Culture of Moldova

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A Moldovan postage stamp from 1992, depicting traditional pottery
A painting of Stephen the Great and his wife Marițica Bibescu, surrounded by family
Part of a series on the
Culture of Moldova
History
People
Languages
Traditions
Mythology
Cuisine
Festivals
Religion
Art
Literature
Music
Media
Sport
Monuments
Symbols

The culture of

Slavic and minority Gagauz populations.[1] The traditional Latin origins of Romanian culture reach back to the 2nd century, the period of Roman colonization in Dacia
.

During the centuries following the Roman withdrawal in 271, the population of the region was influenced by contact with the

Western European (particularly French) influence came to be evident in literature and the arts. The resulting melting pot has produced a rich cultural tradition. Although foreign contact was an inevitable consequence of the region's geographical location, their influence only served to enhance a vital and resilient popular culture. Despite the many foreign influences on Moldovan culture, the country's traditional Romanian roots remain strong.[4]

The population of what once was the

Slavic culture
during the periods of 1812–1917, and during 1940–1989 they were influenced by Russia.

The geographical area that is now modern Moldova was formed under the conditions of contacts with the East Slavic population, and later under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. In 1812, the territory of modern Moldova was liberated from Ottoman rule and incorporated into the Bessarabian province of the Russian Empire, which had a great influence on the development of the culture of the region. After the October Revolution in 1918, Romania annexed the nation for 22 years, and the Moldavian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was formed on the left bank of the Dniester, as a result of which culture developed under a stronger Russian influence under Soviet administrative control, as well as by ethnic Russian or Russian-speaking immigration.

By 1918, Bessarabia was one of the least developed, and least educated European regions of the Russian Empire. In 1930, Moldova's literacy rate was 40%, while Romania itself had a 38% literacy rate according to the 1930 Romanian census. Especially low was the literacy rate for women, less than 10% in 1918, to just under 50% in 1940.[citation needed] Although Soviet authorities promoted education, the region's cultural ties with Romania were slowly eroded due to administrative policies. With many ethnic Romanian intellectuals, either fleeing, being killed after 1940, or being deported both during and after World War II, Bessarabia's cultural and educational situation changed drastically and became more Russified.

After the 1960s, Soviet authorities developed urban cultural and scientific institutions that were subsequently filled with Russians, and diverse ethnic groups from across the Soviet Union. Much of the urban culture came from Moscow, while the primarily rural ethnic Romanian population was allowed to express itself in folklore and folk art.

Folk culture

Wedding in the village Tașlîc, 1960s
Traditional Moldovan costumes in Chișinău

Although the

moccasin (opinca) was replaced by the Russian boot
.

Moldova's traditional

ceramics and weaving, continue to be practiced in rural areas. The folk culture tradition is promoted at the national level and is represented by, among other groups, the folk choir, Doina
.

Literary culture

Main article: Literature of Moldova

The first books, religious texts, of the Principality of Moldavia appeared in the mid-17th century. Prominent figures in Moldavia's cultural development include

Bogdan P. Hasdeu (1836–1907), author Ion Creangă (1837–1889), and poet Mihai Eminescu
(1850–1889).

Varlaam published the first books. Dosoftei founded numerous schools and published a lot. Cantemir wrote the first thorough geographical, ethnographical, and economic description of Moldavia in Descriptio Moldaviae (Berlin, c. 1714).

Modern writers include

Ion Druţă, Victor Teleucă,Victor Ciobanu and Grigore Vieru. In 1991, a total of 520 books were published in Moldova, of which 402 were in Romanian, 108 in Russian, eight in Gagauz, and two in Bulgarian
.

In the early 1990s, Moldova had twelve professional theaters. All performed in Romanian, except the A.P. Chekhov Russian Drama Theater in

Chişinău, and the Russian Drama and Comedy Theater in Tiraspol
, both of which performed solely in Russian, and the Licurici Republic Puppet Theater, in Chişinău, which performed in both Romanian and Russian. Members of ethnic minorities manage a number of folklore groups and amateur theaters throughout the country.

Cuisine

A popular Moldovan dish of Stuffed Cabbage Rolls (sarma), accompanied by sauerkraut and mămăligă.
Main article: Moldovan cuisine
See also: Moldovan wine

Moldovan cuisine consists mainly of traditional European foods, such as beef, pork,

potatoes, cabbage, cheese, and a variety of cereal grains. Popular alcoholic beverages are divin (Moldovan brandy
), beer, and local wine.

Very popular dishes include

beets, tomatoes, and other vegetables to form a stew), and sarma (a dish made with stuffed cabbage rolls
, accompanied by sauerkraut and mămăligă).

Other common foods in Moldova include grilled meats, other grains,

dairy products, and mămăligă (a type of polenta made with cornmeal, and mashed into a porridge
).

Sports

Main article: Sport in Moldova
See also: Football in Moldova and Rugby union in Moldova

See also

References

  1. ^ Moldova's Culture
  2. ^ "Slavs in Moldova Bio". University of Maryland. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
  3. ^ Marcin Kosienkowski, "Polska a Mołdawia i Naddniestrze"
  4. ^ "Moldovan Culture and Traditions". Moldova Travel. Retrieved November 2, 2023.

External links

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