Diary of Romanian
Festivities
By
Chiriac Andreea
Secuianu Alina
Petrescu-Miron Mihai
Mocanu Ștefan
Pîrau Dan
Uleru George Iulian
Product made for the project:
Intercultural Dialogue as a Means to
Develop Creativity and Innovation
This project has been funded with support from
the European Commission.
This publication reflects the views only of the
author, and the Commission cannot be held
responsible for any use which may be made of
the information contained therein.
Saint Basil - 1st of January
Basil of Caesarea, also called Saint Basil
the Great, was the bishop of Caesarea Mazaca in
Cappadocia, Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey).
He was an influential 4th century Christian
theologian and monastic. Theologically, Basil was
a supporter of the Nicene faction of the church, in
opposition to Arianism on one side and the
followers of Apollinaris of Laodicea on the other.
His ability to balance his theological convictions
with his political connections made Basil a
powerful advocate for the Nicene position.
During the Christmas period until St. Basil’s Day (January 1st ) in
Maramures, the magical practice is known as “the tying up of the beast in the
forest”, which consists of laying a loaf of ritual bread, named High Steward,
on the table, which is then tied with an iron chain. After 8 days, on New
Year’s Day, the loaf of bread is cut into slices eaten by children and animals,
and the chain is put in front of the stable, so that the cattle may step over it.
Epiphany – 6th of January
Epiphany is celebrated by both the
Eastern and Western Churches, but a major
difference between them is precisely which
events the feast commemorates. For Western
Christians, the feast primarily commemorates
the coming of the Magi; Eastern churches
celebrate the Baptism of Christ in the Jordan. In
both traditions, the essence of the feast is the
same: the manifestation of Christ to the world
(whether as an infant or in the Jordan), and the
Mystery of the Incarnation.
Epiphany is a Christian feast day which
celebrates the revelation of God in human form
in the person of Jesus Christ.
It falls on January 6 or on a Sunday close to that date. January 6 in the
Julian Calendar, which is followed by some Eastern Churches, corresponds at
present to January 19 in the Gregorian Calendar, which is the official civil calendar
in most countries. On this day, Western Christians commemorate principally the
visitation of the Biblical Magi to the child Jesus, i.e., his manifestation to the
Gentiles; Eastern Christians commemorate the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan
River, seen as his manifestation to the world as the Son of God. It is also called
Theophany, especially by Eastern Christians.
Valentine's Day – 14th of February
 Valentine's Day is a holiday
celebrated on February 14 by
many people throughout the
world. In the English-speaking
countries, it is the traditional day
on which lovers express their love
for each other by sending
Valentine's cards, presenting
flowers, or offering confectionery.
The holiday is named after two
among the numerous Early
Christian martyrs named
Valentine.
Dragobete – 24th February
.
Dragobete was the son of Baba Dochia.
While Valentine’s Day is
mostly related to people and their
actions in the name of love, the
Romanian holiday dedicated to
love, Dragobete, is strongly
connected to nature. Celebrated
on February 24th, it is linked to
that special time of year when
birds build their nests and mate.
As the first signs of spring show,
nature and man restart the cycle
of life and love
Mărțișor – 1st of March
Mărţişor is the traditional
celebration of the beginning of
the spring in Romania, Moldova,
Bulgaria and Macedonia, on 1
March. The day's name is the
diminutive of March (in Romanian
Martie),
and
thus
means
something like "little" or "dear
March".
Nowadays, men offer women a
talisman object also called Mărţişor,
consisting of a jewel or a small decoration
like a flower, an animal or a heart, tied to
a red and white string. However, giving a
little nickel tied to a red and white string is
an old custom and was originally
designated for both men and women. It
was believed that the one who wears the
red and white string will be powerful and
healthy for the year to come. The
decoration is a symbol of the coming
spring. A woman wears it pinned to her
blouse on this day and up to two weeks
after. In some parts of Romania such as
Moldova or Bukovina the symbol of spring
was a gold or silver medal which was
worn around the neck.
