Moldavian Holidays

When you are going on a visit to a country which is quite new for you, it would be reasonable to learn more about its national holidays well in advance before you start planning your trip. That way you will be able to either avoid undesirable days of idleness during a business visit or gain new impressions and make your touristic stay at a new place more diversified.

Moldova has quite many national holidays, which are official days off. Obviously the national holiday calendar starts with the New Year Day (January 1). It is celebrated traditionally with the family or close friends. Nevertheless some people prefer a merry and loud company and a walk round the city. The traditional outdoor merrymaking place is Chisinau’s central square located between the Government Building and the Central Cathedral.

The celebration of the New Year Day turns before short into the celebration of Christmas according to the Julian Church calendar (Moldova’s religion is predominantly Eastern Orthodox) which falls on January 7-8. Those two days are official days off when people go visiting and have parties at lavish tables and the children go from house to house singing Christmas Carols, which are believed to bring peace and welfare into one’s home.

The spring starts with a very interesting holiday – March 1, when people give their family, relatives, friends and just people they know small martisors - red and white talisman objects worn on the lapel and symbolizing spring and the revival of nature. Although this day is not a day off, people are animated and lively, and the red and white martisors pinned onto on their lapels emphasize the general festive mood. This beautiful tradition of welcoming the spring with martisor souvenirs exists in the neighbor country Romania and in Bulgaria in addition to Moldova.

The beginning of March is marked with one more celebration – that of March 8, the International Women’s Day, which is an official day off, and the male population scours shops actively in search of presents for their beautiful ladies. On that day men are typically much more polite and attentive with females round them. They are readier with offering a female a seat in public transports and with a compliment, to say nothing about flowers and presents to their beloved ones. Our females do not treat this approach as sex discrimination, and their only grievance is that March 8 comes only once in a year.

Spring is also the season of some major religious feasts which are movable, in that they do not fall on a fixed date in the year. The Julian (Eastern Orthodox) Easter is celebrated after the first full moon on or after the day of the vernal equinox; up to a week after the first day of Passover. E.g. the Julian Easter was celebrated on April 27 in 2003. The Easter celebration continues for 2 days, which are official days off. The Eastern Orthodox Church has another celebration– the so-called Commemoration or Memorial Sunday - one week after the Easter. That is the day when the family comes together traditionally and visits the graves of their dead relatives.

The Moldovans give a tribute of honor to the former Soviet Army soldiers who defended their Motherland fighting against the Nazis in the years of the Great Patriotic War (World War II, 1941-1945) on May 9, which is celebrated as V-Day. That is the day when we show deep respect and gratitude to all soldiers and military officers who fought against the Nazis. On May 9 the residents of Chisinau come to the War Memorial to put flowers on the grave of the Unknown Soldier. Moldova’s top leaders and government officers as well as heads of diplomatic missions resident in Chisinau lay wreathes to the war monument. The official name of this holiday is V-Day and Commemoration Day of the Heroes who have fallen to defend the independence of their Motherland. May 9 is a day off in Moldova.

Moldova’s Independence Day is also an official holiday. It was celebrated first on August 27, 1991. The President of Moldova makes a festive address to the residents of the country. Concerts, fairs and other festive public events take place in Chisinau and other cities and towns on that day. The first military parade was held in Chisinau on August 27, 2001, when Moldova was celebrating its 10th Independence Day.

In addition to the Independence Day and the international religious feasts traditional for all Christian countries, Moldova has several holidays specific only of this country.

Thus, Moldova celebrates “Limba Noastra” (Our Language) holiday on August 31. People commemorate their national writers and poets on that day. A concert is held typically in the central part of Chisinau with participation of folk dance ensembles as well as Moldovan pop stars and invited guests. August 31 is another day off in Moldova.

The festivities calendar is closed in October with the Day of Chisinau (Hramul Chisinaului). This holiday exists in every city or village with a church/central cathedral and it falls on the day of the church’s patron saint/icon. Before 2001 the Day of Chisinau was a movable feast falling on the first Saturday in October, but starting in 2001 it was given a fixed date – October 14. It is an official day off for the residents of Chisinau. Day of Chisinau is celebrated throughout the city with all kinds of outdoor events, exhibitions, shows and concerts. Mid October weather is still relatively warm in Moldova so many people go on a picnic on that day.

Certain western world holidays, such as St. Valentine Day and Halloween are also popular in Moldova, but they are celebrated mainly in night clubs and public entertainment places.

So your visit to Moldova may be marked with an unforgettable holiday any time of the year! Welcome!