Traditions That Remain Vibrant...Easter Eggs

Romanian Easter Eggs

Easter celebrations in the Romanian tradition is marked by sprucing up of the houses and farms, the special services in the Orthodox Churches but also a wide range of traditional Romanian rituals.

Hand Painted Bucovina Eggs

On the Romanian table an abundance of red eggs, sweet cakes and roast lamb are always present.

Roast Leg Of Lamb

The custom of coloring eggs is fortunately still practiced, especially by the Romanians in various styles and colors according to the traditions of each region or village.

Egg Painting Tradition

Maramures Red Easter Eggs

In Maramures area, Lapus region in the morning, the first day of Easter, children (up to age 9) go to friends and neighbors to announce the Resurrection.

Easter Feast

The host gives each child a red egg. 

Upon leaving, the children thank the folks for the gift and wish them blessed Easter celebration.

Tradition Of Knocking Eggs
An ancient ritual is that the threshold must be passed first by a boy so the household will be
blessed with harmony the rest of the year.

Bucovina Boy

On the morning of first day of Easter, children wash their faces with fresh well water in which is placed a red egg and green blades of grass.

Traditional Egg Painting

                         Hristos A Inviat!    Christ Is Risen!

St.Ilie The Stormy Saint

July 20...a candle is sending holy light for my father's soul...it is St.Ilie, his name day, celebrated in the Orthodox traditions in Romania.

St. Elijah Fresco

Folk traditions associate this saint with the rain, he is patron of the clouds, lightning and thunder, he travels in a chariot with winged horses.

Traditions continue after the passing of our loved ones, they keep them with us during our journey among the living.

Icon of St. Elijah on Glass

I remember hot summer July days in Moldova, Bucovina roaming the region's hills for ancient painted monasteries and their feasts.

Now, in the villages, beekeepers harvest honey from their hives. Harvesting honey is made only by men clean in body and soul, dressed in holiday clothes, helped by a child, women are not allowed to enter the apiary. 

Country Beehives

Sweet Honey

Beehives Fresco

After harvesting the honey, the families, along with relatives and neighbors are invited to a festive meal, the guests taste and celebrate with new honey, and palinca, a plum spirit sweetened with honey. 

The women get the ovens hot to bake the savory pies and tarts.

Getting the oven ready

Transylvanian Traditional Foods

The meal is meant to ensure the abundance of beekeeper's hives, healthy bees and as every celebration it turns into a real party with song and dance.

Savory Pie

Fresh Romanian Cheese

Fresh Goat Milk and Savory Tarts

In my father's honor I painted my interpretation of St.Ilie, roaming the skies, snapping his whips as thunder and bringing rain clouds over the crops.

Memory Eternal Tati!

St.Ilie Painting on Gold Leaf

A Star......A Holy Star.....A Herald Of The Birth Of Our Lord

Star Carolers

Starting on Christmas Day, the village children begin caroling with The Star... a richly decorated hand made banner to let the world know A Child Is Born!

Bucovina Star Carolers

Tradition dictates it continues for days until January 6 the day of The Epiphany.
The Star of Bethlehem only appears in the Nativity story of the Gospel of Matthew.

Old Bucharest Star Carolers

The rituals are inspired by the star that guided the three wise men to the manger where they announced the birth of Jesus, worshiped Him and gave Him gifts. Many Christians see the star as a miraculous sign to mark the blessed event.

Suceava Carolers

Songs about the Star have transcended through time from different sources, some from the Orthodox Byzantine Church, some from the Latin Catholic Church literature, some from the Calvinist rite and many from the local folk traditions.

Moldova Star Carolers

Folk Group Paunita

Small choral groups of stellar carolers visit the homes of the neighbors during the days of Christmas, singing religious songs about the birth of Jesus..."Star Above is Shining", " In the town of Bethlehem" or "Three Magi from the East" and joyfully blessing them and their kin.

Maramures Sledding  

At the end of the day there is always time for some winter fun....

Celebrate! Celebrate on December 6 St. Nicholas... Protector of Children and Sailors

 

Romanian Icon Painted on Glass

Each visit to Bucharest I find myself standing in front of magnificent structures nestled in unexpected corners of the vibrant city. This time two churches come to mind that bear the St. Nicholas name…different in architecture and existence.

St. Nicholas Russian Church, Bucharest Romania

One Russian, located in central Bucharest, by University Square also known as “Students Church”, built in 1905 with funds from Emperor Nicholas II.

