Romania was originally a Roman province that was later conquered by various groups. It emerged as two principalities in the 13th century under the Turkish Empire and later joined together in 1861. After World War I, Romania gained new territories and became a parliamentary democracy, though fascism led to a dictatorship in the 1940s. Following World War II, Romania became a communist state until the 1989 revolution established democracy. Romania now aims to join the European Union and celebrates Orthodox Christian holidays with traditions like painted Easter eggs.

1. ROMANIA

2. The name of Romania (România)
comes from Român (Romanian)
which is a derivative of the word
Romanus (“Roman") from Latin.

3. Brief Historical Overview
● Originally a Roman province, the area was conquered from the 3rd to
the 12th century by a succession of invaders, including Goths, Huns, Magyars,
and Mongols.
● Romania is an Eastern Orthodox country.
● In the 13th century two principalities, Moldavia and Walachia, emerged, becoming vassal states within
the Turkish Empire and eventually Russian protectorates. They were united in 1861. Romania becomes
fully independent in 1878 and in 1881 it becomes the Kingdom of Romania.
● After the defeat of Austria-Hungary in World War I, the region of Transilvania is added to Romania, as
is the Russian region of Basarabia. Romania becomes a parliamentary democracy. The rise of fascism in
the 1930s led to the overthrow of the monarchy and the establishment of a dictatorship in 1940.
● Following Romania's surrender to the USSR during World War II, the country was declared (1947) a
communist republic, which was overthrown in 1989 with army-supported countrywide revolts.
● During December, 1989, the Revolution that successfully overthrew Communism took place. The
country held its first democratic elections in 1990 and adopted a new constitution in 1991. In spring
2004, Romania joined NATO. Romania’s present main goal is its accession to the European Union (EU).

4. Holydays and Traditions
Traditional Christmas Greeting:
"Sarbatori Fericite“ (Happy Holiday!)
Capra The “Goat” is actually a usually boisterous young
person dressed up in a goat costume The whole group
dances through the streets and from door to door,
often with flute music.
The leader carries a large wooden star called "steaua“ (the
star), which is covered with shiny paper and decorated
with bells and colored ribbon.

6. Holydays and Traditions
A picture of the Holy Family is
pasted in the star's center,
and the entire creation is
attached to a broomstick or stout
pole.

7. Holydays and Traditions
Plugusorul is a small plough. In
Romanian folklore is a
traditional procession with a
decorated plough, on New
Years' Eve

8. Holydays and Traditions EASTER
Easter is the most important event in the Orthodox Christian calendar.
• Traditionally, celebrations in Romania begin on the Saturday evening.
Dressed in all their
finest clothes and holding candles, people gather round the churches. At the
Easter
Resurrection Mass (Slujba de Inviere) just before midnight, the priest
comes out to give a
blessing, distribute holy bread and provide the flame from which everyone
will light their
candles. Suddenly the darkness is lit up and thousands of candles take to
the streets.

10. EASTER
Everyone tries to keep the flame alive until they arrive
home. There, around the table, thefamily comes together for
a special Easter meal. Roast lamb and home-made cozonac
(sponge
cake with nuts and poppy seeds) are the traditional dishes.
The craftsmanship of dyeing the eggs at Easter is an ancient
tradition with Romanians. The belief that eggs represent the
source of life led to the relation of eggs to the rites of the
revival of nature, and eventually Easter. Romanians
traditionally painted Easter eggs red and they decorated
them ornately.

12. National Day
The National Day of Romania or Union Day (Ziua Unirii)
occurring on December 1, is the
national holyday of Romania. This holiday was set after the
1989 Romanian Revolution and it
marks the 1918 unification of the Romanian Kingdom with
Transilvania, Basarabia,
Bucovina.
• Folk Costumes – old peasants house

13. Folk Costumes old peasants house

14. Travel Tips : Romania's Attractions
Bucharest Romania's capital and
one of the most chaotic cities in
the world, Bucharest was a
beauty in the 30's

15. Travel Tips : Romania's Attractions
Brasov is a medieval town
established by the Saxons. It is
surrounded by mountains
and it's one of the most visited
places in Romania.

16. Travel Tips : Romania's Attractions
Sighisoara is one of the world's
best preserved medieval towns.

17. Travel Tips : Romania's Attractions
Constanta Romania's second largest
city; the oldest Romanian city.

18. Romania's Attractions
Black Sea Cost A bit more than 250 km long, the Romanian Black sea coast
starts at the
Danube's Chilia brace and ends at Vama Veche, near the Bulgarian border.
• The Carpathians Mountains offer skiing opportunities (some of the
cheapest in Europe
• Delta Danube
• Monasteries Bucovina‘s painted monasteries are
considered to be a world heritage and they are
one of the most impressive works of art.

20. Food & Wine
The main ingredients used by Romanian chefs are meats such as pork, beef and lamb, fish,
vegetables, dairy products and fruit. A traditional Romanian meal may include:
Appetizer
All kinds of cheeses, cold cuts and vegetable spreads.
Soup
• Ciorba de perisoare (meatball soup), ciorba taraneasca (vegetable soup, with or without
meat), ciorba de burta (tripe soup).
Fish
Saramura (grilled carp in brine), nisetru la gratar (grilled Black Sea sturgeon) or scrumbie
la gratar (grilled herring).

21. Food & Wine
Tocanita or tochitura (meat stew seasoned with onions and/ or spices), ghiveci (over 20
vegetables cooked in oil), sarmale (pickled cabbage leaves stuffed with a mix of minced
meats, rice and spices) and mititei (The "Wee Ones" - small skinless grilled sausages)
are among the favorites.
• Dessert
Papanasi (cottage cheese donuts, topped with sour cream and fruit preserve), clatite cu
branza (crepes filled with cottage cheese, raisins and spices) and cozonac (traditional
holiday
sweet bread filled with walnuts, poppy seeds or cream cheese).
A traditional drink enjoyed with appetizers is tuica (a potent plum brandy)
which varies in strength, dryness and bouquet according to the production area. Entree

22. Language
Here are some useful phrases.
• Good morning Buna dimineata!
• Good afternoon Buna ziua!
• Hello Salut!
Buna!
• Thank you Multumesc!
• Goodbye La revedere!
• Excuse me/I'm sorry Imi pare rau/
Scuza-ma!
• Yes Da