Many of us are familiar with Moldovan traditions due to the colindas shown on the local TV, the little sowers (“semanatorii“) knocking on the doors and Mos Craciun, striding along the main street of the city accompanied by the New Year masks of Nanny-goat, the Bear, the Old Man and other fairytale characters.

It seems strange that some time ago it was illegal to follow the Moldovan folk traditions, not to mention popularizing them. The Bassarabian folklorist Petre V. Stefanuca was repressed simply because of his interest in the way the countrymen celebrated their holidays.

His notes were kept safe for the half of the century until they were published in the Romanian language, appearing under the title “ The Folklore and folk traditions”. As you can judge by the books with uncut pages offered by the National Library, the people are not extremely interested in the subject. Let us have a look at what is written there…

“Lichie“ - ceremonial food exchange.

On Christmas Eve Moldovans have a tradition of exchanging the food specially prepared for this occasion. Women cook “lichie” - flat cakes, biscuits or small loaves of yeast-free wheat bread. Boys and girls take some biscuits, sweets and apples, wrap it up in the handkerchief and pay visits to their relatives and godparents.

You should greet everyone who is in the house and kiss the old people’s hands saying ”Mummy and Daddy are sending you this lichie”. The mistress of the house takes the upper biscuit, giving instead her own biscuits, apples, nuts and some pocket money.

This bread exchange means that people do care about their relatives and maintain friendly relations with them.

The arrival of Ignat

When the Ignat’s holiday (presaging the Christmas) comes the pigs are slaughtered. Those who feel weak to do it themselves ask their neighbors to help them. When the pork is processed, washed and wrapped up in the carpet rug the children saddle it over in order “to make the skin softer”. Before taking out the internal organs, the cross is carved out on the animal’s forehead, which means that this food is meant for Christians.

Then the bladder is taken out to be washed, ash grinded and inflated through the reed warbler. After that it is filled with corn to make it jingle when the children play with it.

“Сu steaua”

As you know the Star lead the Three Wise Men from the East to “the stable crib”, where Jesus Christ was born. That’s why the tradition to “colindate” “Сu steaua” has its own special religious meaning. Before going colindating young men go to the priest first to get his permission and take a church plate.

The one who carries the Star has a bell in his hand. After the first few verses of colinda the bell rings, then the Star is bent before the icons for several times. The Star is decorated with paper ribbons glued to the linen stripes.

The boys share the bread they get from the people and bring collected money to the church.

“Plugusor”

Usually after the dinner children go along the village carrying the small wooden plough, decorated with field basil and red woolen ribbon.

Lads go out in the evening with a big plough. They choose the houses where the young unmarried girls live. The girls are informed about their visit beforehand - so as to treat the guests in a proper way.

The “Plugusor”’s colinda is meant to bring a good harvest. After it is sung, the boys are served a meal. The girl they came to gives them a loaf of homemade bread, decorated with field basil.

“Calutel”

This is a real performance. A boy, taking the part of the Horse, is sitting on the stick which connects two circles of the sieve. The head of the horse (button eyes, mane and bridle) is fastened to the first circle, the tail – to the second. The captain holds the horse by the bridle, but it kicks all the time.

Then the fiddler starts playing Sirbu and everybody dances. Suddenly, the Horse falls down. The sad “Doina” is sung for a while. Then the doctor approaches the Horse and gives her some medicine. The horse springs to the feet and everybody is happy about it. The doctor offers men and women to pull out their teeth (joke).

“Hurdughie”

During the winter holidays the boys rent a house - ”Hurdughie”. This is the place where they learn to colindate and where they bring collected gifts. The Hora sung in this period of time is also called ”Hurdughie”. They say “I’m going to the ”Hurdughie” which means “I’m going to sing Hora”.

But first they go colindating with Plugusor, then stay on Hora till the early morning. They eat, play and dance all night long.

Where do the collected money go

The collected food - bread, fat and nuts is sold to one of the village bosses. The auction is held and the one giving the highest bid takes the food. The part of the money is given to the musicians, invited to Hora, another part – to the priests for the church requirements.

It is usual to use this money to build new wells or to do something useful for the village.