Radio România Internațional

Tag: Christmas

December 25, 2020

Christmas. Christmas is being celebrated in the
Christian world, including majority-Orthodox Romania, a holiday marking the
birth of Jesus. In these times of pandemic, we must show solidarity and support
those in need, urged the head of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Daniel
in his Christmas message. He said that as it struggles with the novel coronavirus,
mankind is going through difficult times, with people’s health and lives in
danger. The patriarch urged people to pray more and show solidarity. At the
Vatican, the Christmas mass is held amid restrictions, as Italy imposes
four-day red zone measures around the country. For the first time, the
Christmas message and the Urbi et Orbi blessing are delivered by the pope from
the Hall of Blessings in the Apostolic Palace instead of from the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica in front of thousands of faithful.
The Vatican is trying to shield 84-year-old Pope Francis as two cardinals in
his entourage tested positive for
coronavirus in recent days.

Vaccine. Romania saw more than 3,800 new coronavirus cases and 111 new related
deaths on Friday. The total number of infections now passes 612,000 and the
death toll is in excess of 15,000. 1,233 Covid patients are in intensive care. Nearly
85% of the people infected since the start of the outbreak have recovered. The first batch of 10,000 dozes of
anti-Covid vaccine arrived in Romania today, with the immunisation of
the staff working in Romania’s ten Covid care hospitals to begin on Sunday. The
College of Physicians has advised the population to agree to vaccination, which
it sees as the best solution to fight the virus at the moment. After a meeting
with the pandemic task force, president Klaus Iohannis said no further
restrictions would be introduced for the Christmas holidays and called on
people to respect those in force. Prime minister Florin
Cîţu emphasised said this period can be overcome by showing solidarity.

Coronavirus world. Globally, there are over 79.8
million confirmed coronavirus cases and some 1.7 million related fatalities.
The United States hit 19 million cases and its death toll is nearing 340,000. In
Europe, many countries have imposed restrictions for the winter holidays.
Germany has limited private gatherings to family members until Saturday, and The
Netherlands is in lockdown until mid January. Italy has extended harsher
red-zone measures to the entire country. In the UK, the discovery of a new
variant of the virus has left the country isolated, with tens of countries
closing their borders to arrivals from the UK.

Brexit. EU ambassadors are attending a briefing on Christmas
day to start assessing the post-Brexit trade deal agreed by the European Union
and the UK. The EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier is briefing diplomats on the
content of the deal reached after months of talks. The most contentious point was the access of EU fishing boats to UK waters. The European
Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said this is a fair and balanced
deal, while British prime minister Boris Johnson described it as a good deal
for the whole of Europe. The UK officially left the European Union at the end
of January 2020, but remained a member of the EU single market and customs
union until the transition period expired at the end of the year. A no-deal
Brexit would have led to high customs duties and other trade barriers with a
strong negative impact on the economy and the distribution networks. (CM)

25 December 2020
Recommendations before Christmas

There is little time left until Christmas and New Year’s Eve, so Bucharest authorities have urged the population to strictly observe the anti-Covid-19 measures in place, to make sure the spread of the coronavirus does not surge after the holidays. In an interview, the head of the Department for Emergency Situations, Raed Arafat, has stated that people should not welcome visitors during the holidays, not even family members that do not normally live with them. If, however, this cannot be avoided, everybody should wear a protective mask, except, of course, for the time when people are eating. When this happens, the safe distance must be observed, and the room should be well aired, even if it’s cold outside.

If the measures are not observed, Arafat has stressed, the number of infections will rise after the holidays, which in turn will mean a larger number of people needing hospitalisation and intensive care. As regards the new variant of Sars-Cov-2, Raed Arafat has stated that it does not make the illness more severe, it just spreads faster and therefore can lead to a larger number of infected people, translating into a more severe impact on the health-care system.

In the meantime, before the first doses of vaccine arrive, antigen rapid tests are being distributed across the country. Most Romanians are worried (47%) or extremely worried (17%) about the evolution of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, they do not seem extremely eager to get vaccinated. Only 30% say that they will get the jab next year, during the national campaign which, in the first stage, will target the staff in the hospitals where Covid-19 patients are being treated. 29% of the Romanians refuse vaccination, 29% are undecided and 10% cannot say anything about that.

According to a survey conducted by Avangarde over December 10-20, on a sample of 900 respondents, with a margin of error of 3.2%, 51 out of 100 interviewed people say that politicians and the state institutions are to blame for the large number of Covid-19 cases. 70% of the respondents would not agree with a general lockdown, and only 16% would approve it. Also, 72% of the respondents believe that churches should not be closed at Christmas, as it happened in spring, for the Easter holidays. (M. Ignatescu)

23 December 2020
‘The Christmas Gift’ singled out for the Oscars

Director Bogdan Mureșanus film ‘The Christmas Gift has been short-listed for the Oscar 2020 Awards. At present, only 10 of the 191 registered shorts have been left in the competition. The final list with 5 nominations will be announced on January 13, 2020, following the votes cast by the members of the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences specialized in short films.

In early December, Bogdan Mureșanus film ‘The Christmas Gift received a prize from the European Film Academy – EFA. His movie has actually won many international prizes among which the Grand Prize of the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, the prize of the Days of Romanian film at the Transylvania International Film Festival TIFF, the Grand Prize of the short film contest of the Cottbus Film Festival and a special mention at the Montpellier Festival.

