Easter
Paștele (Easter) is the biggest feast of the Orthodox year, and most Romanians are Orthodox. Its date often differs from Western Easter. At Easter is de Paște, just as at Christmas can be de Crăciun. Eggs are dyed red and cracked against each other with the greeting Hristos a înviat! (Christ is risen!), answered Adevărat a înviat! (He is risen indeed!). Lamb and cozonac are on the table.
Carols and holidays
Colindul (plural colinde) is a Christmas carol. Before Christmas, children go from house to house singing — merg cu colindul — and are given treats or a little money. Sărbătoarea (plural sărbători) is any holiday; at the end of the year people wish each other Sărbători fericite!
The mărțișor
On 1 March, Romanians give a mărțișor (plural mărțișoare): a small charm tied to a red and white string, most often given to women and girls and worn on the clothes to greet the spring.
God and sin
Dumnezeu (God) takes no article. Of someone who has died, people add Dumnezeu să-l ierte (God rest his soul). Păcatul is the sin, and it is the same word as in ce păcat! (what a pity!) and din păcate (unfortunately).
Romanian things
| word | used for | example |
|---|
| român | people, nationality | un român, limba română |
| românesc | things in Romanian style | muzica românească |
| românește | how you say it | vorbesc românește |
Românesc has the forms românesc, românească, românești. And papanașii are fried cheese doughnuts, topped with sour cream and jam.
Traditions travel by word of mouth, so you will often hear se spune că… (they say that…, it is said that…): the impersonal se with a spune.
