The Russians of Romania

The Romanians, as a tolerant welcoming people, have a huge force to adopt and integer representatives of other nations. There are not very many foreigners in Romania (under 10 % totally) , it is really a compact country. We really love and esteem our minorities ( The Hungarians are the most important at this moment).

But let us speak further about the Russians of Romania. Russia with its huge plains, hot teas and beautiful women exert a strange fascination onto the Romanians. We remember them in the harsh winters when it is very cold and they let the Northern winds coming to Romania ( please don't let them again, spasiva!). We remember them thinking to the men and women from Siberia, surviving at -70 degrees Celsius (any Romanian is half dead at -20 degrees Celsius). These methods of survival must be secret, and we really want to learn from the Russians. We forget probably the Russians in the hot seasons, having other fantasies.

The Bucovina Hutzuls are keeping their spectacular suits and traditions

We have had a long history together, and sometimes the Tzarist Empire, or the Moscow's Communist regime have been not very friendly against politicians. There is no matter, the politicians did that. We really love the normal ordinary people of Russia!

Not very many Romanians speak Russian nowadays, after this language have been imposed at school during the 50's, but some Romanians loving vodka have learned. We love the strong Russian culture.

The beauty of Bucovina is due also to the Hutzuls, the descendants of the  Russian refugees

In the Russian history have been some moments when certain oppressed people searched a shelter in Romania. And they really found a   second happy home in Romania ( even if they can't understand the art of tasting wine, ha ha!). During the XIXth century The Orthodoxe Russians following the old calendar have been subject of oppression and persecutions, due to the reforms of the Russian Orthodoxe Church. Romania was naturally their first option, it is the only one Orthodoxe country in the area.

The Russians from Danube Delta build other compact group keeping their traditions, and are known as  Lippovans.

They found shelter in some remote places of Romania, still fearing the strong arm of the Russian justice. Some of them settled in Bucovina, and in a few villages of this Romanian region you still can find their followers, when the community was big enough to preserve their traditions. They are called Hutzuls there, and breed wonderful horses.

Other important group of Russian fugees found shelter in the Danube Delta. No one could find them there, the idea was brilliant. Today, after almost 200 years, most of the fishermen from the Danube Delta still speak an old Russian language,  keeps amazing traditions and drink heavily vodka or other strong spirits. Their Sunday church service is really spectacular, observing their traditional suits.

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Epic tours of Craiova with the local myths and legends

It is said in Romania (popular joke) that the people of Oltenia (the area around Craiova) are very similar with the Scotsman, thinking to their pride and hot blood (but they are not so tight with the money, even on the contrary. If they adopt you and give their friendship, they will give everything what they possess, starting with the suits).

Thus, we could say that Craiova would be the Romanian Glasgow, forcing the comparison. The fact is, that the city of Craiova has a lot to offer and to say to any traveler, mainly in downtown. I propose you to discover Craiova starting with its churches, there are many, and I've made a selection.

The impressive Curch madona Dudu has an interesting legend

Most of Craiova churches have been build in the Romanian Brancovan style, meaning rich decorations, which are nevertheless not so charged like the rococo. First mention for Church Madona Dudu. According to the legend, the place was chosen after finding an icon of Holly Jesus' Mother (Madona) in a mulberry tree on this place (Dudu=mulberry tree, btw how far are you with the Romanian courses?). This icon had miraculous powers, and the priests used to carry it to the sick people, and if the the icon weighted heavy, there were no chances anymore for the pacient on  this world! On the contrary, if the icon was light, the suffering was supposed to recover! Admire in Madona Dudu Church the quality of the  painting, it is made by a notorious Romanian painter, Gh. Tattarescu. Visit further and compare other interesting churches, The St Ilie Church and and Holly Third Church. Finish your spiritual church tour of Craiova with the St Dumitru church, and its amazing icon of the St. Dumitru, made in Venice mosaic, which is really a masterpiece.

In a plain city, subject to drought periods, a fountain is a very important issue. Here  the Jianu fountain

Another landmark of Craiova, a plain city subject to long periods with no rains, are the fountains (Maybe similar to Bucharest). The fountains here are not so many, or so spectacular, but have a special touch and a big history.
The Jianu fountain was build by the local aristocrat Hagi Stan Jianu. From this fountain used to drink water another Jianu, Iancu Jianu (which was an outlaw and a local legend). 17 years long he has lived as an outlaw, escaped twice from the escort, and succeed to escape a death conviction, because a noble virgin wished to marry him. He was convicted and worked in the salt mines, but died very peacefully in his home from Caracal. He was short, using to carry always gun and knife. Other important fountains: the pig merchant' and the Popova.

The Romanescu park from Craiova  is a must for every visitor!

But after this long walk, you can relax in a wonderful place: Romanescu Park, also named Bibescu park, which is renowned in the all Romania. It was designed by the French architect E.Redont at 1900, which won an important award and recognition for this work. Redont strove himself for the park to seduce through its elaborated wildness, which was so appreciated in those times.. The works lasted 3 years long, and had a serious budget. Walk on the alleys, cross the bridge, look the ruins of the castle, the shelters and kiosks, the swan island. The park 96 hectars of vegetation, a big lake of 4 hectars, and a botanical garden! You need some time to discover this wonderful park!

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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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