The films action is set on the evening of December 20, 1989 and the plot starts from the letter a small boy wrote to Santa Claus, in which he reveals what his parents wish for Christmas. His father discovers, horrified, that his son had written in the letter that his fathers wish was to see Ceausescu dead. One of Bogdan Mureșanus intentions was to turn the film ‘The Christmas Gift into a black comedy:

Bogdan Mureșanu: “I strained myself trying to achieve that, trying to turn the story into a black comedy. It seems that I managed to do that. Because my film was selected for many festivals of the world and I noticed that, in spite of cultural differences, people are quite amused when watching the film. At first I was really astonished to see that those people did understand the nuances of the dialogue. When I was editing the film, I was afraid that viewers from other countries might not grasp all the hints and allusions in the film. I thought they might find it difficult to understand who uncle Nicu was, how one could be afraid of ones own neighbor, how one could suspect ones spouse, and so on. I was afraid the film would be understood only by viewers from the eastern countries, who had that experience first hand. I was happy to see that the film was selected at a number of festivals, that the message of the film was grasped by the members of the jury. And I was happy to see that what I perceived as local language proved to be universal language.

Bogdan Mureșanu confessed that the film was a Christmas present that he received earlier. At the awards gala in Berlin, when he was awarded the prize of the European Film Academy, he said his real joy was to be together with some of the people he loved and admired.

Set up in 1988, the European Film Academy gathers more than 3,600 professionals form the filmmaking industry and its aims is to promote the European film. The EFA awards galas are held every 2 years in Germanys capital, and, in the other years, in various European cities. The winners are designated following the vote of the more than 3,600 members of the European Film Academy. Here is Bogdan Mureșanu with impressions on the prize his film received:

Bogdan Mureșanu: “It is an honor for me, because the EFA is made up of professionals who watch lots of movies and who are up to date with the latest films. I know many of these professionals, directors, actors, screenwriters, and I was aware of their impressions about the film. At the awards gala, I shook hands with Wim Wenders, a director whom I admire a lot and who told me he liked the film. I also talked to another cinema star, Werner Herzog, so, for me the awards gala was something magical.

Next Bogdan Mureșanu spoke about the feedback his film received:

Bogdan Mureșanu: “As I have already said, I first thought that the film would resonate with the people in the eastern bloc, and I did not expect that the movie would be so much appreciated. This means that there is something universal about this story, it is not just something local. People have identified in the film aspects that go beyond that historical moment of December 1989. I was happy to see that the film was well received in America too. You can never anticipate such things.

The cast of ‘The Christmas gift includes Andrei Văncică, Ioana Flora and the child Luca Toma.

(translated by: Lacramioara Simion)

29 December 2019
December 26, 2019 UPDATE

CHRISTMAS – Orthodox Christians on Thursday, on the
second day of Christmas, celebrated the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. This
old and important feast day is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, who brought Jesus
Christ into the world, and was first celebrated 1,500 years ago. Christians in
Romania have celebrated the Nativity of Jesus Christ this week.

STATISTICS – Over 2 million foreigners visited
Romania in the first 9 months of the year, spending some 1.15 billion euros,
according to the National Statistics Institute. Half of them traveled for
business, taking part in conferences, congresses, classes, trade fairs and
exhibitions. Foreign tourists spend 50% of their money on accommodation,
preferring units that offered included breakfast. Some 18% of the money was
spent in restaurants and bars, while a little over 30% represented gifts and
souvenirs. 80% of foreign tourists came to Romania by plane, 11% using their personal
cars and 7% by bus and coach.

MIGRANTS – The number of migrants who reached Italy in 2019 was
half compared to 2018, the Italian Interior Ministry reports. Compared to 2017,
the number of immigrants dropped by some 90%. Since the start of 2019, some
11,500 immigrants reached Italy, mostly from Tunisia, Pakistan and the Ivory
Coast. Italy is offering money and equipment to restore the effectiveness of
the Libyan Coast Guard, in order to be able to intercept migrants trying to
reach European shores. The number of arrivals in Italy is going down, yet
critics argue this was made possible by violating human rights, considering
immigrants locked in Libyan camps were exposed to severe abuses and torture.
After the change of Government in Italy in 2018, the then Interior Minister and
leader of the Lega Nord far-right Party, Matteo Salvini, introduced harsh
anti-immigration policies. The new center-left Government that took office in
September, has switched to a milder attitude towards rescue organizations,
allowing ships saving migrants to dock.

ACCIDENTS – A total of 44 road traffic accidents
have occurred in the last couple of days in Romania, killing 19 people and
gravely wounding another 33 people, the Romanian Police General Inspectorate
reports. Traffic agents have seized 500 drivers’ licenses and approximately 90
registration certificates. Although the number of people killed in traffic
accidents has been on the wane in the last three years, Romania continues to
rank 1st at EU level with the highest number of road traffic
victims.

FLU -The number of people who have the flu is low at present, with only
isolated cases having been reported, the National Center for the Surveillance
and Control of Communicable Diseases reports. Physicians warn vaccination
remains the only effective weapon against the flu virus. The number of Romanians
who have taken the flu vaccine this year is slightly higher than in 2018, when
around 150 people died due to complications caused by the flu. A total of 33
cases of flu virus infections were reported this winter season, with 1 person
dying to the virus.

COMMEMORATION – Entire communities in Asia on Thursday
commemorated the 230,000 victims of the 2004 earthquake and ensuing tsunami in
the Indian Ocean, marking 15 years since one of the biggest natural disasters,
Reuters reports. On Christmas morning in 2004, a 9.1 Richter-scale earthquake
occurred off the coast of Indonesia’s Aceh province, triggering a wave as high
as 17.4 meters that swept coastal areas in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India,
Thailand and another nine countries in the region. In the Aceh Indonesian
province alone entire villages were wiped off the map, killing some 125,000
people. More than 25,600 residential, commercial, government and school
buildings now stand inside the high-risk area, which was almost completely
wiped out in 2004.

