Christmas Day in Romania

Christmas Day (Crăciun) is an annual public holiday in Romania on December 25, along with the second day of Christmas (December 26). It is a Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus.

Christmas lights in the main square of the Romanian city of Sibiu.

©iStockphoto.com/boerescul

What do people do?

Many Romanians start celebrating Christmas weeks before December 25. Fun Christmas activities include decorating Christmas trees, caroling songs from home to home, and giving presents to one another on Christmas Eve (Ajunul Crăciunului). The Christmas dinners often include different types of pork dishes, Ciorba de perisoare (vegetable soup with bran and pork meatballs), Sarmale (cabbage leaves stuffed with pork), and Cozonac (fruit bread). Gogosi (Romanian doughnuts) and cheesecakes are also eaten. People traditionally wish each other a Merry Christmas, or “Crặciun Fericit”.

Public life

Christmas Day is a public holiday in Romania so banks, public offices, and many private businesses are closed. People intending to travel via public transport during public holidays must check with the public transit authorities on any changes to time schedules.

Background

Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, who Christians believe is the son of God. His birth date is unknown because there is little information about his early life. Many Christians celebrate Jesus’ birthday on December 25. Many Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas Day on or near January 7. Christmas is celebrated in many other countries.

Symbols

Many shops and homes have visual displays of Santa Claus, known as Moş Crăciun (Old Man Christmas), Moş Nicolae (Old Man Nicholas) and Moş Gerilă (Old Man Frost).

About Christmas Day in other countries

Christmas Day Observances

Related holidays

• Second day of Christmas ―Thursday, December 26, 2013
• Christmas Eve ―Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Other holidays in December 2013 in Romania

• National holiday ―Sunday, December 1, 2013
• Constitution Day ―Sunday, December 8, 2013
• Christmas Eve ―Tuesday, December 24, 2013
• Second day of Christmas ―Thursday, December 26, 2013
• New Year's Eve ―Tuesday, December 31, 2013