How Romanians spent Christmas
Some Romanians chose to spend Christmas at home, with family and friends, while others preferred mountain resorts and trips abroad
Leyla Cheamil, 27.12.2018, 13:56
A celebration of joy and family, Christmas, which celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, is all about emotion, happiness in childrens eyes, magical moments spent in the company of the loved ones. In a message conveyed on the occasion, the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Daniel, has stated that the celebration is one of gift-giving, to children, elders, orphans, the sick and the lonely, to all the loved ones.
One of the biggest celebrations in the Christian world, Christmas is an opportunity every year to reenact old customs such as caroling, which is widespread in Romania. Caroling is a ritual comprising ceremonial lyrics, dance and gestures, and carolers symbolize the angels and shepherds who were the first to herald the birth of Jesus. Carolers are carriers of messages of good-health, rich harvests and well being and are rewarded by people with fruit, bagels, sweets or money.
Many Romanians took advantage of the days off to go to the mountains, where the resorts are full of tourists. Those who chose to spend Christmas in hotels and guest houses across the country spent some 18 million Euros for these holidays. Some 139,000 Romanians opted for rural guest houses in well-known regions such as Bran, Sibiu, Maramures or Bucovina. They were welcomed by the hosts with traditional food and customs. Caroling around the fireplace, folk costumes and sleigh rides were just some of the attractions of the holidays. Also, ski slopes were prepared to receive skiers and snowboarders. According to data provided by the Federation of Tourism Employers Associations in Romania, the tourists who preferred domestic destinations spent on average some 120 Euros on accommodation and meals, which is 14% more than last year.
Additional expenses, such as for trips and entertainment, stood at around 100 Euros per tourist. Just like every year, there were many Romanians who chose to spend Christmas abroad, mostly in European cities or warmer, exotic places. Top of the list were ski resorts in Austria, Bulgaria, Switzerland and France, where people went to visit the Christmas fairs and ski. As regards exotic destinations, the favourites were Dubai, Egypt and Morocco. Prices for a holiday to such an exotic place ranged from 500 to 3,000 Euros per person.