STRIKE IN PARIS – The strike against the reform of the
pension system in France continued for the fourth consecutive week in Paris. On
Christmas Day, surface and underground trains in Paris were canceled or
delayed. On the second day of Christmas, on Thursday, traffic was disrupted,
with one in two high-speed trains being cancelled and five subway lines being
shut down. The Government in Paris, backed by the European Commission, says the
reform of the pension system is necessary, trying to merge the country’s 42
pension schemes into one, thus eliminating the regime of special pensions,
especially those for public transport workers who can enjoy early retirement.
Unions will stage wide-ranging protest actions on Saturday. Union
representatives will meet with Government officials on January 7 for the first
in a series of meetings that will take place before the bill is presented to
the Council of Ministers on January 22.

(Translated
by V. Palcu)

26 December 2019
December 26, 2019

CHRISTMAS – Orthodox Christians on Thursday, on the
second day of Christmas, celebrated the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. This
old and important feast day is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, who brought Jesus
Christ into the world, and was first celebrated 1,500 years ago. Christians in
Romania have celebrated the Nativity of Jesus Christ this week.

MIGRANTS – The number of migrants who reached Italy in 2019 was
half compared to 2018, the Italian Interior Ministry reports. Compared to 2017,
the number of immigrants dropped by some 90%. Since the start of 2019, some
11,500 immigrants reached Italy, mostly from Tunisia, Pakistan and the Ivory
Coast. Italy is offering money and equipment to restore the effectiveness of
the Libyan Coast Guard, in order to be able to intercept migrants trying to
reach European shores. The number of arrivals in Italy is going down, yet
critics argue this was made possible by violating human rights, considering
immigrants locked in Libyan camps were exposed to severe abuses and torture.
After the change of Government in Italy in 2018, the then Interior Minister and
leader of the Lega Nord far-right Party, Matteo Salvini, introduced harsh
anti-immigration policies. The new center-left Government that took office in
September, has switched to a milder attitude towards rescue organizations,
allowing ships saving migrants to dock.

ACCIDENTS – A total of 44 road traffic accidents
have occurred in the last couple of days in Romania, killing 19 people and
gravely wounding another 33 people, the Romanian Police General Inspectorate reports.
Traffic agents have seized 500 drivers’ licenses and approximately 90
registration certificates. Although the number of people killed in traffic
accidents has been on the wane in the last three years, Romania continues to
rank 1st at EU level with the highest number of road traffic
victims.

FLU -The number of people who have the flu is low at present, with only
isolated cases having been reported, the National Center for the Surveillance
and Control of Communicable Diseases reports. Physicians warn vaccination
remains the only effective weapon against the flu virus. The number of
Romanians who have taken the flu vaccine this year is slightly higher than in
2018, when around 150 people died due to complications caused by the flu. A
total of 33 cases of flu virus infections were reported this winter season,
with 1 person dying to the virus.

COMMEMORATION – Entire communities in Asia on Thursday
commemorated the 230,000 victims of the 2004 earthquake and ensuing tsunami in
the Indian Ocean, marking 15 years since one of the biggest natural disasters,
Reuters reports. On Christmas morning in 2004, a 9.1 Richter-scale earthquake
occurred off the coast of Indonesia’s Aceh province, triggering a wave as high
as 17.4 meters that swept coastal areas in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India,
Thailand and another nine countries in the region. In the Aceh Indonesian province
alone entire villages were wiped off the map, killing some 125,000 people. More
than 25,600 residential, commercial, government and school buildings now stand
inside the high-risk area, which was almost completely wiped out in 2004.

STRIKE IN PARIS – The strike against the reform of the
pension system in France continued for the fourth consecutive week in Paris. On
Christmas Day, surface and underground trains in Paris were canceled or
delayed. On the second day of Christmas, on Thursday, traffic was disrupted,
with one in two high-speed trains being cancelled and five subway lines being
shut down. The Government in Paris, backed by the European Commission, says the
reform of the pension system is necessary, trying to merge
the country’s 42 pension schemes into one, thus eliminating the regime of
special pensions, especially those for public transport workers who can enjoy
early retirement. Unions will stage wide-ranging protest actions on Saturday.
Union representatives will meet with Government officials on January 7 for the
first in a series of meetings that will take place before the bill is presented
to the Council of Ministers on January 22.

(Translated
by V. Palcu)

26 December 2019
Christmas special

The joy of celebrating Christmas with
all its fascinating traditions and customs in Romania has these days been
clouded by the commemoration of the 1,000 youngsters who died in the Romanian
Revolution thirty years ago. Notwithstanding, today we shall take the
optimistic path and offer you some basic elements on Christmas customs and
traditions.

As usual, we begin with a couple of
basic notions and phrases:

Gospodar=householder

A se trezi=to wake up

Devreme=early

Dimineata devreme=early in the morning

A face focul=light the fire

A stirni jarul=stir the glowing embers

Brad=fir-tree

A impodobi= adorn

Ajunul Craciunului=Christmas Eve

Now let us use some of the words and
phrases above in meaningful, communicative patterns.

In Oltenia, in sudul Romaniei,
gospodarii se trezesc dimineata devreme.

In Oltenia, southern Romania,
householders wake up early in the morning.

