1 December – the National Day of Romania December 1, 2008

 The national day of Romania also called the Union Day or the Unification Day was set after the 1989 Romanian Revolution, when the communist regime came to an end. On this day all Romanians all over the world celebrate the unification of Transylvania (the central region of Romania, where Dracula’s castle is)—which had been under Austro-Hungarian Empire—with Romania. The union of Transylvania with Romania in 1918 was the last event which marked the unification of the country. A few days before that date, three other Romanian regions became part of Romania, after being under different occupations: Banat (Austro-Hungarian occupation), Bessarabia (Russian occupation), and Bukovina (Austro-Hungarian occupation).

On the 28 December people in Bukovina (the region where we live) celebrated 90 years since Bukovina became part of Romania. Lots of officials and also people from all over Bukovina gathered in front of the old Railway Station to take part in the reconstruction of the event the way it happened in 1918.

1 December is very important to us and we also celebrate it even in school. We usually dress in our national costume and sing patriotic songs.  

Hora Unirii (The Unity Hora (dance) ) sung and danced on this occasion is a Romanian folk tune of a slow but energetic round dance joined by the whole attendance. The round dance (hora) symbolizes spiritual communion, equality and the wish for a common life.

La multi ani, romani! Happy National Day to all the Romanians in the world!

Liliana&the kids