Taken from the Peace Corps Country and Culture Guide (M34, 2019)
MOLDOVA AT A GLANCE
History Moldova is uniquely located at the borders of Eastern and Western cultures. This has contributed to a long and difficult struggle by the indigenous Moldovan people to maintain their cultural and political sovereignty\autonomy. The principality of Moldova was founded around 1352 by the Transylvanian ruler (voievod) Dragoş in what today is the Romanian region of Bucovina. According to one legend, Dragoş successfully hunted a wild ox on the banks of the river Moldova and then chose to stay in the land, which he named after the river. According to official historiography, the Republic of Moldova derives directly from the Moldovan principality that was founded by Dragoş and gained independence from the Hungarian kingdom under the Valachian voievod Bogdan I in 1359. The government thus celebrated the 640th anniversary of statehood in 1999. However, what is today the Republic of Moldova consists only of the central and eastern parts of the original principality. The Transnistrian region was never part of the principality, but Moldovans settled on the left bank of the Nistru in the 15 century. At the beginning of the 15 century, the principality extended from the Carpathians to the Nistru River. During the Middle Ages (as in modern times) Moldova, like other principalities in the region, engaged in efforts toward the maintenance and recognition of its independence, the defense of its territory, and the preservation of its borders. One of the country‘s most glorious eras occurred during the reign of Ștefan cel Mare (Steven the Great) between 1457 and 1504. He defended the principality successfully against the Ottoman Empire, Tatars, Hungarians, Poles and other invaders. Many churches and monasteries were built under his regency. Ștefan is regarded as the main national hero of contemporary Moldova. His statue stands in the city center of Chişinău, the main boulevard is named for him, and his picture is printed on every banknote. However, soon after Ștefan died, Moldova lost its independence and became, like the neighboring principality of Valachia (known as Muntenia or Ţara Românească), a vassal state of Constantinople. The first unification— of Transylvania, Moldova, and Muntenia—took place during the rule of Mihai Viteazul (1593 to 1601). He enrolled in the anti-ottoman coalition, but was killed and the new state didn’t last. Although short-lived, this event served as a precedent for the union of the principalities of Ţara Românească and Moldova to form a new country, Romania, in 1859. In the Treaty of Bucharest of 1812, the Ottoman Empire was forced to cede the area between the Prut and the Nistru to the Russian Empire under the name Bessarabia. In 1859, western Moldova and Ţara Românească formed the united principality of Romania, which gained independence from the Ottoman Ştefan cel Mare Empire in 1878. Thus, the Moldovans in Bessarabia were excluded from the Romanian nation-building process and remained in an underdeveloped, remote, agricultural province of the Russian Empire Following the Crimean War, political stability in the area was fleeting. In 1856, Russia lost the southern region of Bessarabia to Moldova, only to gain it back from Romania in 1878 at the Congress of Berlin. With the collapse of the Russian Empire in 1918, this area, made up of part of the present territory of Moldova and part of Ukraine, declared its independence and reunited with Romania. The newly formed Union of Soviet Socialist Republics refused to recognize this reunification, however, and in 1924 created the Moldavian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, it was an autonomous republic of the Ukrainian SSR between 12 October 1924 and 2 August 1940, encompassing modern Transnistria (now, de jure, in Moldova, de facto, a breakaway state) and a number of territories that are now part of Ukraine. In June 1940, after Hitler and Stalin signed the 1939 Molotov-Ribbentrop pact of non-aggression, the Soviet Union annexed additional territory to form the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic (MSSR). In the early 1940s, as World War II raged in Europe, Romania again claimed the territory of the MSSR. As the war came to a conclusion, the Soviet Union annexed the region again for a final time. The subsequent period of Sovietization and Russification, however, is regarded as the darkest period in the national history. It included the artificial famine, deportation of the local population, incarcerations and liquidation of the intellectual population, etc. In an attempt to create a uniform culture among the Soviet republics, the leadership of the Soviet Union began a period of intense Russification, replacing Moldovan traditional Latin alphabet with the Cyrillic alphabet and Romanian with Russian as the official language. The tone of Soviet leadership changed in 1986 with the introduction of a policy of glasnost (openness) by President