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People
Foreign visitors consider Romanians among the friendliest and most hospitable people on earth.
Romanians are by nature fun loving, warm, hospitable, playful, with an innate sense of humor.
Romania is associated with big names in arts and sports:
Constantin Brâncuși (1876 - 1957) — the artist whose works redefined sculpture, the most important sculptor of the Twentieth-Century.
Angela Gheorghiu
"The world's most glamorous opera star" (New York Sun).
"
"…perhaps the most instantly recognizable and interesting soprano voice of our time… a liquid instrument of great beauty" (Gramophone).
AngelaGheorghiu.com
Alexandra Nechita — a young Romanian painter living in California, known for her distinct style.
More info about Alexandra Nechita and her art: AlexandraNechita.com
Radu Lupu "If there's one pianist who challenges you to hear classical music in a whole new way, it's Radu Lupu. Since winning the Van Cliburn Competition in 1966, he's gained a loyal following for his idiosyncratic interpretations that always explore the complex emotions behind the music".
(Attribution: CarnegieHall.org )
Life and work pf sculptor Constantin Brâncuși video by Tessa Dunlop (six minutes video)
Ilie Năstase — Twice ranked as the world's number one men's player in the early 1970s,
Ilie Nastase won two Grand Slam singles titles during his illustrious career: the US Open in 1972 and the French Open in 1973.
One of the greatest touch players of the post-war era, Nastase was runner-up at Wimbledon in 1972 and 1976; he won 57 career singles titles and 51 doubles titles and is one of five players to win more than 100 pro titles in singles and doubles. Every single year between 1970 and 1977 Năstase ranked in the top 10 tennis player .
In 1991, Ilie Nastase was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Nadia Comăneci — A gymnastics legend, stunning the world with her skills on the uneven bars, the first in the world to score a perfect 10. Nadia is practically single-handedly responsible for the popularity of gymnastics as a sport, thanks to sweeping the Olympics for gold medals in her youth.
Other world renowned Romanian artists include the writer Eugen Ionesco, pan flute virtuoso Gheorghe Zamfir and musician George Enescu.
About 20,500,000 people live in Romania.
Ethnic breakdown is 89% Romanian 7.5% Hungarian, 1.9% Gypsy,
German, Ukrainian, Armenian, Croatian, Serbian and Turkish.
More than 55% of Romania's population lives in urban areas
(there are 230 large towns, 25 cities with a population of more than 100,000
and 8 cities with more than 300,000 inhabitants)
while 45 % of Romanians have their main residence in rural areas
(2,868 communes and 13,285 villages).
The main administrative divisions are called "judet" (county).
There are 41 counties in Romania.
The capital city, Bucharest (Municipiul Bucuresti), has the status of a county.
Main religions in Romania
Eastern Orthodox 78%
Greek Catholic 10%
Roman Catholic 5%
Protestant 5%
Unitarian,
Jewish,
other
Language
Romanian, a Latin based language which is a continuation of the Latin
spoken in ancient times in Dacia and Moesia - the eastern provinces of the Roman Empire.
A 31-letter Latin alphabet is in use.
Ethnic minorities (Hungarian and German) use their own languages in school and civil administration.
Literacy rate in Romania is 98%.
Most Romanians living in towns and cities are able to communicate in English, French or German.
In smaller villages only younger people and children usually speak foreign languages.
Around 80% of Romanians speak one foreign language, 25% of Romanians speak at least two,
4% of Romanians speak three or more foreign languages.
Romania has over 100 universities, and the country annually produces some
30,000 engineering graduates;
8,000 earn their degrees in IT sciences
For more information about Romanian language, a pronunciation guide and useful words and phrases please visit
RomaniaTourism.com/Romanian-Language.html
If interested in learning Romanian in Romania/ take Romanian Language Classes, please visit
www.RoLang.ro
Romania Public Holidays
January 1 and 2: New Year
January 6 and 7: Epiphany and St. John the Baptist Day
January 24: Union of Romanian Principalities Wallachia and Moldova
February 19: birthday of artist Constantin Brancusi
March, April or May: Orthodox Good Friday
(date varies, please see below)
March, April or May: Orthodox Easter Monday
(date varies, please see below)
May 1: Labor Day
May or June: Whit Monday (Rusaliile)
- celebrated 50 days after the Orthodox Easter
(date varies, please see below)
June 1: Children's Day
August 15: The Dormition of the Theotokos / Assumption of Mary (Sfanta Maria)
November 30: Saint Andrew Day (Sfantul Andrei)
December 1: Romania's National Day
December 25 and 26: Christmas
Dates of Orthodox Good Friday (Vinerea Mare):
2023 – April 14
2024 – May 3
2025 - April 18
2026 – April 10
2027 – April 30
2028 – April 14
2029 – April 6
2030 – April 26
Dates of the Orthodox Easter (Paștele Ortodox):
2023 – April 16 and 17
2024 – May 5 and 6
2025 - April 20 and 21
2026 – April 12 and 13
2027 – May 2 and 3
2028 – April 16 and 17
2029 – April 8 and 9
2030 – April 28 and 29
Dates of Whit Monday (Rusaliile):
2023 – June 4 and 5
2024 – June 23 and 24
2025 - June 9 and 10
2026 - May 31 and June 1
2027 - June 20 and 21
2028 - June 4 and 5
2029 - May 27 and 28
2030 - June 16 and 17
According to the Greek Orthodox Church, nearly every day of the year
is dedicated to the memory of at least one Christian saint or martyr.
If someone is named after a saint, that day becomes his or her name day
(Ziua Onomastica or Ziua Numelui) and, traditionally, is celebrated.
Several religious holidays including:
feast of St. John (Sfantul Ion) - January 7,
feast of St. George (Sfantul Gheorghe) - April 23,
feast of Sts. Peter & Paul (Sfintii Petru si Paul) - June 29,
feast of St. Mary (Sfanta Maria) - August 15,
feast of St. Michael (Sfantul Mihai) - November 8
and St. Nicholas (Sfantul Nicolae) - December 6,
are observed throughout the year in rural areas.
Ethnic minorities celebrate their own religious and commmunity holidays.