Ei fac focul in soba si stirnesc jarul,
rostind cu voce tare dorintele pentru noul an.

They light the fire in the stove and
stir the glowing embers, uttering their wishes for the year to come.

Obiceiul de a impodobi bradul in ajunul
Craciunului este foarte important.

The custom of adorning the fir-tree on
Christmas Eve is very important.

Obiceiul colindatului este legat de
celebrarea Nasterii Domnului Iisus Hristos.

The tradition of caroling is connected
to the celebration of the Nativity, which is the Birth of Our Lord Jesus.

Thank you
ALL for the interest you take in Romanian culture, and for being so keen on
learning Romanian with us. Good Bye! La revedere!

25 December 2019
Christmas special

The joy of celebrating Christmas with
all its fascinating traditions and customs in Romania has these days been
clouded by the commemoration of the 1,000 youngsters who died in the Romanian
Revolution thirty years ago. Notwithstanding, today we shall take the
optimistic path and offer you some basic elements on Christmas customs and
traditions.

As usual, we begin with a couple of
basic notions and phrases:

Gospodar=householder

A se trezi=to wake up

Devreme=early

Dimineata devreme=early in the morning

A face focul=light the fire

A stirni jarul=stir the glowing embers

Brad=fir-tree

A impodobi= adorn

Ajunul Craciunului=Christmas Eve

Now let us use some of the words and
phrases above in meaningful, communicative patterns.

In Oltenia, in sudul Romaniei,
gospodarii se trezesc dimineata devreme.

In Oltenia, southern Romania,
householders wake up early in the morning.

Ei fac focul in soba si stirnesc jarul,
rostind cu voce tare dorintele pentru noul an.

They light the fire in the stove and
stir the glowing embers, uttering their wishes for the year to come.

Obiceiul de a impodobi bradul in ajunul
Craciunului este foarte important.

The custom of adorning the fir-tree on
Christmas Eve is very important.

Obiceiul colindatului este legat de
celebrarea Nasterii Domnului Iisus Hristos.

The tradition of caroling is connected
to the celebration of the Nativity, which is the Birth of Our Lord Jesus.

Thank you
ALL for the interest you take in Romanian culture, and for being so keen on
learning Romanian with us. Good Bye! La revedere!

25 December 2019
Christmas Traditions in Romania

Christmas, the great moment of the birth of Jesus Christ, celebrated by the entire Christian world, is marked in Romania by a series of specific rituals. The historical region of Maramures and the Oas Land, in the north, are two of the ethnic folk regions of Romania where the spirit of Christmas has been preserved for centuries, being passed from one generation to the next. According to Natalia Lazar, the manager of the Oas Land Museum Christmas is a very important Christian celebration in the county of Maramures and in its ethnic-folk areas. The celebrations that are derived from pagan or pre-Christian rituals are very important and such a ritual is that of groups of men who go caroling.

This is a tradition included in the intangible cultural heritage which can be equally found on the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage list. Masked performances, which are dramatic performances, make reference to religious elements, on the one hand, and to pagan elements, on the other hand. Masked performances are traditional in almost all the countries from central and southeastern Europe. The history of the Romanian folk masks dates back to the moment when primitive masks and masked performances were created; they were related to basic occupations such as hunting, to the moments of birth, wedding and death or to cyclical customs and yearly celebrations, said Natalia Lazar.

Caroling is the most genuine manifestation of the joy of Christmas. Pre-Christian rituals, which overlap the Christian celebration of the birth of Christ, have been preserved almost intact in the ethnic-folk regions in northern Romania. Natalia Lazar also says that some of the customs that are still alive in Maramures are the Goat carol, which reminds of the old Dionysian pageantries, and the Viflaim, a form of Christian folk drama that is performed traditionally on the Iza Valley, the Mara Valley and the Oas Land. Two less known customs that have nevertheless been preserved in the collective memory are the Dance of Fathers Christmas and the Burial of Christmas or of the old year. The Dance of Fathers Christmas refers to this sacred time when the skies open and the two worlds can communicate with each other. The Burial of Christmas or of the old year is an ancient ritual that reminds of man’s and nature’s death and rebirth, according to Natalia Lazar.

Group caroling is still impressive today, and it has been adapted to fit urban areas. Few people know that the groups of carolers are organized according to strict rules. The first who go caroling are the groups made up of 5 up to 8 children. In the region of Maramures these groups are mixed. Children carry little bags on their backs and a piece of thread on which to string the round-shaped breads they receive from the people to whom they make holiday wishes. On Christmas Eve, on December 24, the groups start caroling early in the morning. The groups of young men go caroling at night fall, being the last ones to herald the birth of Christ.

In the region of Banat, in southwestern Romania, on the occasion of Christmas, people traditionally adorn the fir trees with candies and under the trees they place a piece of round-shaped bread, a piece of sausage and a bottle of double-distilled plum brandy as gifts for Santa Claus. They also place cereals and fodder for Santa’s horses.

In Transylvania, in central western Romania, preparations for Christmas start on November 15, when the Christmas fasting period begins. Traditionally, on November 15 work in the field would come to an end, people would stop eating meat, and women would gather to sew together traditional clothes for the coming festivities.

In the region of Moldavia, in the east, all the activities that take place on Christmas Eve are actually a ritual for the protection of animals, orchards and households. Traditionally, for the Christmas feast women would prepare 12 dishes mainly made of pork.

In Bucovina, in northeastern Romania, people sing carols to chase away the evil spirits and clean up the village for the Christmas night.