Mihail Gorbachev. This new policy permitted the pursuit of traditional culture by the Moldovan population and leadership and set the stage for the republic‘s independence. Having been ruled by foreign powers since the sixteenth century, Moldova declared its independence on 27 August 1991, an event that is now celebrated every year on that date. To restore the cultural heritage of the majority of its citizens, the Moldovan government re-established Romanian, using the Latin alphabet, as the national language, which is celebrated on August 31st. After sentiments ran high in favor of unification with Romania at the beginning of the 1990s, the tide turned, and in a 1994 referendum 95 percent of the voters elected to retain independence. As a result of their close historical, linguistic, and cultural ties with Romania, many Moldovans see themselves as Romanian. At the same time, almost two hundred years of separation from Romania and the different influences Bessarabia has experienced since the early nineteenth century have preserved and reinforced a distinctive Moldovan identity east of the Prut. Unlike Romanians, a high percentage of Moldovans have an ethnically mixed family background. Consequently, probably less than 5 percent of the people consider themselves to have a pure Romanian identity, whereas another 5 to 10 percent would identify themselves as Moldovan in the sense of being outspokenly non-Romanian. The existence of these two groups is reflected in a fierce debate between “Unionists” and “Statalists.” Most inhabitants of the titular nation consider their Moldovan identity as their central political one but their Romanian identity as culturally essential. Since discussions on unification with Romania have disappeared from the public agenda, the question of how to form a multi-ethnic nation-state is growing in importance. Bessarabia has always been a multiethnic region, and ethnic relations generally are considered good. Especially in the north, Moldovans and Ukrainians have lived together peacefully for centuries and share cultural features. In recent history, Moldova has rarely experienced ethnic violence; in April 1903, for example, 49 Jews were killed and several hundred injured during the Chişinău pogrom, but mainly by Russians rather than Moldovans. In the late 1980s, when support for the national movement began to grow, ethnic tension between Moldovans and non-Moldovans increased, initially in Transnistria and Gagauzia and later in Chişinău and Bălţi. Whereas the conflict between Gagauz and Moldovans was kept below the level of large-scale violence, the Transnistrian conflict escalated into a full-fledged civil war in spring 1992. More than a thousand people were said to have been killed, and over a hundred thousand had to leave their homes. Although this conflict had a strong ethnic component, it was not ethnic by nature; it was fought mainly between the new independence-minded political elite in Chişinău and conservative pro-Soviet forces in Tiraspol that were supported military by Russia. The Russian military presence in Transnistria is still an unsolved issue. Moldovans and non-Moldovans could be found on both sides. On the right bank of the Nistru, where the majority of the Russian-speaking community lives, no violent clashes took place. Since the war, additional efforts have been made to include non-Moldovans in the nation-building process. The 1994 constitution and subsequent legislation safeguarded the rights of minorities, and in the same year broad autonomous powers were granted to the Gagauz. In April 2009 parliamentary elections were won by the Communist Party. The controversial results of this election sparked civil unrest. Upon hearing of the Communist victory, crowds of protestors—many of them young people desiring a break with the country’s Communist past—stormed the parliament building. As the result of the so called Twitter Revolution, the country oriented itself towards European Integration.
Language
The official language of Moldova, as stipulated by the Constitution, is Romanian, written in latin script. Moldovans who were born and brought up after 1980 tend to speak less and less Russian, a development that could lead to growing problems of interethnic communication. The decrease of Russian speaking youth started to be more evident with the generation born after 1995. There are definite Romanian and Russian speakers who do not speak the other language. Gagauz is the official language in the autonomous area of Gagauz, but Romanian and Russian are spoken there as well. Although the Gagauz language is Turkic in origin, it was traditionally written with the Cyrillic alphabet, as the Romanian language during the Russian occupation; however, since 1989, both Gagauz and Romanian have used the Latin script. English is spoken by increasing numbers of younger people, but fluency is still rare in most areas, and proficiency in Romanian or Russian is vital for Volunteers to be effective.
