Christmas Traditions

Romanian Christmas Traditions

Each nation has traditions which create their national identity and the feeling of belonging to a particular group. Traditions are ways of celebrating happy and sad moments or the passing of time. Christmas is a very important holiday for the Romanian people. It’s a time of refection and tranquillity.

Christmas means a lot of things: time spent together with our families, presents, joy, faith, hope for a better year, but also traditions passed on from generation to generation.

Caroling is an important Christmas tradition in Romania that usually starts on Christmas Eve and ends on the 6th of January when we celebrate the Epiphany. Young people usually go caroling to let people know that Jesus is born. In some areas of  Romania adults can go caroling as well. They all wear beautiful and sometimes very old traditional costumes and they go from door to door wishing people a prosperous year and good health. Everyone is happy to receive the carolers in their houses. It  is said that those who refuse to let carolers in their houses will have bad luck the following year. Carolers get nuts, cakes and sometimes money.

Another tradition that people have is hanging mistletoe branches particularly at the entrance door. It is considered to bring good luck, hapiness and prosperity to everyone who lives in that house.  

On Christmas Eve people who want fnd out if they will be healthy next year, cut an apple into halves. If the two halves have worms, it means that they will have health problems next year. If the two halves don’t have worms, it means that they will have good health next year.

Hanging a Christmas wreath is a tradition with a deep religious meaning. Its round shape symbolizes the four seasons, faith, our connection with God, his presence in our lives and in everythig around us.

Some of these traditions were present in the workshops we organized with our students and their parents as well before the Christmas break. We put our creativity at work and beautiful hand made decorations were sold in a Christmas fair. We also sang carols and thus got closer to the Christmas spirit.

The Romanian Erasmus team whishes you all a wonderful Christmas together with the loved ones. May 2025 bring you all  good health and amazing experiences both in our personal and professional life.