Topic 3 Social & cultural learning in Romania: traditions, local values, linguistic specificities

Romanian salutations:

• Romania is characterized by its picturesque nature, in all the cities of Romanian there are places to walk, exercise and enjoy the nature with family and friends. This is also encouraged by the beautiful climate throughout the year, and the fact that Romania is a touristic destination and locals interact with foreigners a lot.
• Romania is a safe country with low levels of criminality, and Romanians tend to be quite friendly and polite. While at the market, for instance, people greet each other by saying “servus” or “salut” which are informal words and very polite way to great a stranger, while in more formalized contexts the salutation will be “Bună ziua” or “Bună”.
• There is the habit of greeting and respecting stranger and older people, with the word “Dumneavoastră” which is the polite form of using “you”.

Photo by Daniel-Cristian Ștefan, https://www.learnro.com/romanian-greetings

• Romanians are talkative, friendly, assertive and open people. For example, senior citizens can start a conversation with a stranger while using the public transport, while for long distances travels (by train or bus) discussions between passengers are more in-depth and longer.
• Most Romanians are fluent in English, especially in the biggest Romanian cities (Bucharest, Cluj, Timisoara, Iasi etc). The flourishing economic development, more diverse population in terms of different ethnicities and nationalities, excellent universities – all these factors influence the big Romanian cities to be more open and inclusive towards foreigners.
• You can start a conversation anywhere, and you will always find people to help or to guide you – at bus station, coffee shops, malls and police stations.

Photo by Redbubble: https://www.redbubble.com/i/mug/Visit-Romania-Bran-Castle-by-morganajones/40236709.9Q0AD

• The official languages of the country is Romanian, also English is widely spoken. French, German and Hungarian are also spoken within the tourism industry, universities, and some public institutions (Hungarians and Germans are among the largest national minorities).
• Many immigrant Romanian speakers live worldwide (high numbers is Italy, Spain, Germany, UK, Canada, and United States).
• Romania is considered a very adherent country to religion. Christianity is the largest faith, the majority of Romanians identifying as Romanian Orthodox Christians, but there are numerous different religions and cults (Protestant Christians, Roman Catholics, Baptists etc).

Photo by: travelguideromania.com

• In Romania, the name day originates in religion of an Orthodox Christian saint’s tradition celebration according with one’s baptismal name; individuals who have the name of saint usually celebrate their name day (equally important as the birthday celebration).
• There are several important Name days, which are also considered official holiday, such as Saint Andrei (St. Andrew).
• During these name days, individuals with saint names are expecting a wishes of “La mulți ani” (to many years – happy birthday, an expression used by Romanians in many different contexts). Flowers are offered as gifts by relatives and friends, also colleagues at the workplace.

Photo by RODNAE Productions: https://www.pexels.com/photo/people-celebrating-a-birthday-7580804/

• The Romanian society shares and promotes values such as: tolerance, generosity, education, manners, sociability, work, honesty, perseverance, hospitality.
• The Romanian State shall promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, pluralism, values of democracy, minority rights, multiculturalism and the principles of open society – transparency, civic activism, plurality of views and interests.
• In Romania, the principle of equality between women and men is respected and protected by the national legislative framework. Romanians enjoy equal rights and treatment with regards to education access, employment, culture, social life, access to high public and political functions etc.