International Women's Day
8th of March
International
Women's
Day (IWD) is marked on March 8
every year. It is a major day of
global celebration for the economic,
political and social achievements of
women.
Started as a political event,
the holiday blended in the culture of
many countries (primarily Russia and
the countries of former Soviet bloc).
In some celebrations, the day lost its
political flavour, and became simply
an occasion for men to express their
love to the women around them in a
way somewhat similar to Mother's
Day and St Valentine's Day mixed
together. In others, however, the
political and human rights theme as
designated by the United Nations
runs strong, and political and social
awareness of the struggles of women
worldwide are brought out and
examined in a hopeful manner.
Easter
Easter is the most important annual
religious feast in the Christian liturgical year.
According to Christian scripture, Jesus was
resurrected from the dead on the third day of his
crucifixion. Christians celebrate this resurrection
on Easter Day or Easter Sunday, two days after
Good Friday and three days after Maundy
Thursday. Easter also refers to the season of the
church year called Eastertide or the Easter
Season. Traditionally the Easter Season lasted
for the forty days from Easter Day until Ascension
Day but now officially lasts for the fifty days until
Pentecost. The first week of the Easter Season is
known as Easter Week or the Octave of Easter.
Easter also marks the end of Lent, a season of
fasting, prayer, and penance.
Easter is the most important celebration
of the Romanian people and it is preceded by
numerous preparations and rituals.
May Day – 1st of May
May Day occurs on May 1 and
refers to several public holidays. In many
countries, May Day is synonymous with
International Workers' Day, or Labour Day, a
day of political demonstrations and
celebrations organised by the unions and
socialist groups.
May Day falls exactly half of a year
from November 1, another cross-quarter day
which is also associated with various
northern European pagan and neopagan
festivals such as Samhain. May Day marks
the end of the uncomfortable winter half of
the year in the Northern hemisphere, and it
has traditionally been an occasion for
popular and often raucous celebrations,
regardless of the locally prevalent political or
religious establishment.
Europe Day
9th of May
In Europe, Europe Day is an
annual celebration of peace and unity in
Europe. There are two separate Europe
Days, taking place on 5 May and 9 May,
established by the Council of Europe (CoE)
and the European Union (EU) respectively.
For the EU, the day is also known as
Schuman Day.
The Council of Europe's day
reflects its own establishment in 1949,
while the European Union's day celebrates
the day the EU's predecessor was
proposed in 1950. Europe Day is one of a
number of European symbols designed to
foster unity among Europeans.
Saint Constantine and Helena
21th of May
Constantine began
the
Roman
Empire's
unofficial sponsorship of
Christianity, which was a
major factor in the faith's
spread.
The
Orthodox
Church keeps his feast on
May 21, along with his
mother,
Empress
Saint
Helen.
Child’s Day – 1st of June
Children's Day is an
event celebrated on various
days in many places around the
world. International Children's
Day is celebrated on June 1
and Universal Children's Day is
on November 20.
The holiday is simply
set to honor children and
minors.
Saints Archangels Michael and
Gabriel
Michael was regarded as the
Chief of the Order of Virtues, Prince
of the Presence, Chief of Archangels,
the Angel of Repentance,
Righteousness, Mercy, and
Sanctification. He is also Ruler of the
4th Heaven and Conqueror of Satan.
Gabriel is the Angel of
annunciation, resurrection, mercy,
vengeance, death and revelation. In
the Gospel of Luke, the Archangel
Gabriel serves as the messenger of
God and shares with Mary that she
will give birth to a son of God whom
she will call Jesus, a moment
captured frequently in paintings as
the Annunciation.
Saint Peter and Paul
•
Saints Peter and Paul
are the principle pillars of the
Church founded by Christ.
Saint Paul was chosen to
form part of the apostolic
college by Christ himself on
the road to Damascus.
Saint Peter was chosen
by Christ to be his first Vicar
on earth; he was endowed
with powers ofthe keys of the
kingdom of heaven
Saint John the Baptist – 24th June
Sânzienele
The Eastern Orthodox believe that John was the
last of the Old Testament prophets, thus serving as a
bridge between that period of revelation and the New
Covenan. They also teach that, following his death, John
descended into Hades and there once more preached
that Jesus the Messiah was coming, so he was the
Forerunner of Christ in death as he had been in life.
