Traditions of Romania

In Romania, the winter feasts start on 24th

December and finish on 7th December. Their
central events occur during the Christmas
Days, New Year and Epiphany. The most
important feature of these feasts is their rich
repertoire of customs, traditions and beliefs.
Everything that happens over this period must
have an augural significance.
Children go from house to house singing
Christmas carols. The traditional gifts which
they naturally expect to receive include fruit,
nuts and knot-shaped bread.
• "Steaua" (The Star)
• Another interesting custom is the Star (Steaua). This is a large star made
of coloured glossy paper, lighted inside like a lantern, which school children,
in groups of three carry in the evening of Christmas from house to house,
singing: The Star is rising high / Like a hidden mistery/ The Star shines
brightly/ And to the world announces/ That today the pure/ The Immaculate
Virgin Mary/ Gives birth to Messiah/ In that famous city/ Known by the name
of Bethlehem.

•
• Sorcova"
• Another custom practiced by children individually on New Year's Day is the
"sorcova". This is a small branch or stick adorned with differently coloured
artificial flowers, called sorcova with which they touch rhythmically and
lightly their elders, while congratulating them on the occasion and wishing
them a long life and a Happy New Year: Sorcova, the merry sorcova/Long
may you live/Long may you flourish/ Like apple trees/ Like pear trees/ In
midsummer/ Like the rich autumn/ Overflowing with abundance/ Hard as
steel/ Fast as an arrow/ For many years to come/ Happy New Year!
• Carols form an important part of the Romanian folklore. Romanian carols
are not simple songs (a sort of invocation in verse sung by children and
lads, on the evening of Winters Holidays) with religions origin, but wide
windows through which we are allowed once in a year to go by the
immaculate snow-towards the evergreen Heaven and to eye-touch God at
least for an instant , in order to give us the power to surpass the life's
obstacles. Carols put people in the mood for a perfect communion with the
simple and healing greatness of Jesus' Birth.