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When you are
thinking of the Romanian village, you have to imagine a small community of
people who help each others in times of trouble, who work together the land
from sunrise till dark, who use to go to the same church for praying, who
dance their old round-dances when it's holiday and who keep alive the same
ancient traditions year after year...
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The ancient source of our culture was at the countryside and younger people
respect that. The love for land, animals and the whole nature began here. The
special inside feeling for beauty was born here during the long winter
evenings when women came together to sit near the fire and sing old songs
while making woolen yarns, sewing clothes, doys or needle point tapestries,
making lace or embroideries and weaving colorful carpets for their families.
The houses are not very big but once you are inside them, you feel incredible
comfortable and welcome.
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The Romanian folk creativity is unlimited. Taking a tour of villages all over
the country from Moldavia to Oltenia, from Maramures to Dobrudja, from Banat
to Wallachia or Transylvania will show you so many amazing things that little
by little you will start to believe that this country is blessed with
surprising people. Any young girl makes her dowry consisting of pillows, counterpane,
blankets, carpets, rugs, towels and clothes. The patterns and colors are
specific to her native region. She learned how to sew or weave from her
mother who have learned from her mother and so on. Young men are usually
preoccupied by carving wood or stone. Visit Maramures region and you will be
delighted by the tall gates you will see there at the entrance in every yard.
Wooden churches of Transylvania (built with no iron nails) is a proof of high
imagination and technical skills. Also in many Village Museums spread all
over Romania you will be astonished by water mills, wind mills and other
rustic objects all made by peasants in their homes.
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In any Romanian village you will enjoy the view of different sorts of
ceramics. Each family has vessel made by burnt clay (pots, cups, plates,
vases) and people really use this vessel instead of the modern ones. Peasants
say that dishes are more tasteful if you eat them in a clay-burnt bowl with a
wooden spoon! Pottery is an old tradition in many regions and nowadays is a sort
of local art. The only place of Romania where you may find black ceramics is
Marginea (Suceava county). In the other villages, plates, cups and bowls are
lovely decorated with colorful patterns, most of them geometrical or floral.
Nature was always a great source of inspiration for people living at the
countryside. Take a look at these beautiful things you may find in a Romanian
traditional house.
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Listening to the Romanian old ballads telling about courageous outlaws
fighting against greedy rich boyars you will understand better the Romanian
soul. Ancestors are not forgotten and younger generations are learning songs
and poems about them from their grandparents. Also they learn not to forget
their traditional symbols sewn on their folk costumes and those secret magic
rituals very well kept during the time. One of these ancient rituals say that
in the New Year's Eve people must wear ugly masks to scary bad spirits coming
to Earth (because the sky is opened for a few hours).
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It is hard to believe that Romania is a country of great contrasts but this
is the reality. Romanian village is an expression of a forgotten world and an
ancient culture, with strong bonds between people which last for thousands of
years. From here are coming many Romanian famous artists (Constantin
Brancusi), writers (Mihail Sadoveanu, Ion Creanga, Liviu Rebreanu), poets
(Mihai Eminescu, George Cosbuc), musicians (Ciprian Porumbescu), and painters
(Nicolae Grigorescu)....
The Romanian village is a special song. You must come here to
enrich your soul with its notes!
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