According to Sacred Tradition, John the Baptist appears
at the time of death to those who have not heard the
Gospel of Christ, and preaches the Good News to them,
that all may have the opportunity to be saved. Orthodox
churches will often have an icon of St. John the Baptist
in a place of honor on the iconostasis, and he is
frequently mentioned during the Divine Services. Every
Tuesday throughout the year is dedicated to his memory
In the Eastern Orthodox Church and other Eastern Christian Churches, St
John the Baptist is usually called St John the Forerunner, a title used also in the
West. This title indicates that the purpose of his ministry was to prepare the way for
the coming of Jesus Christ. In the East also, the Feast of his Nativity is celebrated
on 24 June. It is a major feast day and is celebrated with an All-Night Vigil. It has an
Afterfeast of one day. The feast always falls during the Apostles' Fast.
The Dormition of the Theotokos
15th of August
The Dormition (Falling Asleep) of
the Theotokos is one of the Great
Feasts of the Orthodox Church,
celebrated on August 15. This feast,
which is also sometimes called the
Assumption,
commemorates
the
death, resurrection and glorification of
Christ's mother. It proclaims that Mary
has been "assumed" by God into the
heavenly kingdom of Christ in the
fullness of her spiritual and bodily
existence.
The feast is preceded by 14 days of strict fasting, with the exceptions that
fish is eaten on the Feast of the Transfiguration (August 6). On weekdays
before the feast, either the Great Paraklesis (service of supplication) or the
Small Paraklesis is celebrated.
The Nativity of the Theotokos
8th of September


The Holy Virgin and Theotokos Mary was
born to elderly and previously barren
parents by the names of Joachim and
Anna, in answer to their prayers.
The Nativity of the Theotokos is one of the
Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church,
celebrated on September 8.

The feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos,
therefore, is a glorification of Mary's birth, of
Mary herself and of her righteous parents.
It is a celebration as well of the very first
preparation of the salvation of the world.
For the "Vessel of Light," the "Book of the
Word of Life," the "Door to the Orient," the
"Throne of Wisdom" is being prepared on
earth by God himself in the birth of the holy
girl-child Mary.
Saint Demetrius of Thessaloniki
26th of October
Saint Demetrius of Thessaloniki
was a Christian martyr, who lived in the
early 4th century.
During the Middle Ages, he
came to be revered as one of the most
important Orthodox military saints, often
paired with Saint George. His feast day is
26 October for Christians following the
Gregorian calendar and 8 November for
Christians following the Julian calendar.
The spelling "Demetrius" is a
romanization of the ancient Greek
pronunciation; the Byzantine and Modern
Greek pronunciation is romanized as
Dimitrios.
Saint Andrew – November 30th
The name "Andrew", like other
Greek names, appears to have been
common among the Jews from the second
or third century BC.
Andrew the Apostle,
called in the Orthodox tradition
Protokletos, or the First-called,
is a Christian Apostle and the
brother of Peter the Apostle.
The official stance of the
Romanian Orthodox Church is that Andrew
preached the Gospel to the Daco-Romans
in the province of Dobrogea (Scythia
Minor), whom he converted to Christianity.
Nevertheless, these claims that are
supported by little historical evidence, are
usually part of the nationalist protochronism
ideology, supported by the Orthodox
Church, which argues that the Church has
been a companion and defender of the
Romanian people for all of their 2000-year
history.
National day of Romania
December 1st

December 1st is the National
day of Romania.
For the Romanian people,
the year 1918 represents the triumph
of the national ideal after a long time
of fights and human and material
sacrifices for achieving the national
unitary state. This historical process
developed on the entire Romanian
area scored important marks in 1784,
1821, 1848-49, the unification of
Moldavia with Muntenia in 1859, the
Proclamation
of
the
Absolute
Independence after the 1877-78 war
and the representative meetings
democratically
selected
of
the
Romanians living under foreign
domination in Chisinau, Cernauti and
Alba Iulia in 1918.
