“E-learning and Web2 tools as

means of enhancing education

outcomes and establishing
transnational cooperation”
COMENIUS MULTILATERAL
PROJECT 2008 - 2010

CHRISTMAS CAROLS
and
NEW YEAR
TRADITIONS IN
ROMANIA
 I chose this subject because it’s an
interesting one, it’s part of my culture
and I have now the opportunity to
show to others what traditions my
people haves in the winter, in winter’s
holidays, although less and less people
respects them.
When I was a little child, I was involved
in there traditions:
The Caroling
The Goat Tradition
The Little Plough
Now, I just try to watch and listen them
whenever I can. I think it’s fun, but
now we’re kind of doing different stuff
than listen carrols.
 Christmas in Romania
• Carols form an important part of the Romanian
folklore. Romanian carols are not simple songs
(a sort of invocation in verse sung by children
and lads, on the evening of Winters Holidays)
with religions origin, but wide windows through
which we are allowed once in a year to go by the
immaculate snow-towards the evergreen
Heaven and to eye-touch God at least for an
instant , in order to give us the power to surpass
the life's obstacles. Carols put people in the
mood for a perfect communion with the simple
and healing greatness of Jesus' Birth.
• The carol singers walk in the streets of the
villages and towns holding in their hands a
star made of board and paper with biblical
scenes painted in water colors and they
sing:
"Do you receive the pretty star,
Pretty and so very bright?
It Haseko we did in the sky
Just like God thought it would be right,
Stand it could be seen on high,
Just like we did in the sky"
• On the first Christmas day, children walk in the
streets of snow covered towns and villages,
when holding in their hands a star made of
board and paper with a biblical scenes painted in
water colors or an icon showing Virgin Mary and
baby Jesus, they sing somewhat of a question:
• "Do you receive the pretty star,
Pretty and so bright?
It has appeared on the earth
Just like God through it would be right
And it could be seen on high,
Just like we did, in the sky.
 Romanian Winter
Season Traditions:
1. The Caroling * Colindatul
2. The Star Carol * Steaua
3. The Goat Tradition * Capra
4. Bear Custom  * Ursul
5. The Little Plough * Plugusorul
6. Sorcova
 The Caroling * Colindatul
Traditionally, during the first hours after dark on
Christmas' Eve is the time for children to go caroling
and the adults stay home to greet them. As they go
caroling from house to house, the children receive
treats like candy, fruit, baked treats and sometimes
even money in appreciation of their performance and
as a sign of holiday good will.
The grown-ups caroling goes on Christmas evening and
night. The waits -young and mature people - gather in
groups and they choose a leader. When they are in the
front yard of a house, they perform their repertory to
the host. The songs are always accompanied by dance.
When the performance is over, the host invites the
carolers inside the house for food, drinks and presents.
The Star Carol *

Steaua
 Children make a star using colored paper
and then they put in its middle an icon of Jesus.
Many of children decorate their star using shiny
tinsel.  The “Star Carol” is a tradition during the
3 days of Romanian Christmas.

 
While holding the star in the hands the
children sing:
 
"The star has appeared on high, 
Like a big secret in the sky, 
The star is bright, 
May all your wishes turn out right…"
 The Goat Tradition * Capra
• Throughout the season, teenagers and young adults
especially enjoy caroling with the “Goat”. The “Goat” is
actually a usually boisterous young person dressed up in
a goat costume. The whole group dances through the
streets and from door to door, often with flute music. This
tradition comes from the ancient Roman people and it
reminds us of the celebration of the ancient Greek gods.

• This custom is also called "brezaia" in Wallachia and

Oltenia, because of the multicolored appearance of the
goat mask. The goat jumps, jerks, turns round, and
bends, clattering regularly the wooden jaws.
 Bear Custom * Ursul
• This custom is known only in Moldavia, a part of
Romania, on the Christmas Eve. In this case a young
person dresses up in a bear costume adorned with red
tassels on its ears, on his head and shoulders. The
person wearing the bear costume is accompanied by
fiddlers and followed by a whole procession of
characters, among them a child dressed-up as the bear's
cub. Inspired by the crowd’s singing:
"Dance well, you old bear,
And I’ll give you bread and olives",
• the bear grumbles and imitates the steps of the bear,
striking strongly against the earth with the soles of its
feet to the sound of drums and pipes.
The Little Plough * Plugusorul
• Plugusorul is a small plough. In Romanian folklore is a
traditional procession with a decorated plough, on New
Years' Eve. This is a well wishing custom for the field
fruitfulness into the new year. This custom arises from
"Carmen arvale", a Roman wish for bountiful crops. The
ploughmen are teenagers and children carrying whips,
bells and pipes in their hands.
• Mâine anul se-nnoieşte,
Pluguşorul se porneşte
Şi-om începe a ura,
Pe la case a colinda.
• Iarna-i grea, omătu-i mare,
Semne bune anul are;
Semne bune de belşug,
Pentru brazda de sub plug."
 Children
are singing
at their
party too,
where the
honour-
gest is
Santa
Mos Craciun
 And then…
there are the
choirs, which
relax and
makes us feel
we’re in
heaven.

Byzantion Choir
 Sorcova
"Sorcova" is a special bouquet used for New
Year's wishes early New Year’s morning.
Children wish people a “Happy New Year!”
while touching them lightly with this
bouquet. After they have wished a Happy New
Year to the members of their family, the
children go to the neighbors and relatives.
Traditionally, the "Sorcova" bouquet was made
up of one or several fruit - tree twigs (apple-
tree, pear-tree, cherry-tree, plum-tree); all of
them are put into water, in warm place, on
November 30th (St. Andrew’s Day), in order to
bud and to blossom on New Year's Eve.
Hope you enjoyed my traditions, and ,
if you would like, you could try them
one day. I know for sure I’ve tried some
of yours. I liked some of them, and
some of them I didn’t , but I’m sure
you’ll like all my traditions.
What can I say… I hope you didn’t felt
asleep, and I hope you had a good
time, ‘cause this is the ending.
Have a nice day!
 Authors:
1. Ailioaiei Loredana and
2. Bogdan Vintila

students in
Scoala Normala “Vasile Lupu” Iasi