For the passionate driver

Sadly, there are less and less good things to say about Romania.  However dissapointed I would be though, I could never deny its goodies. Here is one of them: The Transfagarasan Route

Saint Nicholas, Santa Claus, Christmas Tree, Christmas, Carols and Romania, my friends

A few weeks ago, me and my Good Doctor had a discussion about Christmas. Of course, we ended up fighting like a cat and a dog that we are. A classic example of a good discussion turning bad and of a bad thing turning into something good. As I didn't have all the answers to his questions (and boy, did that make me angry!) and realized, once more, that I still have so many things to learn, be them basic or not, I started a little research on this topic. As you can easily guess, the story is long and can become boring or too much for those unfamiliar with its details. So, that is why and this is how the long story goes short:

- Saint Nicholas was a real person, born in a wealthy family, in the 3rd century, in a village pertaining to nowadays Turkey (but back then, to Greece); raised as a Christian, after the death of his parents, he dedicated his life to God and to helping the ones in need. He was made Bishop of Myra and became known for his generosity and love for children. Due to his religious believes, he was imprisoned by the Roman Emperor Diocletian. He died in 6 December, 343. This is how this date become the day when Christians celebrate him. On December 6, Romanians also celebrate the people that are named after Saint Nicholas: Nicolae, Niculae, Nicu, Nicuşor and Nicoleta (for girls).

In Romania, Saint Nicholas (Moş Nicolae) is eagerly awaited by children as well as by grown-up children (what?!), even though he is an authoritarian figure. He always brings the presents on December 5, in the evening, and leaves them in your shoes, which, by all means, have to be clean! If you don't receive anything it means that Saint Nicholas was simply too busy to arrive to you; too busy with other kids, younger than you; so you, as an older and thus wiser kid, will understand it and will not get upset on him. If you find a stick, usually wrapped in a shiny foil, or potato or onion skin, it means you've been a bad kid! Make sure, next year it won't happen again! But if you've been a good one, then behold the goodies; it can be anything, from gingerbread to a sledge, from an engagement ring to a Maldive vacation, from health to even kids! Whatever you deserve.

- Santa Claus derived from Saint Nicholas. The Dutch, founders of New Amsterdam (the nowadays New York) brought with them the tradition of Saint Nicholas who, in Dutch, is called Sinter Klaas. Sinter Klaas became Santa Claus. John Pintard, who founded the New York Historical Society in 1804, promoted Saint Nicholas as patron saint of New York, in remembrance of the city's Dutch roots. Washington Irwin, made reference to a jolly Saint Nicholas in his  "Knickerbocker's History of New York" published in 1809. In 1820, artist Alexander Anderson was commissioned by John Pintard to create the first American image of Saint Nicholas. Due to cultural changes that too place in time, Saint Nicholas became Santa Clause, a more cheerful, pipe-smoking, white haired and bearded man, dressed in a red suit. The present image of Santa Claus became popular due to a series of Coca Cola advertisements illustrated by artist Haddon Sundblom (tststststs, aaalways, aaaaalways Coca Cola).

In Romania, Santa Claus(in Romanian, Moş Crăciun) comes on Christmas Eve (in Romanian, Ajunul Crăciunului), December 24, and leaves the presents under the Christmas tree (in Romanian, bradul de Crăciun). Children and grown-up children (like I said, what?!) can find them in that very evening or in the next morning, depending on Santa's timing and child's level of curiosity. Just like Saint Nicholas, if you don't receive anything, at least be wise. But you don't receive bad things for being bad this time. Santa is too jolly and forgiving, plus he thinks Saint Nicholas already made the point clear. Ho, ho, ho, ho.

On December 25, Romanians also celebrate people named after Christmas: Cristian, Cristi and Cristina, Cristiana (for girls).

Notable for Romania is the replaced, by the communists, of Moş Crăciun (Santa Claus) with Moş Gerilă (Old Man Frosty) in an attempt to erase the religious meanings, relations and backgrounds.

- The Christmas Tree, although of pagan origins, symbolizes life as it stays always green; plus is nice; and smells nice; so why not let the tree stay where it should and go and buy a fake one?! A symbol for a symbol! How symbolic!

In Romania, Christmas trees can be found in the open markets or at the supermarket  approximately a couple of weeks before Christmas. Most of the people though, would buy one in the week preceding Christmas and would decorate it during this week or even on December 24; this is why most of them are grumpy and annoying in this specific day; cause they are tired and stressed; cause they do everything on the last minute. Also most of them prefer the natural one (who wouldn't?) but exactly those that fall under the "most" category don't prefer to plant another one in return.

