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ROMANIA

Identification. The name "Romania," which was first used when the three regions of the country
were united in 1859, reflects the influence of ancient Rome on the nation's language and culture.
The three regionsWalachia, Moldavia, and Transylvaniaare relatively culturally uniform. An
exception is the Hungarian community in Transylvania, which has its own language and
traditions and considers itself Hungarian. The Roma (Gypsies), who are scattered throughout the
country, mostly in small camps on the outskirts of towns and cities, are in many ways culturally
unassimilated.
Location and Geography. Romania is in southeastern Europe at the north end of the Balkan
peninsula, bordering Ukraine and Moldova to the north, Hungary to the northwest, Serbia to the
southwest, Bulgaria to the south, and the Black Sea to the east. The land area is 91,699 square
miles (237,500 square kilometers). The Carpathian Mountains cover about one-third of the
country; they surround the Transylvanian Plateau and divide it from the other two main regions:
Moldavia in the northeast and Walachia in the south. The Transylvanian Alps in the central
region contain the highest peak, Mount Moldoveanu. The eastern and southern regions are
characterized by rolling plains.
The Danube River stretches through the country for six hundred miles, forming its southern
border with Serbia and Bulgaria and emptying into the Black Sea in the east. It is a source for
irrigation and hydroelectric power.
Food in Daily Life. Breakfast is usually a small meal of bread with butter and jam and tea. The
largest meal is eaten in the early afternoon. Mititei, grilled sausage seasoned with garlic, is a
common appetizer. Borsch, cabbage soup with bran, or ciorba, a soup of lamb, mushrooms, and
other meats and vegetables, is often served as a first course. Main dishes are usually meat-based,
such as tocana, a pork stew flavored with garlic and onions. Other popular dishes
include sarmale, cabbage leaves stuffed with rice and meat, and mamaglia, a cornmeal dish often
served with poached eggs. Vegetables are served as side dishes. Typical desserts
include placinte, a kind of pie, and baclava, a pastry made of nuts and honey.
Local wines produced in Moldavia and along the Black Sea coast are widely consumed. Tuica, a
strong plum brandy, is also popular, as are beer and soft drinks.
Food Customs at Ceremonial Occasions. Wedding feasts include kegs of wine and tuica and an
enormous round loaf of bread shared by the bride and groom. The annual sheep feast, Simbra

Oilor, a traditional holiday marking the moving of the herds to the high pastures, is celebrated
with a large community meal of cheese, meat dishes, and tuica.
Marriage, Family
Marriage. Traditionally, marriages were arranged by the couple's parents through a matchmaker.
The bride's family was expected to contribute a dowry that usually consisted of linen and
embroidery. Traditional rural weddings were large festivities to which the entire village was
invited. The ceremony included not just the couple and their parents but grandparents,
godparents, the matchmaker, attendants, speakers, cooks, and numerous other people.
Today it is customary for young people to choose their own spouses, but certain elements of the
traditional ceremony are preserved. The bride's hair is braided in an elaborate style, and she dons
a crown of flowers, jewels, and ribbons. The groom wears a white leather vest and a hat
decorated with feathers, flowers, and leaves. The best man shaves the groom's beard to
symbolize his departure from his previous lifestyle. In the ceremony, both the bride and the
groom ask their parents to forgive them for leaving the family.
In their effort to undermine religion, the Communists made civil ceremonies a legal requirement
and discouraged church weddings. They also gave women greater rights in marriage, including
equal control of children and property. When divorce laws were liberalized, the rates of divorce
skyrocketed. To stem that trend, stricter laws were imposed in the 1960s, and divorce rates fell
somewhat but remain high.
Domestic Unit. It is not uncommon for several generations to live together. Housing shortages
force many people to live in close quarters. In the 1980s, the national average was ten square
meters of living space per person; this has improved slightly, but not nearly to the goal set by the
government of fourteen square meters per person by 2000.
Inheritance. Traditionally, an estate passes to the oldest son. Today, however, women are legally
allowed to inherit property.

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