How is New Year celebrated in Romania.
Since I arrived in Romania, 3 New Year celebrations have already passed. The first big difference we feel in relation to our Brazilian celebrations, obviously, is the climate: in the middle of winter, the night of December 31st is usually one of the coldest nights of the year (my first year, here, had a turning point with thermal sensation in the range of -15 degrees). Until today, our celebrations have always taken place at our house or at a friend's house, because we simply don't have the courage to set foot in the street (especially since we have a child).
HOW ROMANIANS CELEBRATE
Unlike me, Romanians are already used to being on the streets celebrating the arrival of the new year. It is common for friends and family to get together and, at New Year's Eve, go out with sparkling wine to watch the fireworks and toast the arrival of the new year. In Bucharest, in the main squares of the city, the city hall organizes concerts with well-known bands, and these events are always packed, regardless of how cold it is outside (I know this only because I watch TV in my warm house).
Of course, such a celebration always includes a lot of food. In addition to the foods prepared for the winter that I have already mentioned here, New Year's Eve has some special preparations at the table:
- Salata boeuf: it is a dish that is very reminiscent of our sausage. There are variations depending on who prepares it, but in general the dish has meat, carrots, potatoes, onions, parsley potatoes, celery, parsley, peas, cucumber, mayonnaise, mustard and seasonings as ingredients;
- Sarmale: a must in any Romanian home, sarmale is that dish that my co-workers spend the next two weeks taking to work to eat after the end of year festivities are over. One of the most typical dishes in Romania, sarmale (which my mother makes in Brazil called “cigar”), is a mixture of ground meat, rice, onion, bacon, spices, usually wrapped in a cabbage leaf, but it is it is also common to find them wrapped in vine leaves;
- Carnati: sausages, of the most varied types, often prepared at home;
- Piftie: a type of salted gelatin. The main ingredients are parts of the pig (including feet, ears and bones), onions, carrots, garlic and spices. All this taken to the fire to be prepared for a long time, mixed, covered with gelatine and served as a cold dish;
- Eggplant Salad;
- Cozonac: this is the main dessert this holiday season. After thinking about how to explain it, I venture to say that cozonac is a sweet that lies between a panettone, homemade sweet bread and mixed cake. There's nothing better than a home-made cozonac fresh out of the oven!
After the celebrations and feasts of the last night of the year, the first day that follows is still one of celebration. Children go door-to-door in the neighborhood to sing “Sorcova” – traditional New Year's songs, while carrying an object of the same name – made up of a piece of wood, with colorful flowers glued to the end. This tradition is supposed to bring good luck in the new year. Nowadays, it is customary to “gift” money or sweets to children after singing their songs.
SUPERSTITIONS
One Romanian trait that I find really cool is that Romanians are extremely superstitious. I particularly love to sit and listen to my Romanian friends while they tell me some of their superstitions, some similar to the ones we have in Brazil, but others very curious.
In the New Year, of course, this is no different, and among the most curious superstitions of that time, I would say:
- The color to be used on New Year's Eve is red, to bring good luck and happiness in the new year;
- It is customary to wear something new on New Year's Eve, as the old year is gone with all the problems and negativities, and wearing something new will attract positive things to the year that begins;
- Always have money in your pocket: the amount doesn't matter, it can even be coins, but always have it! This will attract fortune, and money will come all year round;
- For good luck in love, kiss your partner under a mistletoe branch at New Year's Eve;
- Some believe that fish should be the “meat of the New Year”. The explanation is simple: as the fish swims to avoid obstacles along the way, eating fish at New Year's Eve will help you to swim through your problems during the year.
Regardless of custom or superstition, one thing does not change: everyone's hope, anywhere in the world, is that the new year brings only positive things, as we all have hope for an ever better year. And you, what is your favorite superstition or custom? Do you know any other superstitions in Romania that I haven't mentioned here or are you curious about any other country? Leave it in the comments, because I always love to learn more!
