Romania Simply Surprising
Yesterday, in my post about Lazarus’ Saturday (April 11, 2009) I mentioned a special dish, used to celebrate the dead: coliva. Coliva is the Romanian translation of the Greek κόλλυβα (kólliva) and it describes a sweet pudding made of boiled wheat. This “desert” is used liturgically in both Eastern Orthodox and Greek-Catholic churches. Romania and [...]
Easter is the most important Romanian holiday in the Orthodox calendar. I already covered a few traditions last year – and starting today I will write a series of articles that will present even more traditions, itineraries for those who would like to spend Easter in Romania this year, food recipes and more. Last year [...]
It’s the Thursday before Easter, also known as the Great Thursday or the Thursday of Sufferings (known in English as the Maundy Thursday, Holy Thursday or even Sheer Thursday) when the orthodox-Christians from Romania celebrate four events: the washing of the Disciples’ feet, the Holy Eucharist and the Last Supper, Christ praying in the Garden [...]
One of the most beautiful Easter traditions is the “Florii” – the Palm Sunday (Duminica Floriilor) – which is the Sunday before Easter (Sunday the 20th April this year). The holiday has roots before Christianity, in the pagan rituals of Floralia (dedicated to goddess Flora, the goddess of flowers). The Roman festival of Floralia is [...]
Many people think of Romania as a Eastern-European country – as it was, once, part of the Soviet block. But Romania’s Transylvania is in Central Europe, and as such, you can expect many similarities with other Central European countries. In cities like Sibiu, Arad, Timisoara, Sighisoara the German influence is strong – and it can [...]
The Living Fires of Lopătari, Buzău are among the most mysterious, and unusual, phenomena you may find in nature, on a hiking path, within your reach. That’s if you know where to look. Romania was blessed with a few such miracles, places that could become its landmark tourist attractions, yet few is known about them. [...]
The True Path to the Romanian Spirit Romania: ancient battlefield where proud Middle-Ages empires … [Read More...]