People and Culture
People in Moldova are open, warm, friendly, and generous, and are renowned for their hospitality. However, living and working in a culture that is not your own can be frustrating and uncomfortable at times. As a guest in Moldova, you will be expected to respect the country‘s culture and traditions and make a host of adaptations to fit in. If you are willing to be open to all the good things that Moldova has to offer and to demonstrate understanding toward people undergoing difficult economic and political changes, you will be rewarded with one of the greatest experiences of your life. Despite Moldova‘ssmall size, its population is quite diverse. According to the 2004 census, the majority of the population (82,1%) consists of Moldovans or people of Romanian descent. Other significant ethnic groups include Ukrainians (6.6%), Gagauzians (4.6%), Russians (4.1%), Bulgarians (1.9%), Roma (0.4%), and Jews (0.1%). Small numbers of Belorussians, Germans, Poles, Turks and African-Americans also live in Moldova. Although the official number of Roma is only 11,600, the real number probably is 100,000. There are few concentrated Roma settlements in Moldova, and the degree of linguistic assimilation (Russian or Moldovan) is high. The Ukrainian population traditionally settled in the north and east. Gagauz and Bulgarians have concentrated settlements in the southern Budjak region. The Russian population, for the most part workers and professionals brought to Moldova after World War II, is concentrated in Chişinău, Bălţi, and the industrial zones of Transnistria. Jews have lived in Moldovan cities in great numbers since the early nineteenth century, but many have left. Between 1990 and 1996, Moldova experienced a total migration loss of 105,000 persons. Jews, Ukrainians, and Russians were the most likely to leave. The population density is the highest in the territory of the former Soviet Union. Since proclaiming its independence, the Republic of Moldova has gone through several migratory periods. Temporary labor migration remains the most widespread form of emigration. Women in both urban and rural areas are still the once who carry the burden of domestic duties and child care in addition to working outside the home. As a result of tradition and economic necessity, women, mainly in the rural areas, engage in domestic food-processing activities in the summer to provide home-canned food for the winter months. Although men seemingly have more decision-making power in the public and private spheres, women act as the organizers of daily and ritual life. They organize social gatherings, gift-giving relations, and the infrastructure of numerous official and semiofficial events. There are no moral restrictions on women’s participation in public life, although in rural areas women choose not to have executive positions and give priority to their domestic duties. The national legislative framework for equality between women and men is in line with international commitments. However, implementation lags behind, and women still face discrimination and inequality in social, economic, and political life, lacking effective opportunities for participation in decision-making in public and private sectors. Only 24.7% of the members of Parliament are women, 20.6% of mayors, 30.04% of local councilors, and 18.55% of district councilors – far below international standards and the country’s commitments under the nationally and internationally agreed goals. The share of women entrepreneurs is at 27.5%, with women who wish to start their own business facing many barriers. Gender-based violence is still widespread in the country, while efficient mechanisms for combating and preventing domestic violence and systems for providing effective remedies to victims are lacking. Six in ten women experience some type of violence (psychological, physical or sexual) perpetrated by their husband/partner during their lifetime, and one in ten women experience economic violence at least once in their lifetime.
Religion
Predominate the religion in country is Christian Orthodox (90.1%). There are a small number of Uniates, Seventh-Day Adventists, Baptists, Pentecostalists, Armenian Apostolics, and Molokans. Jews have engaged in religious activities after independence with a newly opened synagogue and educational institutions. Manastirea Curchi, Orhei During the interwar period, Moldovans belonged to the Romanian Orthodox Church, but they now belong to the Russian Orthodox Church. There is an ongoing debate about returning to the Bucharest Patriarchate. That is why, while in Moldova, you will have the opportunity to celebrate Christmas twice, on the 25th of December and on the 7th of January! The Orthodox calendar dictates rules and celebrations throughout the year, such as Christmas, Easter, and many saints’ days. A couple of these religious holidays are Public Holidays, but others not. During religious holidays people usually go to work except those who work in the fields (mainly people in the villages). Living with a host family, you will notice that there are days during the week when your host family don’t wash clothes or don’t work in the garden, and they will not allow you to do that as well. Some of the rules include fasting or avoiding meat and meat fat as well as restrictions on washing, bathing, and working at particular times. Baptisms, weddings, and funerals are the most important lifecycle rituals and are combined with church attendance and social gatherings. Candles are an inseparable part of rituals; people buy candles when they enter the church and light them in front of the icons or 9 Pre Departure Material: Country and Culture Guide/M 34 2019 during rituals, and if you would be interested to visit a church or a monastery, you would be expected to do the same.
Holidays in Moldova
There are different holidays celebrated in Moldova. People in Moldova have beautiful traditions, which may slightly vary in different parts of the country.
