Today Romanians celebrate 90 years of national unity. All nations have a national holiday – the American “Independence Day” is no longer a secret for the world. Romanians celebrate their Union Day as a National Holiday.

December 1st, 1918 – the National Assembly of all Romanians in Transylvania, Banat and the Hungarian Country convened in Alba Iulia and decreed, by unanimous vote, the union of Transylvania with the Romanian Kingdom

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The National Assembly of all Romanians in Transylvania, Banat and the Hungarian Country, gathered by its rightful representatives at Alba-Iulia on the 18th of November/1st of December, decrees the unification of those Romanians and of all the territories inhabited by them with Romania. The National Assembly proclaims above all the inalienable right of the Romanian nation to the whole Banat bordered by the Mures and Tisa rivers and the Danube.

Back in 1918 the Romanian Kingdom was formed of Moldavia and Wallachia. Other Romanian provinces were under either Hungarian or Ottoman occupation. December 1st celebrates today not only the union between Transylvania and the Romanian Kingdom, but also the union of the provinces of Banat, Bessarabia and Bukovina with the two. Moldavia and Wallachia united in 1859 and formed the “United Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia.” The first ruler of the young kingdom was prince Alexander John Cuza.

To understand the importance of the Union Day in the history of the Romanians one has to understand their heritage and their history. Looking back at the borders of Dacia during Burebista and the union of the Romanian principalities under Michael the Brave in 1600 it is easy to understand that the unification of all Romanian provinces into a big state was a national ideal after the WWI.

It is pointless to make a trip down history lane when there are already so many resources waiting for those who are interested in a short history lesson. Yet I cannot end this entry without scribbling my feelings…

La Multi Ani, Romania! I am proud to be Your daughter. I miss you and I know where my home really is. I miss You and Your people, Your mountains and Your wild rivers, the Delta (my paradise) and the Black Sea…I miss Bucharest, my little Paris (I was born there) and Transylvania. I miss You, Romania! I’ll always be Your daughter, I’ll never give up my identity. So, once again: La Multi Ani, Romania! May God bless You!

Union Day – Romania’s National Holiday is a post from: Rounite

15 August is commemorating the death of Virgin Mary, Mother of Christ in the Orthodox Church, and it’s the Assumption of Virgin Mary in the Catholic theology. It’s not a public holiday in Romania, not in the sense that all offices close and people celebrate with their families, but it is, nevertheless, an important mark in our calendars. For the children of the sea this day brings another event in the spot lights: the Marine Day and this is what I am going to write about today.

Virgin Mary is also the spiritual protector of the Navy, so August 15 was naturally chosen as the Day of the Navy or the Marine Day. It was first celebrated onboard of Elisabeth cruiser by all the Sea Division officers August 15, 1902.

There’s not much information available about the history of the event. We do know that the first festivities took place in 1902 and that the celebration became more and more popular as time went by.

In 1925 the sailors onboard of vessel Mircea – now the school vessel of the Romanian Military Maritime Academy of Constanta – celebrated the Navy Day in harbor Cuda of Crete.

In 1928 the festivities had special guests: Polish sailors from the vessel Lwow. It was the first time when a foreign crew participated in this national event. New sailor games were added, some with amusing names like The Black Sea Whale, The Old Man’s Fleet, etc.

1933 added to the program various contests (boating, swimming, swimming horses, etc) and fun activities (like ducks chasing). Basically each year brought something new and fresh in the program. Theatrical representations were included after the World War II, in 1956, when actors from the Naval Academy put in stage comedy sketches like “The Wedding Attacked by Pirates.” Neptune himself joins the festivities in his boat-chariot in 1958 and he never left them ever since.

Many things have changed since 1958: the celebration became richer, new games were added and new traditions emerged. The most spectacular part of the event takes place in front of the Casino in Constanta, which is situated in the immediate vicinity of the harbor.

If you visit Romania in August and you happen to be at the Black Sea shore on the 15^th, you will probably watch in wonder the military parades, the fireworks and the sea games. Neptune riding the waves on the back of a whale is not a daily occurrence – it happens just once a year, on August 15.

Each year a flower anchor is thrown into the sea in memory of the heroic sailors who died in battle protecting Romania. Each year on August 15 the National Hymn resounds at the shore followed by 21 artillery salvos.

Games and challenges complete the naval and air parades. The festivities continue till late at night with music, dance and fireworks. The Constanta Harbor (or Tomis Harbor) becomes the main attraction of the season on this day, despite the fact that similar festivities are organized in other harbors as well for example Mangalia, Tulcea, Orsova and Galati.

This year however, the celebration in Galati will only feature military and religious ceremonies, as all civilian entertainment has been cancelled at the initiative of major Dumitru Nicolae who decided to use the funds to help the victims of the floods that took place in the north of the country.

From Religious Celebration to Marine Feast is a post from: Rounite

Happy Easter! Christ is risen!

I am taking a short moment tonight to wish you all Happy Easter and a blessed year – blessed by the Holy Light of the One Who defied Death tonight. In the morning say a little prayer of joy…

God, make me myrtle and burn me on your altars!

Drink a sip of holy water and taste the body of Christ. Keep your candles burning and let the light shine in your hearts, purifying your souls, lighting the path for a better future, for peace and prosperity for us all.

The Resurrection Mass in Orthodox countries has its most amazing moment at midnight, when the streets are flooded with light: a sea of holy light. People walk home with lit candles, hoping to preserve that light till they arrive home, for the light brings peace, health and prosperity the whole year. Superstitions say that if the light goes off, bad luck will follow.

Images like this are rare, and yet… the more you behold them, the more that you see: power and unity embraced by the Holy Spirit. Today…

Christ is risen!

Repeat after me: Christ is risen! Hristos a inviat!

Now take some time to think what this means: He kept His promise. Our sins are forgiven. The Father, in His holy goodness sacrificed His own son for our redemption. We celebrate life. It’s time for new beginnings.

Happy Easter! Paste fericit!

Christ is risen! Hristos a inviat!

He is truly risen! Adevarat a inviat!

Blessed By the Light is a post from: Rounite