Se afișează postările cu eticheta Romanian traditions. Afișați toate postările
Se afișează postările cu eticheta Romanian traditions. Afișați toate postările

duminică, 17 februarie 2013

Wonderful Spring traditions in Romania


What I really love in Romania most are the well kept traditions. They give me, and not only me,  the strength to keep on in this wonderful land.

The half of the Romanian population still lives in villages, still ruling a traditional way of life. Nowadays, after a harsh winter, the spring is calling its  coming finally. And is for sure a triumphant one! The people wish each other to have a wonderful spring, and they are all full of love an joy of life. At many of the local rural festival, the best farmer of the village is being asked to cut the first plough, thus causing another reason for celebration. The elder try to guess how rich will be the year, and they always report that the year is going to be a good one!

In some corners of my country the people are dancing with masks, in order to banish the bad spirits. Their suits are really fantastic, and 2000 years old. Almost all the people are orthodox (90 %) attending the church every Sunday. They also start the general spring cleaning inside the house and outside, in the garden. The lazy people are subject of jokes. Also on Sunday, after attending the church service, the people go traditionally in the local pub dancing the traditional round (hora), which is a good reason for the youngsters to fall, as the spring is really charming and irresistible. Young girls put under their pillow special plants with strong magical properties, helping them doing the right choice and the best approach. Near the well renowned Valentine's Day, there is a celebration dedicated to the local Dragobete. a legendary handsome young man, a sort of Cupid!
Very soon in Romania the winter shall leave, and there are many fantasctic traditions with this occasion

Some of the village seniors did not reach the spring, they are dead during the winter. The funerals in Romania  are also particular for any visitor observing it, and much more touching and human. Namely, the dead rests three days in an opened coffin, so that family and friends can tell the well deserved farewell. During nights the  closest relatives may not leave him alone. Only on burial the cofin is being sealed with the lid, and the family invites the guests to a ritual meal, and makes charity for the poor. The family must prey for 40 days, and only after this period the saw will finally leave the dead body. The wine plays an important role during the church service and during the meal. The people are not supposed to say cheers, but must drop some straws on the floor for the deceased to enjoy.
If you meet by chance in Romania a wedding ceremony, be sure to be invited becoming a part of it. It could be the event of your life.

Wedding in Romania are really interesting. If you meet one, be sure to be invited there. You are ought to eat and to drink, tough luck! Enjoy a Romanian wedding in one of the remote rural regions where the traditions are still alive, like Maramures, Bucovina, Sibiu e.g.




vineri, 7 decembrie 2012

Romanian Festivals in 2013 (Part II)


We have a lot of things to do, our job is to fill all the major festivals in Romania for the coming year. Not an easy task, there are some extra local little unknown festivals, which are even more picturesque than these official ones, sometimes overcrowded due to exaggerated publicity.

June Festivals
Brancovenesti (Transilvania)- Cherry Festival, on the first Sunday.
Bucharest hosts The carnival, consisting on one week long of public street manifestations.
Cluj-Napoca enjoys the International Transilvania Film festival
Bucharest on 21st : The Feast of music
Bucharest again: Beer Festival with music in the Herastrau Park
Avram Iancu (by Oradea): the sheep Festival (Tacasele)
Miercurea Ciuc-Pilgrimage of the Catholic Szekelyi on the Whitsuntide
Odorheiu Secuiesc: Festival and market of skilled artisans
A specific Romanian Dance, Hora (The Round) as you can see in any Romanian traditional festival

July Festivals
Vadu Izei: traditional music festival, four days long
Somcuta Mare (Maramures): The oak festival, popular music and traditions
Sibiu: International festival of popular and country music
Ilisesti (Suceava), the second Sunday, The Folklore Festival of The Rarau mountain
Mount Gaina (Western Carpathians) on the last Sunday before 20th : The Girl Market, a big Festival with concerts and  traditional dances
Sighisoara, the last week: Festival of Medieval Art
Targu-Mures, the last five days: Rock Music festival Felsziget
Mangalia, the third week end: Callatis Music Festival
Traditional Festival in Sibiu

