Holidays and Festivals, Bucovina
Life in Bucovina is marked by a series of events, holidays and festivals that repeat themselves each year. These old traditions are well conserved in this part of Romania.
There are many occasions to celebrate; first of all there are important religious holidays, Christmas, Easter and the feast days of the major saints; then, there are several ethno-folkloric festivals, usually related to the cyclic agrarian rituals; to these could be added the numerous other cultural manifestations and fairs.
February
– Păltinoasa – A Time for Evening Sittings (Vremea Şezătorilor). A festival of folk music. Originally, a Şezătoarea is a reunion in a peasant house, a combination of a sewing circle and an occasion to sing, dance, recite poems, or make jokes.
March
– Last week, Fundu Moldovei – “The Annunciation” Religious Music Festival (Festivalul de Muzică Religioasă “Bunavestire”).
– Vatra Moldoviţei – Flowers from Bucovina (Flori din Bucovina).
– Cornu Luncii – Peasants’ Dance (Hora gospodarilor), a local festival of folk dance and music.
May
– Radauti – Rock Music Festival (Festivalul de Muzica Rock).
– First days, Marginea – Black Pottery Fair (Târgul de Ceramică Neagră), a fair of the typical black pottery made in the village.
– Dărmăneşti – Minorities Festival “Convieţuiri” (Festivalul Minorităţilor “Convieţuiri”), a festival of Bucovina’s ethnic minorities, the Armenians, Poles and Ukrainians.
– Gura Humorului – National Festival of Caricatures and Epigrams “Humour at Gura Humorului” (Festival National de Caricaturi si Epigrame “Umor…la Gura Humorului”).
June
– The first half, Straja – Festival of Traditional Wedding Customs (Festivalul Tradiţiilor de Nuntă).
– Sadova – Gathering of Sheep (Strunga oilor). The sheep are gathered together at the sheepfold, and the sheep that gives the most milk receives a prize. A cheese called “caş” is prepared from the milk of the whole flock.
– Horodnic – Festival of Folk Music Instruments “Silvestru Lungoci” (Festivalul Instrumentelor Populare “Silvestru Lungoci”).
– Putna Monastery – A special service connected with the end of the fasting period.
– First days, Horodnic – Traditional Dances (Dansuri Tradiţionale), a festival of folk dances.
– Bâlca – Old People’s Festival (Festivalul Bătrânilor). Old people perform traditional songs and dances.
– Baia – Symposium “Baia – Historical Moments” (Simpozionul “Baia – File de istorie”) A yearly symposium on important moments of history.
July
– Suceava – Classical music competition “Ciprian Porumbescu”
– Radauti – Pottery Fair “The Eye of the Peacock” (Târgul Olarilor “Ochi de Păun”).
– Falticeni – The Evening Sitting (Şezătoarea) – happening of folk dance and music.
– Campulung Moldovenesc – International Festival of Folklore “Bucovinean Meetings” (Festivalul International de Folclor “Întâlniri Bucovinene”).
August
– Suceava – Pottery Fair (Târgul Meşterilor Olari).
August, Suceava – Old Customs (După datina străbună), a presentation of old customs and traditions.
Radauti – International Folk Festival “Arcanul” (Festivalul International de Folclor “Arcanul”), a festival of folklore. The arcan is the symbol of the 19th century compulsory military service. The forced conscription of a young man was a tragedy for the entire family.
– Fundu Moldovei – Celebrating “Arcanul” (Sărbătoarea Arcanului), festival of folklore.
– First week, Suceava – National Dance Festival “Hora de la Prislop” (Festivalul Naţional de Dans “Hora de la Prislop”). Hora is the traditional Romanian ring dance.
– Bâlca – The Celebration of the Virgin Mary (Sărbătoarea Sfintei Marii).
September
– Vama – Dance in Vama (Hora la Vama), a folk dance festival.
– Suceava – Ethnographic and Folk Festival “Simeon Florea Marian”.
– Straja – Treasures of the Romanian Soul (Comori de Suflet Românesc), a festival of folk music and poetry.
– Volovăţ – Treasures of the Soul in Volovăţ (Comorile Sufletului la Volovăţ), folk music and poetry.
– Gura Humorului – Film Festival “Autumn in Voroneţ” (Festivalul de Film si Diaporamă “Toamna la Voroneţ”). Short films and documentaries of young film directors compete for a prize.
October
– Suceava– Poetry Competition “Nicolae Labiş” (Concursul de Poezie “Nicolae Labiş”). A competition for the best new poem and the best reciter.
October, – – Suceava – Fine Arts Competition “Voroneţeana” (Concursul de Artă Plastică “Voroneţeana”).
November
– November, Suceava – Young Craftsmen’s Fair (Târgul Copiilor Meşteşugari), where the craftsmen sell their produce.
– Moldoviţa – Dance and Music Festival “The Song of the Mountains” (Festivalul de Dans şi Muzică “Cântecul Obcinii”).
– Last week, Suceava – Celebrating the Great Union of 1918 (Sărbătoarea Marii Uniri), with a folk music festival, conferences and symposiums, as well as concerts of contemporary music.
December
– Suceava – National Fair of Photographic Art “Bucovina 2003” (Salonul Naţional de Artă Fotografică “Bucovina 2003”). An annual contest for the best photograph, as well as an exhibition.
– Marginea – Traditions and Customs (Datini şi Obiceiuri).
– Fălticeni – Traditions and Customs (Datini şi Obiceiuri).
– PârteŞtii de Jos – Traditions and Customs (Datini şi Obiceiuri).
– ZvoriŞtea – Traditions and Customs (Datini şi Obiceiuri).
– Dorna Arini – Traditions and Customs (Datini şi Obiceiuri).