Great Union Day – 1st of December
Great Union Day occurring
on December 1, is the national
holiday
of
Romania.
It
commemorates the assembly of
the delegates of ethnic Romanians
held in Alba Iulia, which declared
the Union of Transylvania with
Romania.
In Communist Romania, the
date of the national holiday was set
to August 23 to mark the 1944
overthrow of
the pro-fascist
government
of
Marshal
Ion
Antonescu.
Saint Nicholas – December 6th
 Saint Nicholas is the common
name for Nicholas of Myra, a
saint and Bishop of Myra.
Because of the many miracles
attributed to his intercession,
he is also known as Nicholas
the Wonderworker.
The tradition of Saint Nicholas
Day, usually on 6 December, is a festival
for children in many countries in Europe
related to surviving legends of the saint,
and particularly his reputation as a
bringer of gifts. In Romania children
typically leave their boots on the
windowsill on the evening of December
5. By next morning Nicholas leaves
candy and gifts if they have been good,
or a rod (Romanian: nuieluşǎ) if they
have been bad (most kids end up getting
small gifts but also a small rod).
St. Nicolas is also the protector
saint of our highschool.
Constitution Day of Romania –
December 8th

Constitution Day of
Romania was celebrated
for the first time in 1995,
as a decision of the
Parliament.
The 1991 Constitution enshrined
the return to democracy after the fall of the
Communist regime. The draft was
composed
by
a
committee
of
parliamentarians and constitutional law
specialists; was approved by Parliament,
meeting as a Constituent Assembly, by a
vote of 414 to 95 on 21 November 1991,
being published in Monitorul Oficial the
same day; and was approved by
referendum on 8 December 1991, with
77.3% voting in favour. The 1991
Constitution contains 7 titles and 152
articles. Romania is defined as a “national,
sovereign,
independent,
unitary
and
indivisible state”. The form of government is
the republic, the president having up to two
five-year terms.
Christmas – December 25th

Even in countries where there is a strong
Christian tradition, Christmas celebrations can vary
markedly from country to country. For many Christians, a
religious service plays an important part in the recognition
of the season. Family reunions and the exchange of gifts
are a widespread feature of the season. Gift giving takes
place on Christmas Day itself in most countries. The most
famous and pervasive of the figures associated with
Christmas in modern celebration worldwide is Santa
Claus, a mythical gift bringer, dressed in red, whose
origins have disputed sources. The Christmas tree is often
explained as a Christianisation of pagan tradition and ritual
surrounding the Winter Solstice, which included the use of
Christmas or Christmas Day is evergreen boughs, and an adaptation of pagan tree
an annual holiday, celebrated on worship. Romanian Christmas food generally use pork
December
25,
that (except Advent food).
commemorates the birth of
Jesus
of
Nazareth.
In
Pork meat, animal's organs, fat and blood.
Christianity, Christmas is the Everything swine has inside is used. Some of them are
festival celebrating the Nativity used for Christmas holidays, others are prepared to be
of Jesus
eaten later, till in spring.
Saint Stephen – December 27th
Saint Stephen, known as
the Protomartyr of
Christianity, is venerated as
a saint in the Roman
Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran
and Eastern Orthodox
Churches. He was one of the
first in the early Church to wear
the title Archdeacon.
Acts of the Apostles tells the story
of how Stephen was tried by the Sanhedrin
(high priests) for blasphemy against Moses
and God and speaking against the Temple
and the Law. He was stoned to death by an
infuriated mob encouraged by Saul of
Tarsus, the future Saint Paul. Saint
Stephen's name is simply derived from the
Greek Stephanos, meaning "crown".
Traditionally, Saint Stephen is
invested with a crown of martyrdom for
Christianity; he is often depicted in art with
three stones and the martyr’s palm. In
Eastern Christian iconography, he is shown
as a young beardless man with a tonsure,
wearing a deacon's vestments, and often
holding a miniature church building or a
censer.