Five Winter Traditions in Romania
Source: Pexels
We celebrate winter differently in each and every country, and I am sure that all of you love your traditions. In Romania, we get excited for everything: from preparing the delicious food, to welcoming the caroling crews, drinking hot chocolate at the winter markets and dancing at festivals.
So, in this article I invite you to discover five winter traditions in Romania that are as heartwarming as a hot cup of tea by the fireplace.
1. Colindători: caroling crews spreading the holiday magic
Jingle bells? Deck the halls? We have our own holiday songs in Romania, sang by our "colindători"! They are the festive carol singers who will come at your doorstep on December 24th (or earlier) and delight your day with beautiful songs.
Most of them are kids and they often get dressed in traditional costumes, their mission being to share the joy of the season, while, of course, expecting to receive some money or treats (fruits, cookies) in return. We have the same tradition on New Year’s Eve, when kids will sing “sorcova” and bless your new year by touching your head with a fancy decorated branch.
Here are some traditional Romanian carols:
- O, Brad Frumos (Oh, Christmas tree)
- Floribe Dalbe (The white flowers)
- M-o trimis mama la capre (My mom sent me to the goats)
- Mos Craciun cu plete dalbe (Santa Claus white's locks)
- Sus voi gazde, nu dormiti (Wake up, hosts)
2. Traditional dances
During the holiday season, you might be woken up with some strong, interesting noises from outside your window. If you dare to look outside, you will notice a crowd wearing masks and big, traditional costumes, aimed to “scare off the previous year”.
The most popular tradition of this type is called Plugusorul (The Small Plow), which is not a song, but mostly spoken.
3. Bear Dance Festival
Continuing the traditional dances mentioned above, I need to mention this one, which is a little bit wild, but a whole lot of fun. You will see this “Ursul” or “Bear Dance Festival” in Comănești. People dress up in bear costumes and dance their hearts out. The festival has roots in ancient rituals meant to scare off evil spirits and bring in a good harvest.
Source: Wikipedia
4. Winter Markets
If you've got a soft spot for twinkling lights, handmade ornaments, and delicious traditional treats, then Romania's winter markets are for you. Known as "Târguri de Crăciun," you will find these markets in most cities of Romania. In this blog article, you can see the schedule of the most famous winter markets.
Source: Pexels
5. Traditional holidays dishes
Winter in Romania isn't just about sights, dances and carols - it's about food too (or mostly about food). Almost all the food we’ve got for winter is comfort food: from "mămăligă" and "sarmale” to “cozonac” and “piftie”, you can read all about it here.
The best part? It's not just about the food; it's about sharing this delicious food with friends and family, creating beautiful moments together!
Source: Pexels
In a nutshell, Romania's winter traditions aren't just about festivities; they're about creating memories and embracing the season. So, whether you find yourself caroling with the colindători, dancing with bears, or indulging in traditional dishes at the markets, you are truly experiencing the Romanian holidays!
I am curious to learn about the traditions in your country as well! Tell me all about them by leaving a comment on this discussion topic.
Roxana, OLS Community Manager – Romania