New Year’s Eve – Ajunul Anului Nou On the 31st of December people celebrate New Year’s Eve (there are still communities that celebrate New Year’s Even on the January 13th, according to the Julian Calendar). On such occasions children, young people and adults decorate fir trees; prepare costumes, masks, and delicious meals. The children take their bells and go with the ‘Pluguşorul’ (plough) to sing traditional songs that express well wishes for the year to come. It is customary to give them treats such as candy, cookies or money. Families and friends get together to celebrate at midnight with champagne, wine and many toasts. The television often plays in the background as at midnight the president of Moldova will make a speech wishing everyone health, happiness and wealth. Moldovans believe that if you fall asleep on New Year’s Eve you will be sleepy all year! For the New Year we say… La mulţi ani! Un an nou fericit! La anul şi la mulţi ani!
January 1st (January 14th): New Year – Anul Nou In the morning the first day of the New Year, children with seeds in their pockets, visit their relatives and friends wish them health, wealth and a good in the coming year. They usually recite traditional carols and poems while throwing with the seeds into the house. The most common poem is the following: Să trăiţi, să înfloriţi, Ca merii, ca perii, În mijlocul verii! La anul şi la mulţi ani! This practice is called “the sowing” (‘semănatul’). The children are rewarded with treats, cookies, candy, money, and other small gifts. Relatives and friends visit each other or stay home and enjoy time to rest.
December 25th & January 7th: Christmas – Crăciun This is usually a family celebration. On the Christmas Eve and during the Christmas day children sing beautiful carols (‘colinde’) while visiting their neighbors, relatives and friends and in return they will be given cookies, candy and money. Usually families go to church and have dinner together. For Christmas, Moldovans who work abroad are coming to celebrate with their families. For Christmas we say: Crăciun fericit! Sărbători fericite!
March 1st: Celebration of spring – Mărţişor During the first week of March, many concerts, musicals and entertainment to celebrate spring take place. As a token of love, friendship and greeting, people give and wear small red and white lapel flowers, mostly a handmade decoration, to signify the legend of ‘Mărţişor’. There are several different legends. People wear the ‘Marţişor’ emblem until the last day of March when they hang it on a tree limb to assure a good harvest.
March 8th: International Women’s day – Ziua Internaţională a Femeilor This holiday has its roots in the Soviet period. Once a year on the 8th of March women were officially congratulated by state officials, the mass media and by their families. Food is prepared for family and friends who present gifts, candy or flowers. Flowers must be given only in odd numbers of blossoms as even numbers are given at funerals and this could be taken rather poorly.
Easter – Paşti Easter is celebrated at churches in traditional all night services with the congregation standing the entire time. There are no seats or benches in Orthodox churches. In the early morning, people exit the church and form circles surrounding the building. Each family prepares a display on the ground or in a basket which includes special sweet bread (‘pasca’), red colored eggs, wine, sausage, and a burning candle. It is quite an impressive sight as the many people stand behind their candle-lit arrangements expectantly waiting as church bells peal in the near-dawn darkness. The priests and attendants file out of the church and chanting they begin the walk of many circles. The priest dips a branch of basil into a large bucket of water and splashes generous droplets of holy water over people and their food in a traditional blessing. Everybody is supposed to eat the blessed food first thing in the morning for three consecutive days. Easter Monday is celebrated as a public holiday. Adults exchange presents of eggs and pasca and visit their parents and grandparents saying ”Hristos a înviat” (Christ is risen). Children visit relatives and are given colored eggs, cookies, candies and money. For forty days after Easter, the greeting is “Hristos a înviat” with the response “Adevărat a înviat”. On the 40th day, people say “Hristos s-a înălţat”, with the response “Cu adevărat s-a înălţat”. Memorial Easter – Paştile Blajinilor A week after Orthodox Easter, there is celebrated Paştile Blajinilor, when people go to the cemetery with food and wine to visit with family and friends and remember those who have died. If flowers are taken, there should be an even number of blossoms. To decorate, towels are spread on the graves and individual arrangements are placed on the towels. Each arrangement includes ‘colac’ (special braided bread), a red colored egg, a bit of candy or mini bagel, and a slender church candle. These special arrangements are called ‘pomană’, and they are given as a gift to other people to remember the dead person with the words ‘de sufletul lui…’ (For the soul of…). The remaining of this saying is that the people believe that the soul of the dead.
