ROMANIAN TRADITIONS Traditions appeared in a certain moment of social development, and they last as long as social circumstances that gave birth to them haven’t changed. Defining more a practical way of thinking than an ancient one, customs are perfect mirrors of people’s mentality. Their gestures and attitudes in specific moments of life complete their existence, giving them a motivation for life. From Bucharest to Transylvania, there are millions of traditions in Romania, some of them being strange or even funny. There are songs, sayings and superstitions. These are a big part of the Romanian way of life. One of the most important qualities of a Romanian is the fact that he is proud of his people. Romania is a unique nation in the region they have been fated to live. To be Romanian means to be Latin and the Romanians are the only Romance people in Central and Eastern Europe. The Romanian folklore retained rites and myths, which belong to both Byzantine and western civilizations. Historically and geographically situated at the limit between the two zones of European civilization, that of the Southeast and that of the West, Romania developed its folkloric creation borrowing elements of both. If in the other arts, folk creation was doubled by cultured one quite early; literature was for a long time the domain of folklore. Folk literature displaying a great variety of forms in all genres is also the field when Romanian soul is best expressed. The folk music and dance of Romania prove that the Romanians are not a nation of resigned people. Romanian folk music gained world fame, owing to the talent of several artists: Maria Tănase, Gheorghe Zamfir, etc. The “diamond” of the Romanian folk is the famous “Miorita”, the ballad of the shepherd that is asking to be buried according to a ritual similar to a cosmic wedding. Although Romanian traditions may differ, from Moldavia to Transylvania or Southern part of the country, you can always see rising up the profound philosophy of the man who feels integrated in the surrounding universe. That’s why we should be proud of our country, our people.
tradition: SANZIENE The Encyclopedic Dictionary defines Sanziene or Dragaica as being either a traditional holiday which is part of the agrarian cycle, that celebrates the ripening of the grain and which is in turn celebrated every year on the 24th of June, or an old traditional dance interpreted monomial by a group of girls and the tune on which it is danced; the name of each of the girls involved in this dance or evil fairies that maim people; pixies. The last of these definitions is rather controversial because in some areas these Sanziene are considered evil fairies while in other areas they are thought of as being good fairies, the opposite of pixies. Sanziana is also a flower, a substitute of the agrarian goddess who bears the same name that plays an important part in the magic rituals and customs that take place on the 24th of June. Wearing a coronet made of Sanziene, a virgin plays the role of the goddess of crops during the agrarian dance called Dragaica’s dance. A coronet of Sanziene hung up from windows, gate pillars, land marks and cemetery crosses protects people, tombs and cornfields from evil forces; thrown on the roofs of houses and barns it predicts what will happen to the person who made it during the following year. On the other side, a girl that puts a blossomed Sanziana on the Sanziene night under her pillow will dream her predestined husband. If a woman wears it on her waist she will not have a backache during harvest. If it will be worn by young girls or wives on their hair or bosom it will make them more attractive and loving. Sanziana has also become an important agricultural reference point due to its unique ability to blossom during the longest of the year. This amazing flower is also supposed to have powerful healing abilities. Another meaning to the word Sanziene would be that of fantastic beings that form Dragaica’ s procession (Dragaica = agrarian goddess who is celebrated on the day of summer solstice when the flower that bears her name blossoms; probably taken from Greek mythology where she is called Demeter), while in other regions they represent young virgins that have been kidnapped by dragons and taken to their palaces, places where no man has ever stepped foot. During the night of Sanziene (23rd / 24th of June) while they float trough the air or walk on earth, they sing and dance, make married women more fertile, help animals breed, spray cures and smell on flowers, heal diseases, they end suffering and protect the fields from hail and storms. It is said that if anyone sees their dance, he/she will go crazy. Along with other traditional holidays, Sanziene day represents more than a simple agrarian holiday, it is one of the few days with a true mystical meaning, depending on the area in which it is celebrated. We must not forget that Sanziene day is one of the few Romanian holidays left untouched.

