CULTURAL

TRADITIONS
AND
SUPERSTITIONS
IN ROMANIA
 Romanians love their traditions

With many going back to pre-Christian times, these ancient rites are
performed either individually, or are designed as a event for the
whole community to take part in.

Reinterpreted in modern times, many of these traditions are so

bizarre and funny that only Romanian people can understand them.
13 Traditions
13 Traditions Only
Only
Romanian
Romanian People
People
Understand
Understand
Martisor
Martisor
 On the 1st of March, to mark the arrival of spring,
Romanian women receive, either from men, or from their
girlfriends, a small jewel-like ornament tied with a red
and white string with hanging tassels. Worn pinned to
clothes, on the left, in front of one’s heart, it is
usually handmade, but can also be made of out of gold or
silver. Central to the age-old custom, is the combination
of red and white in the same string, which represents the
duality of life and death.
Dragobetele
Dragobetele
 Seen as the Romanian version of Valentine’s Day, Dragobete is
celebrated on February 24th. Dragobete, personified as a young
handsome man, is the protector of lovers in Romanian folk
culture. Around that day, which represents the end of winter, it is
believed that birds find their mate and start building nests
together. Traditionally, young men and women would pick flowers
together in the woods, and upon returning, women would allow
the man they fancied to steal a kiss.
Babele
Babele
 Translated as “the old women”, this custom
celebrates the beginning of spring. Men and
women, pick any day, from the 1st to the 9th March,
as the day that will reveal what the year ahead will
bring. Depending on the day’s weather, the future
will either be as bright and shiny as a sunny day, or
less so, if the day is cloudy or rainy.
The legend behind the custom says
that an old woman called Dochia,
wanting to punish her only son,
Dragobete, for marrying without
her permission, set her daughter-in-
law a hard test. Despite the very
cold weather, she sent the young
wife to the river with a black ball of
thread, with the task to wash it in
its icy waters until it becomes
white. Despite her efforts, as the
ball would not change color and
she started to weep. Seeing her
suffering, a young man (who in
some versions is Jesus) offered her
a red flower to wash the thread
with. It worked and the thread
became white, she returned home,
and Dochia, amazed to hear that
outside flowers are already
blossoming, thinks that spring has
arrived already. 
 HASTILY, SHE STARTS
WALKING IN THE
MOUNTAINS AND, UNDER
THE HOT SUN RAYS,
STARTS THROWING, ONE
BY ONE, ALL OF HER NINE
WOOLLEN COATS. BUT, AS
SHE REACHES THE TOP,
SHE GETS HIT BY A HEAVY
BLIZZARD AND, WITH NO
COAT LEFT, FREEZES
INSTANTLY. THAT IS WHY,
IT IS COMMON TO SAY,
WHEN COMMENTING ON
THE RAPIDLY CHANGING
EARLY MARCH WEATHER,
THAT “DOCHIA MUST
HAVE THROWN ONE OF
HER COATS!”
Sânzienele
Sânzienele are celebrated on June 24th and mark the summer
solstice. In Romanian folk culture, Sânzienele are good fairies,
and the holiday is held in their honor. This tradition involves
young women, who dress in long white dresses and wear
beautiful crowns made of wild flowers and wheat ears in their
hair. The central point of the ritual is their dance, who usually
takes place in the evening, around a bonfire. It is believed that
on this special night, the skies open up and magic things can
happen to anyone who believes in it. Love spells, in particular,
are at their most powerful this night.
Easter Eggs
Easter Eggs
competitions
competitions
Painted eggs are one of the main symbols of the Orthodox
Easter in Romania. The colors and symbols used to decorate
the eggs vary according to the region, usually three-four colors
are used, each with its own meaning. Red symbolizes love and
solar light, black is the eternity, yellow is about youth and rich
crops while green relates to nature and blue to health and
sunny skies. These colored eggs are also at the heart of a fun
competition that lasts the three days of Easter. All you need is
a solid egg you’ll knock with the eggs of your friends and family
each time one of them says ‘Hristos a inviat’.
Kidnapping
Kidnapping the
the bride
bride
If you’ve ever seen in Romania a random
bride on the streets or in a club without
a wedding party nearby, it’s not because
she ran away. Far from it. She was in
fact ‘kidnapped’ by some of her friends
who will take her back to the party and
her husband only in exchange for a
symbolic ransom.
 The
The fights
fights
from  Ruginoasa
from  Ruginoasa 
 In Ruginoasa, there is a tradition for the New Year
where there are 2 teams based of young people, in
particular boys. It's basically a fight that is on mutual
agreement.

Each person who takes part of this holds a

weapon, most often made of wood. Thay wear on their
heads a "protective" mask that should protect them
from the hits, but, most of the time, those who take
part in this action get to the hospital with serious
injuries.
https://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/actualitate/tradic-ion
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Christmas
Christmas in
in
Romania
Romania
 Caroling in Romania
In Romania children and adults alike go caroling on Christmas Eve.
Actually, in Bucharest and in other big cities they start long before
that, as they try to go to as many houses as possible. If you live in
a block of flats, chances are carolers have already visited
you. Carolers usually expect small food and beverage goodies, such
as fruits, nuts, cookies, or glasses of wine for adult carolers, in
exchange for their performances. Nowadays, people also give
money, the amount depending on the number of people in the group
of carolers.
Traditionally, carolers have bells, whips, and drums and make noise
to dispel the evil spirits. Some of them also wear costumes and
masks symbolizing diverse animals such as bears, goats, and
horses, which represent the evil forces. 
 TRADITIONAL FOOD
 I don’t make a mistake when I say on Christmas every Romanian family have on
their table sarmale, caltabosi, carnati and toba. All of them being part of the
traditional Christmas food in Romania. Romanian Christmas food generally use pork
(except Advent food). Pork meat, animal’s organs, fat and blood. Everything swine
has inside is used. Some of them are used for Christmas holidays, others are
prepared to be eaten later, till in spring.
 All this food has a lot of fat. Then how can we be well and healthy? Simple. Near all
these types of food we drink wine. Red wine. We also drink tuica (plum brandy) as
appetizer and we eat a lot of garlic and onion.
 Main dishes
sarmale – cabbage rolls with pork
baked gammon
baked pork chops
breaded pork chops
baked pork backhead
pork schnitzel
meatballs
pork’s alms
grilled carp
vegetable hodgepodge
THE END