- Christmas is there to commemorate the birth of Christ, so is a Christian holiday. It is celebrated on December 25  by means of a common agreement as this day is not known to be the actual birthday of Christ. Countries as Russia, Ukraine, Republic of Macedonia, Serbia, Georgia, Egypt and the Great Patriarchate of Jerusalem celebrate it on January 7 (such countries use the Julian calendar as opposed to the Gregorian one).
In Romania, (I don't know how many of) the eastern orthodox followers (the majority of the population) practice the Nativity Fast, a period of abstinence from the body pleasure, humility and repentance. Exempted from these "rules" are the ill, the young, the elder and the nursing mothers.
And of course, after all these food restrictions, behold the pork (all sorts of pork home/supermarket-made products), ţuică (traditional Romanian alcoholic beverage made out of plums) rachiu (like the previous one but made out of any other fruit or cereal except plums), cozonac (a sort of sweet bread filled with walnuts/Turkish delight/poppy seeds/raisins; very much like the Italian Panettone except the shape) and many other goodies.

- Carols, are basically songs about Christmas and everything related to it; they can be sang in the period  of fasting, before Christmas and especially on the Christmas Eve;
In Romania, carol singing is still practiced. Usually children (from the same block/neighborhood/family/school class or just friends) but grown-up children as well, group together and go from one home to another to sing carols. Carol singers are regarded as announcers of the birth of Christ and rarely the doors they knock remain closed. Children normally go to all the homes in their neighborhood, even if they don't know the ones living in there. Those who receive them, listen to their carols and at the end the children are given money and goodies. Grown-up children normally go just to people they know (usually relatives and friends) and they are not given money (doh!) but just goodies, be it alcoholic beverages, non-alcoholic beverages, sweets,or food (most of the time from all these categories). They are likely to come starting with when it gets dark and ending in the morning (kids normally go to bed by midnight though). If, by any chance, you do not want to open the door to carol singers, make sure no one knows you are home; you'll be severally judged, otherwise; unless you are not a Christian, and then is fine, of course.

Abruptly, but

The End

Happy National Day, Romania!

If you ever decide to learn something about the history of Romania, think twice! I am not trying to discourage you to do so. Better yet, if you manage your way in this junggle you'll have my cheers; in a cheerleading outfit with all the implied acrobatics. Is just that I'm finding it so dense and my brain is so history-proof!

So I decided to remember, refresh, re-learn or simply learn it bit by bit. Today seems like a perfect day to start. However, this is not a proper history lesson; I will keep it as short as possible, highlighting the basics.

Why 1st of December?

Let's not go back to Zalmoxis, but around the World War I, when:

- The Romanian Old Kingdom (as it was in 1913) included Wallahia and Moldavia united in 1859, to which Northern Dobruja was added in 1878 and Southern Dobruja in 1913.

- In 1918, first Bessarabia (March 27), then Bukovina (November 15/28) and then the last piece of the puzzle, Transylvania (December 1), united with the Old Kingdom giving birth to what is known as Greater Romania. 

- Unfortunately after the World War II Southern Dobruja, Basarabia and Bucovina were again lost; up to this day, they still are.

- to quote Wikipedia (credit for the map too)"Romanian territory during the 20th century: purple indicates the Old Kingdom before 1913, pink indicates Greater Romania areas that joined after WWI and remained so after WWII, and orange indicates areas that joined Romania after WWI or were annexed after the Second Balkan War, but were lost after WWII. The small Hertza region, also purple but delimited, was part of the Old Kingdom before 1913, but was lost after WWII."

 So there, we know.
Now, everyone, raise for the national anthem (with an English translation!)



On a more personal note...

Roses are red

Why we (the Romanians) never learn about African and Asian literature? I mean in school, prior to uni or college or whatever after high school. Our literature world map shows only Europe, the Americas (is Australia there too *big question mark*) and Russia (obviously!). The only thing I remember being studied from Asian literature is Epic of Gilgamesh . And this thanks to the fact it is one of the earliest writings of mankind. Thus my question: why don't we study African and Asian literature? Does it make any sense? No. Not to me. We loose a lot. And to exemplify this:
Today I will talk about Orhan Pamuk's My name is Red, my best reading in 2008. I cannot even describe the feeling you get while reading it.... I call it the oriental version of the Romanian Fratii Jderi (t. The Marten Brothers) because, putting aside the differences: in form, narrative technique, age of writings, cultural environment, location and many others, they have a lot of common points too. And because the similitude stroke out more than the differences, to me, they will always be the separate placenta twins :D So, if you are Romanian and you enjoyed the jderi, you might as well taste the Red because: it is an amazingly well crafted window into the Turkish and Middle Eastern world, which takes the reader back in the 16th century, a portrait of the art world under the impressive shadow of long gone masters of the illustration, a detective story in search of truth, The truth and personal truth, glimpse into the inner animate and inanimate worlds and a one of a kind 1st person narration. Same old ingredients which make up a whole new story. A different one. A red one. A Nobel laureate one.