Traditional festivals folklore and fairs Romania

On 30 December, this small town in Moldavia is the scene of a spectacular ritual with pre-Christian roots: the "dance of the bears". Many inhabitants don real bear skins, handed down from generation to generation, and parade through the streets dancing, singing and growling to chase away the evil spirits of the past year and keep them away from the new one to come. The bear symbolizes rebirth, capable of overcoming winter and heralding spring.

Crossing point between Maramureș and Moldavia, the Prislop Pass (1,413 m above sea level) hosts on the Sunday following August 15 a great folk festival, called Hora de la Prislop. It celebrates the unity of the three județe border regions: Maramureș, Suceava and Bistrița-Năsăud. Folklore ensembles from these three departments take part in the event and perform the hora, a traditional circle dance, together. The programme also includes culinary specialities, a parade of folk costumes and a craft fair.