In Oltenia, in the south, Christmas traditions are related to purification and fate divination rituals. On Christmas Eve the people in a household would poke the fire and recite several lines meant to protect the family from diseases and to usher in a new, richer year. (translation by L. Simion)

25 December 2019
The pig’s alms

Traditionally,
rural Romanians slaughter pigs for the end of Christmas fasting on the Feast of
St. Ignatius, on December 20th. The most common preparations made at
this time and involving pork are sausages, aspic, liverwurst, semi-smoked ham,
and stuffed cabbage rolls. Some of these are to be eaten right after the end of
the fasting period, while others are for long term storage, being preserved in
various ways to be eaten throughout the year. One of the typical ways of
preserving meat is to cube it, melt it in its own fat, and then pack it in lard
into jars.

In Transylvania, where pork is eaten more than in other
areas, two pigs are slaughtered, one right before Christmas, the other after
the New Year. The slaughter ritual includes the preparation of a special dish,
served and made by the people gathered for the event. It is made as a reward
for the work they put in and is served with hot spiced plum brandy.

This dish is
made in a Dutch oven, or any cast iron pot. It is made with offal, the internal
fat of the pig, which is made into the finest lard that the swine yields. Take
rib, shoulder and leg meat, cube it, and fry it in the lard. Add some liver,
and let it brown slightly. Add some water, and leave to simmer covered. Mince
the cloves from an entire head of garlic, and throw them in. Towards the end
add some dried thyme and some red wine, and salt and pepper to taste. This
special dish is served with polenta, and you can also indulge in a glass of red
wine, which cuts a bit the fattiness of the dish. Enjoy!

22 December 2019
Christmas in Romania

The diversity of Christmas holiday packages in Romania is no longer a surprise for tourists. You can spend a holiday in a more traditional part of the country, to see ancient customs and rites first-hand, you can choose a spa resort or, why not, a hotel close to a ski run. Romanias big cities also organize charming Christmas fairs. So whatever option you choose, you are certain to have a holiday to remember.

Romania is a unique destination in Europe in terms of traditions, but the local cuisine is also famous, says Marius Zamfir, the head of Transylvania Hotels and Travel. So we open our Christmas travel offer with an invitation to north-western Romania, 9 km from the city of Oradea and very close to the Hungarian border. Baile Felix spa resort here has long been a major holiday destination for both Romanian and foreign tourists. The resort boasts a network of hotels with modern indoor and outdoor pools. We have chosen a 5-star hotel in Baile Felix:

Marius Zamfir: “In this resort, Christmas packages have been designed for 4 and 5-night stays between December 20th and 27th. I would like to mention first the Christmas dinner, with traditional products for both our regular tourists and for those who observe the Orthodox fasting period. Folk ensembles will perform carols and stage shows presenting the local New Years and Christmas customs and traditions. The guests have free access to the Aqua Park, to the adventure park and to saunas, and a spa procedure is included in the price of each package. Tourists are obviously free to choose multiple such procedures from the hotels offer. The tariff for a 4-night package per person in a double room starts from around 750 euros, and the 5-night package costs around 900 euros.

Bukovina, in the north of the country, is another region famous for its well-preserved traditions, for its medieval monasteries with mural paintings and for its outstanding cuisine. But it is also a destination of choice for the more active tourists. The number and diversity of holiday options in rural Bukovina are growing from one year to the next. Essentially, wellness tourism and agritourism both involve a return to nature, to organic food, to a healthier life. And whether you choose to stay in a modern or a rustic guesthouse, you will be charmed by the region and its people.

Marius Zamfir: “There are 4-night packages in 4-star guesthouses, which include breakfast, 2 lunches, a snack and a Christmas dinner. The dinner on Christmas Eve is accompanied by performances of traditional carols, but local customs are also presented on Christmas day. This particular guesthouse also has a spa centre with free entrance to swimming pools, Jacuzzi, saunas, etc. Prices start from 550 euros per person, and vary with the type of room.

Also in the north of Romania we find the other historical region famous around the world: Maramures. Holiday packages here are tailored to the needs of families. Here is Dan Carpov with the Maramures County Councils Tourist Information Centre:

Dan Carpov: “In Maramures, prices are excellent, and packages include not only traditional stays, but also novelties that we have designed for the foreign tourists who reach our part of the country. Prices start from 200-300 euros, and cover accommodation, meals, visits and narrow-gauge train rides. The tariff for the New Years package is a little higher, ranging from 300 to 400 euros. We have this app called Visit Maramures, running on both IoS and Android systems. It is a database with information on accommodation options, meals plans, trekking and biking routes, as well as an offline map. In Maramures there are 8 churches that are included in the UNESCO heritage list, but the number of wood churches here is actually a lot larger. The monasteries here are also widely admired, and examples include the ones in Barsana or the one in Peri, which is the tallest wood building in Europe. And we should not overlook winter sports, because people come here on Christmas not only for a tasty meal. We have at least 3 ski runs that meet international standards.

And since we mentioned skiing, lets stop next in Poiana Brasov, Romanias largest skiing region. The town of Brasov in central Romania is acclaimed for its medieval architecture, but also for the diversity of cultural sites, for the active holiday experiences and for its shopping opportunities. Marius Zamfir invites us to a 5-star hotel downtown Brasov:

Marius Zamfir: “Prices here start from around 700 euros for 4-night stays. The package includes a welcome dinner on December 23rd. The festive Christmas dinner, on December 25th, is accompanied by folk performances by local ensembles. Guests have unrestricted access to the hotels spa services, including pool, saunas, massage etc. The hotel is 12 km away from Poiana Brasov and its ski runs.

