many people.

Romania still consists on 50 % villages, where you still can find happy healthy people living according the local age-old habits. For the wine farmers, the harvest shall have been made until beginning of November. Mean while the wine started the noisy fermentation (lasts one week), which is followed by the still fermentation for three weeks. That means, it is best time to filter the wine, because these sediments can spoil it. A talented somelier tastes it daily trying to correct the smell and flavor by mixing to other sorts. It is really a story of hard work until you enjoy a glass of wine.

The Romanian vineyards are a place where the traditions are strictly kept

There is a tradition among the wine farmers to drink in Autumn by the middle of October young wine, still fermentating, but not in the noisy stage, with a grill of sheep pemmican.Smells wonderful this mix, check it. I will hold this tradition every Autumn. I promise.

In Bucovina and Transilvania there are other traditions, given by the sheep owner. There are huge sheepherds coming back in the village for the winter, after grassing all summer long on the mountain peaks. You can imagine, is a good oportunity for celebration, but you can't imagine the proportion until you haven't seen it. There are festivals, where the people are cooking polenta in big boilers, eating after with cheese. They also grill the pemmican, or even fresh mutton.

Romanian were a people of shepherds. My both grandparents still  had sheeps 70 years ago. It is also my dream for retirement

So, in vineyards the wine for Christmas is preparing in the cellars; the salty smoked pemmican waits in the larders. Another important tasty part in the Christmas menu will be the sour pickles. Still possible to set them now, even a little too late.

The spiritual side is not neglected, specially to the countryside, where the communion life goes around the church, gathering people at least once every week, on Sunday. By the beginning of December will start the Christmas fast, lasting 3 weeks ( no meat allowed!).

At a bigger scale, the Romanian leading restaurants do all these things. And everybody prepares the pigs for Christmas slaughtering, which is an event you may not miss (but is a bloody festival, take care).

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