August Festivals
Marginimea Sibiului (Transilvania) -first Saturday: The Bear Day
Bucharest,the second week end, The Hora Festival in Village museum, dedicated to Romanian folkloric groups
Constanta, the first week: National Music Festival
Sibiu, the first week: national festival of popular traditions, hosted in Astra Museum
Baia mare hosts many Traditional Festivals

September Festival
Mamaia, the first week: International Festival of Popular Music
Brasov, the first week: International festival of Chamber Music
Lesu (Transilvania), first Sunday: Traditional Festival (sheepherds)
Bucharest, three weeks long: George Enescu Music Festival
Targoviste (Wallachia), middle of the month: Festival of Folkloric Song Miorita
Biertan (Transilvania): Saxon Festival (Sachsentreffen)
Sibiu, by the end of the month: International Oper Festival
Brasov, the end of month: Golden deer, International Entertainment Music Festival, with many Romanian and international first class stars


joi, 6 decembrie 2012

Romanian Festivals in 2013 (part I)


2012 is still on, you (or us) still have some good possibilities to celebrate Christmas, New Year,  with a plenty of wine and food. But we still can celebrate the current days: today, tomorrow. Thus I found some reasons to drink another glass of wine to you, but you are ought to do the same!

Thinking to the next year is not an easy task. First of all, we must reach it in the best shape and mood, which I sincerely wish you, with all my heart. Really hope that the Maya predictions will prove them wrong, and we will pay our taxes next year too.
In downtown Cluj Napoca there is a celebration on Christmas and New Year

I think that would be a good idea to schedule your trip to Romania for the next year based on the many feasts, carnivals and festivals scattered all year long in the most diverse corners of this wonderful country, as it follows

January.
The New Year is everywhere celebrated, in the all country. Every human settlement marks it in its own way, and they will be really happy to welcome you there. The main condition is to drink some tzuica (strong plum brandy) , wine and to eat a lot. In many places these celebrations take place in the streets, and are really spectacular.
During the second week of January in Deva there is a festival of popular dances.
On the 30th of January in Iasi takes place the religious celebration of The Three Saints.
On the last Sunday of January in Campulung Moldovenesc is organized the Festival of the Winter Sports.
Authentic Romanian dresses in the central market of Sibiu

February.
On the third Sunday of the Month in Targu Jiu falls the Festival of the Charming Water Sources (popular traditions and miners orchestras)

March
In Halmagiu (Bihor) The Kissing Festival was once a meeting place for the single, which nowadays turned to popular music and sheepherds' traditions.
These spectators are also performers

April
Resita hosts during the first weekend The Spring Festival, which is a folcloric one.
In the middle of the month in Paltinis-Sibiu we can see the Snow Festival. In Apata /Brasov the strange festival of Cock Killing coming from the XIVth century!

Through all the country you have the unique opportunity to celebrate The eastern, which is by far the most important celebration,in  church or private. Very spectacular indeed.

Also in April an important opportunity for celebration is the day of the Saint George The Warior. It is followed in all Romania, because there are many Romanians carrying this name, but the main target is the town of Saint George, by Brasov.

May.

All this month long in Bucharest, Cluj Napoca, Constanta, Iasi  is celebrated the Festivinum, a Wine Festival. Best place for the wine afficionados, like me!

In a few villages of Maramures find , please, the peasant Festival of Fertility and Nature.

In Sibiu there is the Mayfest, when germans and germanophones gather together in the Dumbrava park.

In Brasov, during the first Sunday after Easter the spectacular festival of Junii Brasovului ( The Brasov Youngs).

Again in Sibiu the Jazz festival.

Allow me to continue tomorrow with the rest of the year!

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