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[23 Feb 2011 | No Comment | ]
Dragobete in Neamt County: Customs and Traditions

Each year on February 24, we celebrate our own traditional holiday dedicated to love: Dragobete. The Orthodox Church celebrates in this day The Finding of St Joan’s Head, a religious holiday also known as “spring head” in our tradition.
Dragobete first appears at our ancestors: Daci. In their beliefs, Dragobete was a matchmaker and a godfather for the animals. Romanians carried on this tradition and transformed this myth in a love story: those that meet in this day will be loved all year long.
Dragobete was the son of Dochia and was …

Attractions, Customs, traditions and crafts, Festivals organized by Neamţ County Council, Local artisans, Other Articles, Tourism Promotion, Tourist trails »

[1 Feb 2011 | No Comment | ]
Neamt County: Tourist Guide

Neamt County is guarded by tall mountains with strong pine trees. The smooth hills are surrounding Roman and pointy mountains are placed around Piatra Neamt. It seems that everything that nature has to offer is here: the mountains, the rapid flowing creeks, the smooth surface of lakes and the beauty of the hills.
Bicaz town, located along River Bistrita valley, and Targu Neamt town, where you can visit the medieval fortress of ruler Stephen the Great, have plenty of stories to tell about the history, culture and beauty of these places.
Over …

Customs, traditions and crafts »

[2 Jan 2011 | No Comment | ]
Traditional mask-dances from the night of New Year’s Eve

The traditional mask-dances from the night of New Year’s Eve represent the celebration of “all madness” in the night when a “new order is installed and when life is reborn”. For centuries traditions like “Capra” (The Goat), “Ursul” (The Bear) or “Calutii” (The Small Horses) are highly appreciated by people that witness these dances. Around these “animals” there are bands that wear masks representing humans in all their diversity. You’ll see masks representing elders, old ugly women, devils, goats and so on. These characters are called either “Uratii”, which means …

Customs, traditions and crafts »

[2 Jan 2011 | No Comment | ]
“Plugusorul” and “Plugul Flacailor” – traditions on the night of New Year’s Eve in Neamt County

In the last day of every year, traditions and customs from Neamt County are an eco over time of our primordial traditions and customs. Here are two traditions that are still alive and that take place in the day before the new year.
“Plugusorul”  (The Little Plow) (performed on December 31)
The tradition of “Plugusor” continues in Neamt County under different forms, depending of the ethnographic area. Although there are different names for this custom, like “Plugusor” (Little Plow), “Urat”, “Uratura de Sfantul Vasile” (St Vasile Wishing), “Buhai” (The Bull – because …

Customs, traditions and crafts »

[17 Dec 2010 | No Comment | ]
Christmas traditions in Neamt County

Neamt County is a mountain area where Christmas traditions are transmitted from one generation to another. Although the lifestyle from present days creates contradictions even in the most remote villages, traditions and customs are kept alive, especially those referring to winter season. Christmas and New Year’s Eve traditions represent a true touristic attraction that tourists can experiment at one of the traditional pensions from Neamt.
The traditional houses from this area have a tall roof and a covered porch and are full of warm and hospitality. These traditional houses, decorated with …

Customs, traditions and crafts, Local artisans »

[13 Dec 2010 | One Comment | ]
Maria Mihalachi – Local Artisan from Baltatesti Commune, Neamt County

In Baltatesti Commune from Neamt County the craft of weaving is carry on by the local artisan Maria Mihalachi. Neamt County has a multitude of traditional crafts and also people willing to keep it alive. One of the crafts for which Neamt County is famous is the craft of weaving.
This old tradition from Neamt County spread mainly because of an old folk custom according to which the bride had to offer at the wedding carpets handmade by her. This is why this craft evolved inside the traditional Romanian houses and …