Weddings in Moldova are, in general, more elaborate than those in the United States. In addition to the wedding celebration is a church ceremony, ‘cununia’, and a signing of the formal papers, ‘înscrierea’, which can take place either before or after the wedding celebration. During the civil ceremony the couple receives the rings and signs a register signifying their wish to marry. Everyone who wants to attend may go to the church ceremony. The priest gives the couple God’s permission to wed and rings are exchanged. The couple proceeds to walk the inside of the church three times. The wedding party is the major social event and almost always lasts all night. Guests shake the hand of both the bride and groom and congratulate the couple on their marriage. Money (50-100 lei) is placed on a plate in front of the couple and flowers are given to the bride. After shaking hands, placing money and giving flowers, guests take a glass of wine and a piece of candy. There are generally two different meals eaten and enough dancing in between each seating. Another tradition during Moldovan weddings is offering money as a gift to the married couple. This is called Masa Mare and the amount offered is either put in an envelope with the guest’s name on it or said out loud while putting the money in a designated ball. One more beautiful tradition is the “undressing” of the bride and groom, called in Romanian Dezbrăcatul Miresei. The bride’s veil is taken off by the godparents and replaced with a scarf and an apron. The groom’s boutonnière is removed and replaced with a shirt. This symbolizes that they are husband and wife. The veil is given to the maid of honor, who is expected to marry next, and the boutonnière is given to the best man. The best man then dances with the maid of honor. Families and close friends usually offer to the young couple gifts, mostly household items and linens, some of which are draped about their shoulders, nearly burying the couple so that the unity between them is shown as strong.
Baptism – Botezul ‘Botezul’ is the moment when the parents with the godparents take the new baby to the church to be baptized. At the church everyone should have an arrangement with the candle, towel, sweet basil and flowers. The mother is not allowed into the church before the child is baptized. After the ceremony at the church there is a celebration held to honor the child with gifts, money and dinner “Cumetria”. The role of the godparents is to support the child both spiritually and financially as he grows.
Blessing of the house – Sfinţirea casei One more important tradition for many Moldovans is to bless their house, they do this for their new or current homes, offices, and schools to rid the location of evil spirits and bad luck. In preparation for the blessing, the house is cleaned and candle arrangements are made with a towel or handkerchief, sweet basil and flowers. The priest will bless the location with holy water and his assistant prays over each of the rooms. Guests are invited to a type of “house-warming” party. Gifts are exchanged between the guests and the home owner and, as might be expected, there is a large meal. Moldovans also bless wells and springs to assure the purity of the water. They say that during his life a Moldovan should built a house, dig a well, and raise at least one child. When a new church is being constructed, the place where it will be constructed is blessed in the same manner.
Funeral – Înmormântarea In the orthodox tradition, people bury the dead. You will notice in each village, usually near the church there is a cemetery – “Cimitir”, where all people who died from the community or area are buried. Europe’ biggest cemetery is located in the capital city, Chisinau. It was founded in 1966 and is located on 2 million square meters. It is called Saint Lazarus, Sfântul Lazăr, known as Doina. Traditionally, when a person dies the family makes arrangements and the body is kept at home where family or friends traditionally watch over it for three days and nights, though this may be shortened depending on the temperature. Black arm bands are worn by men and black clothing and veils by women. Candles burn near the open casket and a glass of water and bread are placed near an icon of a saint or Christ in the room. A white ‘prosop’ (towel) is draped in the entry to signify death. Flowers are presented with an even number of blossoms. After three days, the body is taken to the church and then to the cemetery for burial. On the trip to the cemetery from the church the procession stops nine times, each time placing a towel on the ground then placing a glass with water or wine and ‘colac’ (braided/bread) on the towel, denoting the crossing of nine bridges to heaven. Following the burial, family and friends return to the original home for food, including a special dish of boiled wheat seeds with a touch of sugar called ‘colivă’. A small gift (pomană) such as a towel is given to people who helped with the funeral, and larger gifts, such as pillows and carpets, are given to the family members. There is an on-going calendar for honoring the deceased at 3 days, 9 days, 40 days, 6 months and annually at which time the family and friends get together to commemorate with food, drink and memories. For the funeral we say: – Condoleanţele mele (noastre) – Dumnezeu să-l ierte – Să-i fie ţărâna uşoară – Să trăiți și să-l/o pomeniți Wine Fest – Ziua Naţională a Vinului
The Moldova wine festival, officially named “National Wine Day”, takes place in Chisinau during the first weekend in October at the end of the grape harvest. The festival celebrates Moldova’s rich winemaking traditions, which date back to the 15th century. The annual festival is a tribute to all professional and non-professional wine-makers for their hard work and maintaining the old wine-making traditions of the republic. The main goal of the wine festival is to improve the image of the country on international arena, to reinforce the prestige of the national wine-making industry as well as to attract foreign tourists who could set upon some of the most exciting tourist trails to Moldovan villages, try Moldovan traditional cuisine and home-made wine, and bask in the hospitality of the local people.
