Romanian Easter Traditions

If there is one common thread that unites the people of Romania, it is their
religion. An estimated more than 85% of the country belong to the Romanian
Orthodox religion and this is easily seen when the whole nation comes together
for the celebration of the Easter holiday.

It is considered to be the most important religious day of the year, with

celebrations all over the country. Known as Paste in Romania, Easter is
celebrated according to the Julian calendar, which means that it often falls on a
different day than in Catholicism or other Christian faiths. Like many other
countries, Romania has its own set of Easter traditions that are easily noticeable
before and after the holiday.

Romanian Easter Traditions

Easter holiday is considered to be the most important religious day of the year, with celebrations all
over the country.

The Lent Fast

Because of the heavy religious significance of Easter, many Romanians choose
to take part in the Lent fast in the six weeks preceding the holiday. During this
time, many people choose to eat no meat and abstain from things like tobacco or
alcohol. Contrary to popular belief, Romanian Orthodox followers see this more
as a celebration or love of God rather than being a form of penitence. While not
everyone in the country follows a rigid adherence to this fast, most restaurants
will offer items that fit the fasting diet, usually being designated by the term de
post. This is also a helpful hint for vegetarian travelers who want to know what
they can eat on a restaurants menu.

Painted Eggs
Painted Eggs by photogirl7.1

While many countries involve painted eggs in their Easter rituals, the practice is
turned into an art form in Romania. The eggs are painted with very intricate
designs, including floral and geometrical motifs that are often representative of a
persons home town or region. Several museums in Romania have exhibitions of
the highest quality eggs, some of which are true works of art. For children in
Romania, the eggs have another purpose as well. A common game on Easter
Day is for the children to tap eggs with each other to see which one has the
strongest shell.

Taking the Light

Taking the light by gabig58

On the Saturday before Easter Sunday, there is a tradition in Romania that few
people miss each year. At precisely the hour of midnight, Romanians go to their
local church to take part in the annual Easter vigil. With each person holding an
unlit candle, the priest lights the first candle and everyone works together to
make sure that every candle is lit. This is seen as symbolizing the act of taking
the light from God and is an essential part of any Romanian Easter celebration.

CANTARAGIU CARINA

VII B

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