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The ancient source of our culture was at the countryside and younger people respect that. The love for land, animals and the whole nature began here. The special inside feeling for beauty was born here during the long winter evenings when women came together to sit near the fire and sing old songs while making woolen yarns, sewing clothes, doys or needle point tapestries, making lace or embroideries and weaving colorful carpets for their families. The houses are not very big but once you are inside them, you feel incredible comfortable and welcome.
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The Romanian folk creativity is unlimited. Taking a tour of villages all over the country from Moldavia to Oltenia, from Maramures to Dobrudja, from Banat to Wallachia or Transylvania will show you so many amazing things that little by little you will start to believe that this country is blessed with surprising people. Any young girl makes her dowry consisting of pillows, counterpane, blankets, carpets, rugs, towels and clothes. The patterns and colors are specific to her native region. She learned how to sew or weave from her mother who have learned from her mother and so on. Young men are usually preoccupied by carving wood or stone. Visit Maramures region and you will be delighted by the tall gates you will see there at the entrance in every yard. Wooden churches of Transylvania (built with no iron nails) is a proof of high imagination and technical skills. Also in many Village Museums spread all over Romania you will be astonished by water mills, wind mills and other rustic objects all made by peasants in their homes.
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In any Romanian village you will enjoy the view of different sorts of ceramics. Each family has vessel made by burnt clay (pots, cups, plates, vases) and people really use this vessel instead of the modern ones. Peasants say that dishes are more tasteful if you eat them in a clay-burnt bowl with a wooden spoon! Pottery is an old tradition in many regions and nowadays is a sort of local art. The only place of Romania where you may find black ceramics is Marginea (Suceava county). In the other villages, plates, cups and bowls are lovely decorated with colorful patterns, most of them geometrical or floral. Nature was always a great source of inspiration for people living at the countryside. Take a look at these beautiful things you may find in a Romanian traditional house.
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Listening to the Romanian old ballads telling about courageous outlaws fighting against greedy rich boyars you will understand better the Romanian soul. Ancestors are not forgotten and younger generations are learning songs and poems about them from their grandparents. Also they learn not to forget their traditional symbols sewn on their folk costumes and those secret magic rituals very well kept during the time. One of these ancient rituals say that in the New Year's Eve people must wear ugly masks to scary bad spirits coming to Earth (because the sky is opened for a few hours).
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It is hard to believe that Romania is a country of great contrasts but this is the reality. Romanian village is an expression of a forgotten world and an ancient culture, with strong bonds between people which last for thousands of years. From here are coming many Romanian famous artists (Constantin Brancusi), writers (Mihail Sadoveanu, Ion Creanga, Liviu Rebreanu), poets (Mihai Eminescu, George Cosbuc), musicians (Ciprian Porumbescu), and painters (Nicolae Grigorescu)....
The Romanian village is a special song. You must come here to enrich your
soul with its notes!