Sporturi de iarnă în Bucovina - Obiective turistice Distractie: cluburi, restaurante, baruri, ciclism, aventura pe munte, mocanita (Moldovita), participare la activitati si obiceiuri rurale, pescuit, schi, cel mai mare fond de vanatoare din tara (Muntii Bistritei, Raraul, Giumalaul, Calimanul, Suhardul); Naturale: rezervatiile Pietrele Doamnei si Codrii Seculari Slatioara; rezervatia Zamostea Lunca (Suceava), rezervatii Fanete Seculare la: Frumoasa (Suceava), Calafindesti (R. Siret), Ponoare (Suceava), plaiul Todirescu (Campulung); rezervatia Tinovul Sarul Dornei (Dorna), rezervatia Tinovul Mare (Poiana Stampei, Dorna), rezervatia de jnepenis

NORTHERN MOLDAVIA This area, known by the name of Bucovina, is renowned for the beauty of its forested hills, the refinment of its folk artists and the efficiency of its ancient spas (Vatra Dornei and Câmpulung Moldovenesc). The fame of Bucovina's art monuments has long got beyond the country's borders. Quite impressive are the five strongly fortified monasteries, the churches of which, erected in the 15th-16th centuries, were painted in the 16th century with outer frescoes which are unique in Europe. They are the monasteries of Voronet ("the Sistine Chapel of the East"), Arbore, Humor, Moldovita and Sucevita, some of the founded by Stephen the Great and Petru Rares, famous rulers of the Principality of Moldavia. From Suceava, a former capital of this Principality (which in 1476 withstood the siege laid by Sultan Mehmed II, the conqueror of Constantinople) and a major tourist centre of the region, the tourist can reach the imposing monastery of Putna, which was founded by the most important ruler of mediaeval Moldavia, Stephen the Great (1457-1504), or the Dragomirna Monastery, another princely construction which is impressive through its slim architectural line.

Moldova, between the hydrographic basins of the Siret and the Jijia rivers, in the east of the Oriental Carpathians has important towns: Iasi, Pascani, Roman, Vaslui, Bacau, Piatra Neamt, Focsani, Galati, Tecuci. Iasi is one of the most ancient towns of the country, a cultural, scientific and artistic centre with numerous musea - The union Museum, the Ethnographical Museum and the Art Museum a.o. and with architectonic mouments: Saint Nicholas Church from the XV-th century, The Galata and Galia Monasteries from the XII-th century, The Palace of Culture from the beginning of the XX-th century, built in neo - Gothic style, with rich inside and outside decorations. Pascani has many historical monuments such as: a lordly house and Saints Michael and Gavril Church (Sf. Mihail si Gavril) - both of them from the XII-th century. The most important touristic and historical objectives of Roman are: The Armenian Church from the XVI-th century and The Viti Inn (from the XVIII-th century). Vaslui is known by the ruins of a fortress and Saint John the Baptist Church - from the XV-th century, by the mausoleum built in the memory of all the heroes who died during the War for Independence between 1877 and 1878. Focsani is situated near the well-known vineyards of Jaristea, Odobesti, and Costesti. Galati is an important fluvial and sea port, an industrial, trade and cultural centre, with the biggest shipyard and iron works in the country. Tecuci is situated near the famous vineyards of Nicoresti and Ivesti. Marasesti where were written many heroical pages during the First World War, remaining in our memory by the mausoleum from here and from Marasti, nearby. Bucovina, a historical region whose territory lies today over the area nearby Suceava, Campulung Moldovenesc and Radauti in Romania and Cernauti in Ucraina, together with the north of Moldova was also called string of monasteries founded by great Moldovian voivodes and boyers (The Musatins, Alexander the Good (Alexandru cel Bun), Stephen the Great (Stefan cel Mare), Petru Rares, Stephen (Stefan) Tomsa, Alexander (Alexandru) Lapusneanu, Movilesti family a.o.), each with its specific colour: Voronet (blue), Humor (red), Sucevita (green), Moldovita (yellow) and Arbore (combination of colours). All these monasteries, due to their outter paintings (fresco) were taken into evidence by UNESCO and have received in 1976 the "Pome d'or" prize of FIJET International Organization for their cultural - touristic value. Thought in other style, but not less valuable, there are also the Dragomirna (work of art of the fast and exotism of the Moldavian architecture, whose colour and light are as those at Saint Sophia in Bizant) and Putna (with one of the richest artistic treasures in Romania and in the world in gothic style, taken in UNESCO evidence) monasteries, or Bogdana Church in Radauti (the oldest in Moldova). In this area, there are Dorohoi and Botosani towns, known by the memorial houses and museums of the great musician George Enescu and national poet Mihai Eminescu (born in Ipotesti, near Botosani). The administrative centre of the area, Suceava, could be the starting point for visiting various touristic objectives as the memorial house at Stupca of the Romanian composer Ciprian Porumbescu, Vatra Dornei resort, the Rarau Mountains (with the unique reservation of limestones Pietrele Doameni) and the secular forest at Slatioara. Southward of the "Upper Country", near Targu Neamt town, there are some important touristic objectives: The "Neamtului" fortress, Ion Creanga national writer's house in Humulesti and Neamt, Sihastria, Varatec and Agapia monasteries (with some original mural paintings made by the famous painter Nicolae Grigorescu).