Biserica Kretzulescu, Bucharest

Kretzulescu Church Interior, Bucharest

The other, Kretzulescu Church in Romanian Renaissance Brancovenesque Architecture, built in 1720, witness to three centuries of Romanian history including the 1989 Revolution when it protected the revolutionaries fighting against Communism.

Several bullet holes are marking the façade with the eternal memory of the sacrifice.

Corneliu Coposu Bust Sculpture by Romanian Sculptor Mihai Buculei

As Orthodox Christians we venerate St. Nicholas on this day of December 6, each year with love, joy and ancient rituals.

St. Nicholas With His White Horse

In Romanian traditions, St. Nicholas at times appears with a white horse, symbolizing the first snow falling in December and is admired and venerated for his many miracles…. guards the sun who tries to flee past him to the realms of the north and leave the world without light and heat, stomps the devil, controls the waters as the patron of sailors saving them from drowning, protects soldiers in war, so they call upon him during battles, helps widows, orphans and poor girls without dowry who want to marry.

Orthodox Icon of St. Nicholas The Wonderworker

 The Miracles of Saint Nicholas are many and well known, that is why he was chosen as the protector of children, and sailors, the bakers, the victims of the injustice of the judiciary system.

St. Nicholas Icon Sailor Miracle Saviour

Fra Angelico St. Nicholas Painting

The night before December 6, children in Romania set their shoes and boots by the door, shined and cleaned waiting for the visit of St. Nicholas during the night…if they were good, the shoes would be filled with gifts the next morning.

Apple Branches

Some may also find a small twig from an apple tree, a more physical reminder to be good. The branches are set in water afterwards to blossom in the warmth of the home, symbol of forgiveness and love.

Traditional Romanian Table Setting

The families throughout Romania, gather on this day to celebrate with traditional meals.

Traditional Paltinis, Sibiu Appetizer Platter

Wild Mushroom Soup

 The family feast includes traditional Romanian dishes, spirits and wine with regional specific ingredients and flavors.

Grilled Meat and Polenta Bulz

Ardeal Bread

Palinca Distillery Production

I learned the tradition of plum brandy production of tuica, palinca as it is called in other regions of Romania from my Transylvanian grandfather Ilie, in Saliste, Sibiu.

The art of spirit making has been cherished and improved from generation to generation. 

Plum Palinca Camara Zanelor

                      Camara Zanelor Palinca Oas, Romania

Bucovina Pastry

Transylvanian Side of Pork Roasted on The Open Fire

Tochitura Polenta and Egg

Traditional Transylvanian Foods
Pofta Buna!

Traditions...Easter in Romania

Easter Procession Bucovina

Romania, a country that celebrates life through food and wine, has quite the repertoire of Easter traditions and fare.

 

Romania Nuns

Good Saturday for the Orthodox Christians is a day of prayer, meditation and introspection reflecting the time that Christ’s body was in the tomb in silence and darkness and preparation for the midnight Sunday Paschal Liturgy, the new beginning, resurrection and the eternal life.

Icon of the Resurrection

An icon of the Resurrection depicts the belief that while in the tomb Christ went into the depths of hell and brought up to the light of heaven Adam and Eve as well as Old Testament fathers.

Moldova Easter Eggs

Legends and traditions transcend time and vary in each main territories of Romania. One of the oldest is the painting and sacred symbolism of Easter Eggs.

Hand Painted Easter Eggs

The egg, symbol of creation, renewal, purity and eternal life is painted red in most areas.

The belief is that when the Mother of God came to the cross to mourn her crucified son, she laid her basket of fresh eggs at the base of the cross to pray, the eggs turned red from the blood of Christ that was dripping from His wounds.

Decorations on the Easter eggs vary by region and folk traditions mostly ancient geometrical symbols and rich colors.

In Moldova, monasteries create glorious designs such as Sucevita and Moldovita Monasteries as well as the Neamt region including beaded eggs.

In Transylvania, Sibiu and its environs hollowed painted eggs are hung in trees in the front yards.

With celebration of Easter, Romanians celebrate food and wine as well.

Lemon Basted Lamb Chops

Pascha with Cheese

Lamb in Wine Sauce and Rosemary 

Pascha with Cheese and Raisins

Drob Pie

What is also indicative of the rebirth is the tradition after church of the families gathering with their loved ones for Paschal feasts that include Spring lamb, eggs, sour soups, green garlic, traditional pastries and wine from the regional vineyards.

Midnight hour is approaching, preparing for the Nocturne Procession....Victory of Life...Resurrection!

Christ is Risen!  Indeed He is Risen!

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