This wraps up todays instalment of Travellers Guide, we are looking forward to welcoming you in Romania this Christmas season.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

19 December 2019
Christmas in Romania

The diversity of Christmas holiday packages in Romania is no longer a surprise for tourists. You can spend a holiday in a more traditional part of the country, to see ancient customs and rites first-hand, you can choose a spa resort or, why not, a hotel close to a ski run. Romanias big cities also organize charming Christmas fairs. So whatever option you choose, you are certain to have a holiday to remember.

Romania is a unique destination in Europe in terms of traditions, but the local cuisine is also famous, says Marius Zamfir, the head of Transylvania Hotels and Travel. So we open our Christmas travel offer with an invitation to north-western Romania, 9 km from the city of Oradea and very close to the Hungarian border. Baile Felix spa resort here has long been a major holiday destination for both Romanian and foreign tourists. The resort boasts a network of hotels with modern indoor and outdoor pools. We have chosen a 5-star hotel in Baile Felix:

Marius Zamfir: “In this resort, Christmas packages have been designed for 4 and 5-night stays between December 20th and 27th. I would like to mention first the Christmas dinner, with traditional products for both our regular tourists and for those who observe the Orthodox fasting period. Folk ensembles will perform carols and stage shows presenting the local New Years and Christmas customs and traditions. The guests have free access to the Aqua Park, to the adventure park and to saunas, and a spa procedure is included in the price of each package. Tourists are obviously free to choose multiple such procedures from the hotels offer. The tariff for a 4-night package per person in a double room starts from around 750 euros, and the 5-night package costs around 900 euros.

Bukovina, in the north of the country, is another region famous for its well-preserved traditions, for its medieval monasteries with mural paintings and for its outstanding cuisine. But it is also a destination of choice for the more active tourists. The number and diversity of holiday options in rural Bukovina are growing from one year to the next. Essentially, wellness tourism and agritourism both involve a return to nature, to organic food, to a healthier life. And whether you choose to stay in a modern or a rustic guesthouse, you will be charmed by the region and its people.

Marius Zamfir: “There are 4-night packages in 4-star guesthouses, which include breakfast, 2 lunches, a snack and a Christmas dinner. The dinner on Christmas Eve is accompanied by performances of traditional carols, but local customs are also presented on Christmas day. This particular guesthouse also has a spa centre with free entrance to swimming pools, Jacuzzi, saunas, etc. Prices start from 550 euros per person, and vary with the type of room.

Also in the north of Romania we find the other historical region famous around the world: Maramures. Holiday packages here are tailored to the needs of families. Here is Dan Carpov with the Maramures County Councils Tourist Information Centre:

Dan Carpov: “In Maramures, prices are excellent, and packages include not only traditional stays, but also novelties that we have designed for the foreign tourists who reach our part of the country. Prices start from 200-300 euros, and cover accommodation, meals, visits and narrow-gauge train rides. The tariff for the New Years package is a little higher, ranging from 300 to 400 euros. We have this app called Visit Maramures, running on both IoS and Android systems. It is a database with information on accommodation options, meals plans, trekking and biking routes, as well as an offline map. In Maramures there are 8 churches that are included in the UNESCO heritage list, but the number of wood churches here is actually a lot larger. The monasteries here are also widely admired, and examples include the ones in Barsana or the one in Peri, which is the tallest wood building in Europe. And we should not overlook winter sports, because people come here on Christmas not only for a tasty meal. We have at least 3 ski runs that meet international standards.

And since we mentioned skiing, lets stop next in Poiana Brasov, Romanias largest skiing region. The town of Brasov in central Romania is acclaimed for its medieval architecture, but also for the diversity of cultural sites, for the active holiday experiences and for its shopping opportunities. Marius Zamfir invites us to a 5-star hotel downtown Brasov:

Marius Zamfir: “Prices here start from around 700 euros for 4-night stays. The package includes a welcome dinner on December 23rd. The festive Christmas dinner, on December 25th, is accompanied by folk performances by local ensembles. Guests have unrestricted access to the hotels spa services, including pool, saunas, massage etc. The hotel is 12 km away from Poiana Brasov and its ski runs.

This wraps up todays instalment of Travellers Guide, we are looking forward to welcoming you in Romania this Christmas season.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

18 December 2019
18 November 2019, UPDATE

Elections. The foreign ministry in Bucharest has finished distributing
the materials needed for the voting process abroad in the second round of
Romania’s presidential elections. 4,608,175 ballots were distributed among the
835 polling stations in the Romanian diaspora, 100,000 more than in the first
round. The foreign ministry recalls that abroad, the voting process is held
over the course of three days, on Friday between 12 am and 9 pm, and on
Saturday and Sunday between 7 am and 9 pm. In Romania, the voting
takes place on Sunday, on the 24th of November. The incumbent president
Klaus Iohannis, who is endorsed by the National Liberal Party, now in power, is
running against the leader of the Social Democratic Party and until recently
the prime minister of Romania, Viorica Dăncilă. In the first round held on the
10th of November, Iohannis won almost 38% of the votes, followed by Dăncilă
with a little over 22%.

EU Commission. The European Parliament’s foreign affairs committee on Monday
approved Hungary’s pick for enlargement commissioner Oliver Varhelyi. Currently
serving as Hungary’s EU ambassador, he was the last of the 27 nominees yet to
the approved by MEPs. After a hearing on the 14th of November,
Varhelyi received additional written questions. Also at this date, Adina Vălean,
Romania’s nominee for transport commissioner, and Thierry Breton, France’s pick
for internal market commissioner, received the green light from the specialist
committees. The team proposed by the president elect of the European Commission
Ursula von der Leyen is to be put to a vote in the European Parliament on the
27th of November, so as to take office on the 1st of
December, one month later than initially scheduled.

