Between Christmas and the New Year

According to the latest census, 98% of Romanians are Christians.

For them, Christmas is one of the most important events in the religious calendar.

It is a time when the family gets together around the Christmas tree, a time of gift-giving, good tidings and good food.

The traditional Christmas meal usually consists of cold pork dishes, pound cake and fruit.

At Christmas time, groups of carolers herald the birth of Jesus Christ, observing a large array of customs from the traditional cultural heritage.

Lots of Romanians took advantage of this break to take a trip to the mountains.

At 2000 metres altitude, Balea Lake is already frozen and covered with snow.

This year as well the small mountain resort is home to the only ice hotel in Romania, built in the Baroque style and depicting great personalities of the 17th and 18th centuries, such as Voltaire, Moliere, Marie-Antoinette, or Samuel von Brukenthal.

Many Orthodox Christians attended the Christmas service at the Romanian Orthodox Patriarchal Cathedral or at the “St. Joseph” Catholic Cathedral in Bucharest.

Romanian Patriarch Daniel urged Romanians to hold on to their faith and generosity.

In turn, Catholic Archbishop Ioan Robu told Romanian Catholics to reflect on the word of God.

On Thursday, the second day of Christmas, Orthodox Christians in Tismana attended the celebration of St. Mary and St. Nicodemus feast day at Tismana Monastery.

The monastery is one of the oldest monastic sites on Romanian territory, dating back to the 14th century.

It was built after the Christian conversion of the local population by Andrew the Apostle.

Christmas has preserved its traditional significance for Romanian military deployed abroad.

Nearly 1,200 Romanian military in Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo or Northern Africa celebrated a few moments of magic on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

The celebration of Christmas also occasioned the traditional message of president Traian Basescu to the Romanian people.

The president told Romanians to be better men and to think more about other people, particularly those in need of compassion and solidarity.

King Mihai I of Romania also sent a few words of cheer to Romanians worldwide.

Europe’s most longeval monarch wished Romanians to spend peaceful and happy winter holidays.