ROMANIA

Romanian Writers
DROWSY BIRDS

Drowsy birds at even gliding, Round about their nests alight, In among the branches hiding... Dear, good night !
Silence through the forest creeping, Lullaby the river sighs; In the garden flowers sleeping... Shut your eyes ! Glides the swan among the rushes To its rest where moon light gleams, And the angels whisper hushes... Peaceful dreams ! Oer the sky stars without number, On the earth a silver light; All is harmony and slumber... Dear, good night ! Translated by Corneliu M. Popescu

Mihai Eminescu (1850-1889) was a romantic poet, novelist and journalist, often regarded as the most famous and influential Romanian poet. Notable works: Lucifer; Satire III; Prince Charming of the year.

Vasile Alecsandri Ion Luca Caragiale (1821-1890) (1852-1912)

Emil Cioran (1911-1994)

Marin Preda (1922-1990)

Ion Creanga (1837-1889)

Iulia Hasdeu (1869-1888)

Grigore Ureche (1590-1647)

George Bacovia (1881-1957)

Tudor Vianu (1898-1964)

Miron Costin (1633-1691)

George Calinescu George Cosbuc (1866-1918) (1899-1965)

Ioan Slavici (1848-1925)

Ion Barbu (1895-1961)

Gellu Naum (1915-2001)

Liviu Rebreanu Grigore Alexandrescu (1810-1885) (1885-1944)

Lucian Blaga (1895-1961)

Ionel Teodoreanu (1897-1954)

Mihail Sadoveanu Mircea Eliade Costache Negruzzi Nichita Stanescu Nicolae Labis Tudor Arghezi Titu Maiorescu (1935-1956) (1808-1868) (1840-1917) (1880-1967) (1933-1983) (1880-1961) (1907-1986)

Romanian Artists
~ composers ~

Dinu Lipatti (1917-1950)

George Enescu (1881-1955) Anton Pann (1790-1854)

Ciprian Porumbescu (1853-1883)

~ painters ~

Nicolae Grigorescu (1838-1907)

Stefan Luchian (1868-1917) Selfportrait

Nicolae Tonitza (1886-1940) Selfportrait

Ion Andreescu (1850-1882) Selfportrait

~ sculptors ~

Ion Irimescu (1903-2005)

Constantin Brancusi (1876-1957)

~ film directors ~

Sergiu Nicolaescu (1930-2013)

Horatiu Malaele (b. 1961)

Cristian Mungiu (b. 1968)

Cristi Puiu (b. 1975)

Corneliu Porumboiu (b. 1975)

~ actors ~

Mircea Albulescu (b.1934)

Radu Beligan (b. 1918)

Ion Caramitru (b.1942)

Monica Birladeanu (b. 1978)

Maia Morgenstern (b. 1962)

Marcel Iures (b.1951)

Amza Pellea (1931-1983)

Florin Piersic (b.1936)

Victor Rebengiuc (b.1933)

Florian Pitti (1943-2007)

Alexandru Arsinel (b. 1939)

Stela Popescu (b.1935)

Easter Tradition Painted Eggs

The most readily recognizable examples of Romanian art are the famed painted eggs, especially prominent around Easter time. Painting of real hollowed-out eggs was an integral part of preparations for this festival of renewal. Women and children gathered in someones home and spent a day painting and gossiping. Intricate patterns were actually secret languages known only to residents of the regions where they were painted. The oldest known were painted with aqua fortis (nitric acid) on a traditional red background. Theyre available in nearly all shops and street markets.

Mrioris an old Romanian celebration at the beginning of spring, on March the 1st, which according to old calendar was also considered as the beginning of the new year. Symbolically, it is correlated to women and to fertility as a means of life and continuity. The tradition is authentic in Romania, Moldova, and all territories inhabited by Romanians and Aromanians. In modern times, and especially in urban areas, the Mrior lost most of its talisman properties and became more of a symbol of friendship or love, appreciation and respect.

Embroidery on folk costumes worn for holidays and special occasions (like weddings) follows strict regional patterns and serves also as a sort of secret language known only to people within the different regions. Sibiu uses graphic black and white motifs, reflecting its Saxon heritage; southern regions of Arges, Muscel, Dimbovita and Prahova use red, black maroon, yellow, gold, and silver threads, reflecting influences of the Ottoman Empire. Buzau uses terra cotta; Oas uses green and Moldavia uses orange and the Voronet blue made worldfamous by its use on the monastery of the same name. Especially beautiful is cut embroidery on white or ecru linen and cotton, done throughout the country.

If you want to find more about our beautiful country, we invite you to visit the following sites:

www.romaniatourism.com www.romania-insider.com www.visit-romania.ro