Republic of Moldova. Ion Chicu, the prime minister of the Republic of Moldova,
an ex-Soviet state with a majority Romanian-speaking population, this week
travels to Russia on his first foreign visit since taking office last week.
Chicu, who was an adviser to Moldova’s pro-Russian president Igor Dodon says
his trip to Moscow was agreed a long time ago but did not take place although
economic relations with Russia are very important for Moldova, he added. This
will be the first time in a long time that a Moldovan prime minister travels to
Moscow instead of Bucharest or Brussels on his or her first foreign trip. The
former government led by the pro-European Maia Sandu was dismissed following a
vote of no-confidence initiated by president Igor Dodon’s Socialists, who were
themselves part of the ruling coalition.

Christmas fair. The Christmas fair opens
in Bucharest on the 28th of November, when the Christmas lights will
also be switched on. Now in its 13th year, the Christmas fair stays
open until the 26th of December. Visitors will be able to find there
traditional Romanian products, from home-made cakes and sweets to mulled wine
and cheese, as well as winter decorations, traditional clothes and toys.
Activities for children will also be held, as well as traditional music and
carol concerts given by music ensembles from across Romania. The Bucharest
Christmas fair attracts 1 million visitors annually, both Romanian and foreign.

18 November 2019
How Romanians spent Christmas

A celebration of joy and family, Christmas, which celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, is all about emotion, happiness in childrens eyes, magical moments spent in the company of the loved ones. In a message conveyed on the occasion, the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Daniel, has stated that the celebration is one of gift-giving, to children, elders, orphans, the sick and the lonely, to all the loved ones.

One of the biggest celebrations in the Christian world, Christmas is an opportunity every year to reenact old customs such as caroling, which is widespread in Romania. Caroling is a ritual comprising ceremonial lyrics, dance and gestures, and carolers symbolize the angels and shepherds who were the first to herald the birth of Jesus. Carolers are carriers of messages of good-health, rich harvests and well being and are rewarded by people with fruit, bagels, sweets or money.

Many Romanians took advantage of the days off to go to the mountains, where the resorts are full of tourists. Those who chose to spend Christmas in hotels and guest houses across the country spent some 18 million Euros for these holidays. Some 139,000 Romanians opted for rural guest houses in well-known regions such as Bran, Sibiu, Maramures or Bucovina. They were welcomed by the hosts with traditional food and customs. Caroling around the fireplace, folk costumes and sleigh rides were just some of the attractions of the holidays. Also, ski slopes were prepared to receive skiers and snowboarders. According to data provided by the Federation of Tourism Employers Associations in Romania, the tourists who preferred domestic destinations spent on average some 120 Euros on accommodation and meals, which is 14% more than last year.

Additional expenses, such as for trips and entertainment, stood at around 100 Euros per tourist. Just like every year, there were many Romanians who chose to spend Christmas abroad, mostly in European cities or warmer, exotic places. Top of the list were ski resorts in Austria, Bulgaria, Switzerland and France, where people went to visit the Christmas fairs and ski. As regards exotic destinations, the favourites were Dubai, Egypt and Morocco. Prices for a holiday to such an exotic place ranged from 500 to 3,000 Euros per person.

27 December 2018
December 25, 2018 UPDATE

CHRISTMAS – On Tuesday, Christians around the world celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ. In a message conveyed on the occasion, the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Daniel, says that this celebration is one of gift-offering, to children, elders, orphans, sick and lonely, and to all the loved ones. “This celebration is our response to the gift of Gods love, shown in Jesus Christ”, Patriarch Daniels message also reads. At the Vatican, Pope Francis firmly criticized what he termed as mankinds consumerist voracity and called on people to reflect on the spiritual meaning of their lives and to share with the poor . “The little body of the Child of Bethlehem is a new model of life: not to devour or to grasp, but to share and to give”, the Pope said, recalling that the name Bethlehem means the house of bread. The Sovereign Pontiff gave the traditional blessing of Urbi et orbi (to the city and the world), before the Christians gathered in St. Peters Square.

MESSAGES – Romanias president Klaus Iohannis has conveyed a Christmas message to all Romanians, saying that the birth of Jesus Christ is a celebration of the miracle of life and of kindness, compassion and generosity. “We need to reconnect to those values that bring us closer to each other and unite us. In the spirit of these holy celebrations, we should take care of each other and of our country”, the presidents message also reads. Prime Minister Viorica Dancila has wished all Romanians good health and well being. The custodian of the Romanian Crown, Margareta, has too sent a Christmas message, saying she promised to carry on the work started by her father, King Michael, towards ensuring Romanias prosperity and stability an strengthening its international position.

JUSTICE – The former Romanian minister Elena Udrea and the former head of the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism, Alina Bica, who were in custody in Costa Rica since October 3rd, were released after the Bucharest Tribunal revoked the extradition requests issued on their names. The Public Ministry of Costa Rica decided to release them after receiving from the Romanian Justice Ministry the documentation stating that the two requests had been withdrawn. In Romania, Udrea and Bica have received definitive sentences for corruption. Just like them, other high-ranking officials in Romania have benefited from the suspension of the prison sentences they have received for corruption, after the Constitutional Court of Romania ruled that the setting up of the 5-judge panels at the High Court of Cassation and Justice was illegal.

