National College “Mihai Eminescu” Buzau, National College “Mihai Eminescu” Buzau, RomaniaRomania

Radu AuraRadu AuraVasile MihaelaVasile Mihaela

Haralambie AlinHaralambie AlinRusu AlinaRusu Alina

Juganaru AndraJuganaru Andra

Traditional fabric Traditional fabric making techniques: making techniques:

weaving, spinning and weaving, spinning and the use of woolthe use of wool

IntroductionIntroductionThe structure of Romanian

traditional clothing has remained unchanged throughout history and can be traced back to the

earliest times. The textiles, manufactured in the own household, have a very important role in the traditional

house. They are the most important decorative elements. Placed on the walls, or on the furniture , they have various styles, characteristic for each

ethnographical region.

Weaving

Is the most widespread craft in Romania, handed down from generation to generation. It uses distinctive family patterns along with those specific to different districts. 

Looms are still common in homes and some Romanian weavers still work with threads and yarns they produce themselves.

The predominant fibers, wool and cotton are woven into rugs, wall hangings, table covers and clothing.

Spinning Spinning wool or hemp is a process

that involves pulling yarns, to obtain one thread which will be woven.

The spinning process is carried out with a distaff (furcă de tors) and a spindle (fus). These two alongside the thread become a symbolic system of the flowing life and death.

Embroidering The Romanian folk embroidery shows a

specific series of morphological, ornamental and chromatic elements differing from those of other peoples.

A marked sense of the picturesque, a unique taste for colours and a strong inclination to ornament, the Romanian folk embroidery stands proof to this love for decoration.

Although the Romanian folk embroidery is colourful, this tendency is toned down by a keen sense of nuance and discretion.

Costumes The basic garment for men is a shirt or

chemise, which is made of hemp, linen or woolen fabric.

It used to be tied round the waist using a wide fabric belt. Men's shirts were short and worn over trousers or leggings made of strips of fabric.

Also, the basic garment for women is a shirt or chemise, tied round the waist using a narrow fabric belt.

In the past the chemises worn by women usually reached to the ankles and always with an apron over them.

This piece of cloth was wrapped round the lower part of their bodies and secured by a belt at the waist.

Carpets and rugs The textiles are made of the raw materials

from the household. They have animal (sheep wool, goat hair, raw silk) or vegetal (hemp, cotton, linen) origin. Many textiles are made of both animal and vegetal materials. Silk, beads and ornaments are also used, for decoration purposes.

Carpets and rugs are placed on the walls, on the bed or are even used as a table cover.

They are very valuable and are transmitted as dowry, from one generation to another.

Romanian myths, legends and animals symbols

Romania is a rich country when it comes to traditions and superstitions.

Modern Romanians only keep a few of them, but many of the old traditions can be discovered in the countryside, in remote areas of the country. 

In many Romanian traditions, animal symbolism is incorporated into magical belief and practice.

The horse is considered a noble animal and a symbol of courage, grace, speed.

The wolf represents the evil, greed and hate.

The fox represents the cunning and hypocrisy.

The rabbit is a symbol for speed, fertility, fear.The owl symbolizes the sin and can predict the weather and the harvest.The sheep in the Romanian folklore is identified with the clouds and its wool is a symbol of wealth.

The Pig can predict the weather and if you meet him in real life or in dream it means wealth and happiness; in fairy tales, the hero can turn into a pig and back.

The Ox appears in Romanians fortune-telling practices for unmarried young girls. They are hitting an ox easily and are telling him to stand up. If he will not stand up means that the girl will not get married that year.

The Dance of the Bear, a winter tradition, shows how it is simulated with the time wheel. In the Dacian myths this animal holds the world's pillars, being also responsible for the seasons’ succession.

The Goat Dance appears in the traditions of the New Year's Eve as a symbol of fertility and fecundity.

Did you know that…

Maria (b. October 29, 1875, Eastwell Park, Kent, England – d. July 18, 1938, Sinaia Pelisor, Kingdom of Romania), the daughter of Maria Alexandra Victoria of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and the granddaughter of Queen Victoria of Great Britain, was the crown princess and Queen of Romania from 1914 to 1927, as the wife of the king Ferdinand I of Romania and the mother of the Romanian King Charles II?

She dedicated her life She dedicated her life to Romaniato Romania

After the First World War After the First World War started, Maria became a started, Maria became a Romanian patriotRomanian patriot, and her , and her influence in the country was influence in the country was large. People loved her as large. People loved her as she loved them back.she loved them back.

The Queen Maria of Romania herself used to wear  the Romanian traditional costume at some public events, as a sign of her attachment to her adopted country.  

Conclusion

All in all,  Romania's rich folk traditions have been nourished by many sources along history and the Romanian myths (including those related to animals) have become a fundamental component of the contemporary international culture.

"Each place has a story, but you have to listen to it carefully and you should have a bit of love to understand it". (Nicolae Iorga)  

Bibliography http://www.folkromania.comhttp://www.folkromania.com http://rjohnhowe.wordpress.comhttp://rjohnhowe.wordpress.com http://www.romaniatourism.comhttp://www.romaniatourism.com http://www.romaniantraditionalrugs.comhttp://www.romaniantraditionalrugs.com http://goeasteurope.about.comhttp://goeasteurope.about.com http://en.wikipedia.orghttp://en.wikipedia.org   Cora Linn Morrison Daniels; Charles Cora Linn Morrison Daniels; Charles

McClellan Stevens (1903). McClellan Stevens (1903). Encyclopaedia of Encyclopaedia of Superstitions, Folklore, and the Occult Superstitions, Folklore, and the Occult Sciences of the World: A Comprehensive Sciences of the World: A Comprehensive Library of Human Belief and Practice in the Library of Human Belief and Practice in the Mysteries of LifeMysteries of Life