Romania Culture and People

More than 85 percent of Romania's people are of "pure" Romanian ancestry. The early people descended from the Dacians, Romans, and such tribes as the Goths, Huns, and Slavs. These Indo-European people lived in what is now Romania as early as the 300's B.C. in communities between the Carpathian Mountains and the lower Danube River. As many of the traditions and beliefs of the Dacian people are carried forward in modern customs, some rural Romanians live lives similar to that of their early ancestors. Hungarians form the largest minority group in Romania, comprising about eight percent of the population. Germans make up about two percent.

Romanian is the nation's official language and is spoken by almost all the people, although English is taught in elementary and secondary schools, and spoken in all universities. About three-fourths of all Romanians belong to the Romanian Orthodox Church, an Eastern Orthodox Church. About seven percent of the people -chiefly Hungarians - are Roman Catholics. Other faiths that are practiced in Romania include Islam, Judaism, and various forms of Protestantism.

Romania's culture reflects the country's early, turbulent history. Because life for the Romanian people has been a struggle throughout history, many traditions revolve around "essential life moments" such as birth, marriage and death.

The Romanians are one of history's greatest survivors, and despite numerous invasions and occupations, Romanian culture has remained intact. Vibrant festivals to celebrate important occasions and holidays often are observed in colorful costumes and with the lilting, joyful folk music that is uniquely Romanian.

Children are baptized soon after birth in a traditional church ceremony. The ritual requires that the godparents bathe the child immediately after the priest performs the baptism rite. In the water, the godparents place a small amount of money as well as rice and basil, which signifies riches, plenty of food, and a "sweet" life. In a custom to foretell the child's future, at seven months after birth the child is positioned to choose between a book, a pencil and an egg. It is said that the child who chooses the book will become an intellectual, one who chooses a pencil will exhibit artistic skills, and one who chooses the egg will focus on materialistic pursuits.