Holidays

Holidays in Romania

Romanian culture is characterized by many ethnic and religious minorities due to the country’s particular location on the border of the Orient and the Occident. Holidays are largely church-motivated and celebrated according to the beliefs of the Romanian Orthodox Church, to which the majority of the people belong.

Vacationers should be prepared for the fact that these celebrations are calculated according to the Julian calendar and are therefore usually later than the comparable festivals in Germany. Only Christmas takes place at the same time.

Overview

New Year’s Day – January 1 and 2

Orthodox Easter – flexible

Labor Day – on May 1

Orthodox Pentecost – 49/50 days after Easter Sunday

Marian Ascension – on August 15

St. Andrew’s Day – on November 30

Unity Day – on December 1

Christmas – on December 25 and 26

Worth knowing about selected holidays

Easter

On Easter Vigil, people go to Easter Mass together and sing “Christ is Risen.” Afterwards, on Easter Monday, there is the custom of men sprinkling water on women and also symbolically beating them with a decorated rod. The ritual is said to bring her beauty and health in the following year. Being forgotten during this custom can be perceived as an insult by women. In return, the man receives a painted egg or some money.

In some places, women may return the favor the next day, pouring a bucket of cold water over the men’s heads. (Imitation on holiday is warned against…)

St. Andrew’s Day

This holiday, first established by the Romanian Parliament in July 2012, is dedicated to the country’s patron saint, who incidentally also serves Scotland and Russia in the same capacity. According to tradition, St. Andrew was responsible for the Christianization of Romania. Now he provides the country’s children with two days off in a row, as the next holiday follows immediately on December 1.

Unity Day

Unity Day originated in a declaration by the people of Alba Iulia in Transylvania on December 1, 1918, postulating the unification of Transylvania and Romania. It was not until 1990 that this day was elevated to a national holiday.

Christmas

In Romania, Santa Claus brings small gifts as early as December 5. The actual giving of presents, however, does not take place until December 25. After the first feast was already served up on Christmas Eve after the appearance of the evening star, the first Christmas Day traditionally includes a breakfast of deviled eggs and cake.

Part of the Christmas tradition is also that the children go from house to house, singing Christmas carols and reciting poems. They are rewarded for this with cakes and money, for example.