DEFENSE – A new meeting of Romanias Supreme Council of National Defense will be held on December 28th, focusing on the request made by the Defense Minister Gabriel Les with regard to posts in the armys leadership. On Wednesday, Gabriel Les announced he would not extend the term of the current Chef of Staff Nicolae Ciuca, which expires on December 31st. The previous meeting of the Council was held on December 19th, when the army equipment programme for 2019-2028 was approved, as well as the capabilities to be deployed by Romania next year for missions and operations abroad. 1902 Romanian soldiers will be part of international theaters of operations, 127 more than in 2018. Also, another 759 army and police officers will take part in EU, OSCE, NATO and UN missions. Romania will keep participating in the NATO Resolute Support operation in Afghanistan and will maintain its contribution to the allied operations carried out in the Western Balkans. As a first, a detachment of transport and evacuation helicopters will participate in the UN mission in Mali.

EMPLOYMENT – Romanias National Employment Agency has committed to integrating into the labour market some 110,000 unemployed registered in their data base, by means of a project co-funded by the Social European Fund, through the Operational Programme Human Capital 2014-2020, covering a period of four years. According to the Agency, the allocated budget stands at around 265 million Euros, of which 226 million non-reimbursable. The project will be implemented with support from the local employment agencies.

TSUNAMI – The death toll from the tsunami that hit the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra on Saturday has exceeded 400. Also, 1500 people were injured and more than 150 are reported missing, according to a local official quoted by news agencies. The tsunami hit the southern coast of Sumatra and the western side of Java, triggered by an undersea landslide caused by the eruption of Krakatau volcano, some 50 km off the coast.

ATTACK – At least three people, including a Libyan diplomat, died in a terrorist attack on the headquarters of Libyas Foreign Ministry on Tuesday. The Interior Minister Fathi Agha has admitted that the chaos that the country is facing in terms of security continues to turn it into a fertile ground for the Islamic State and other terrorist groups. Libya has been plunging into havoc since the fall of Muammal Gaddafis regime back in 2011. The country is divided into several rival entities, with a National Union Government in Tripoli, supported by the international community, and a parallel government formed in the east, supported by the National Libyan Army, self-proclaimed by Marshall Khalifa Haftar.

25 December 2018
December 25, 2018

CHRISTMAS – Christians are today celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. In a message conveyed on the occasion, the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Daniel, says that this celebration is one of gift-offering, to children, elders, orphans, sick and lonely, and to all the loved ones. “This celebration is our response to the gift of Gods love, shown in Jesus Christ”, Patriarch Daniels message also reads. At the Vatican, Pope Francis has firmly criticized what he called mankinds consumerist voracity and called on people to reflect on the spiritual meaning of their lives and to share with the poor . “The little body of the Child of Bethlehem is a new model of life: not to devour or to grasp, but to share and to give”, the Pope said, recalling that the name Bethlehem means the house of bread. The Sovereign Pontiff has today given the traditional blessing of Urbi et orbi (to the city and the world), before the Christians gathered in St. Peters Square.

MESSAGES – Romanias president Klaus Iohannis has conveyed a Christmas message to all Romanians, saying that the birth of Jesus Christ is a celebration of the miracle of life and of kindness, compassion and generosity. “We need to reconnect to those values that bring us closer to each other and unite us. In the spirit of these holy celebrations, we should take care of each other and of our country”, the presidents message also reads. Prime Minister Viorica Dancila has wished all Romanians good health and well being. The custodian of the Romanian Crown, Margareta, has too sent a Christmas message, saying she promised to carry on the work started by her father, King Michael, towards ensuring Romanias prosperity and stability an strengthening its international position.

JUSTICE – The former Romanian minister Elena Udrea and the former head of the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism, Alina Bica, who were in custody in Costa Rica since October 3rd, were released after the Bucharest Tribunal revoked the extradition requests issued on their names. The Public Ministry of Costa Rica decided to release them after receiving from the Romanian Justice Ministry the documentation stating that the two requests had been withdrawn. In Romania, Udrea and Bica have received definitive sentences for corruption. Just like them, other high-ranking officials in Romania have benefited from the suspension of the prison sentences they have received for corruption, after the Constitutional Court of Romania ruled that the setting up of the 5-judge panels at the High Court of Cassation and Justice was illegal.

EMPLOYMENT – The National Employment Agency has committed to integrating into the labour market some 110,000 unemployed registered in their data base, by means of a project co-funded by the Social European Fund, through the Operational Programme Human Capital 2014-2020, covering a period of four years. According to the Agency, the allocated budget stands at around 265 million Euros, of which 226 million non-reimbursable. The project will be implemented with support from the local employment agencies.

TSUNAMI – The death toll from the tsunami that hit the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra on Saturday has exceeded 400. Also, 1500 people were injured and more than 150 are reported missing, according to a local official quoted by news agencies. The tsunami hit the southern coast of Sumatra and the western side of Java, triggered by an undersea landslide caused by the eruption of Krakatau volcano, some 50 km off the coast.

ATTACK – At least three people died in the attack perpetrated on Tuesday against the headquarters of Libyas Foreign Ministry, FP and Reuters report. Gun shots and several explosions were heard inside the building. Libya has been plunging into chaos since the fall of Muammal Gaddafis regime back in 2011. The country is divided into several rival entities, with a National Union Government in Tripoli, supported by the international community, and a parallel government formed in the east, supported by the National Libyan Army, self-proclaimed by Marshall Khalifa Haftar. Political and security chaos has favoured the emergence of jihadist groups, which have committed lots of a attacks in the past years.

25 December 2018