Moldovan Literature
Moldovans are very proud of their literature heritage, and writers and poets are accorded a much higher status than in America. Throughout Moldova’s long, sad history of foreign invasion and domination, the artists of the Romanian language helped to keep the national spirit alive. Many Moldovans feel a sense of attachment to the whole of the Romanian literary pantheon, even those writers who weren’t born or didn’t live on the territory of what is today the Republic of Moldova. In the central park of Chisinau you can find an alley named “Aleea Clasicilor” (“The Writers Alley”) with statues to Romanian and Basarabian writers. Flowers are often lain beneath favorite writers. An important part of Moldovan literature is folk literature: the anonymous legends, songs, stories, fairy tales, and ballads which have been transmitted from generation to generation since the land was settled. Many of Moldova’s writers, such as those below, have drawn on this tradition for inspiration and material. The most famous is the ballad “Mioriţa”, known by almost every Moldovan. Protesting against the reputation of his homeland as a cultural backwater, the chronicler Miron Costin said “Men are born in Moldova, too.” Before the 19th century, his statement was proven by two famous Moldovan writers: Nicolae Milescu Spătaru, a great Moldovan scholar and ambassador to China in the 17th century; and Dimitrie Cantemir, a ruler and titanic personality of culture and erudition, an academician of the Academy of Berlin. At the beginning of the 20th century, following a literary movement known as the “New Dawn,” some writers put down in the national literature new forms of documentary, expressionism, and ballad notes. Among them was the poet and priest Alexei Mateevici, the author of the peerless hymn to the Romanian language, “Limba Noastră.” The words to this poem today serve as Moldova’s national anthem. Basarabian literature went through resurgence between the two world wars. During this time leadership in literature and politics was taken by Constantin Stere, Pan Halipa, and Eugeniu Coşeriu (an internationally-known linguist). Famous Romanian writers of that time were Lucian Blaga, George Bacovia, George Coşbuc, and Octavian Goga. The post-war period, famous for oppressive ideological restrictions and the promotion of the so-called method of “socialist realism,” is characterized by the words of Ion Druţă, Vladimir Beşleagă, Aureliu Busuioc, Serafim Saka, Grigore Vieru, Spiridon Vangheli, Nicolae Dabija, Leonida Lari, Vasile Romanciuc, Dumitru Matcovschi and Ion Hadârcă. The catalogue of post-modern Romanian writers includes: Paul Goma, Mircea Cărtărescu, Emilian Gălaicu-Păun, Marin Sorescu, Adrian Păunescu, Irina Nechit and others. At this moment, because Moldova is in a difficult transitional period, literature is not prolific, but new books of poetry and prose do appear. Among the most active names are Liliana Corobca, Tatiana Tibuleac, Alexei Marinat, Traian Vasilcău, Silvia Ursache-Brega and others.
PROMINENT WRITERS
Mihai Eminescu (1850-1889) The whole younger generation of Romanian writers after 1889 is under the influence of Eminescu – the greatest classical poet of Romanian literature. His work, not recognized during life, became well-known and loved after his death. Romanian people in the countryside would say that what they sing is actually folklore. This is, probably, the greatest compliment for a writer. It is at Eminescu’s statue that people get together to feel that they are Romanians. It was here that the first discussions on the necessity of proclaiming Romanian the state language were held. It is a place where the movement for national independence started to grow. Eminescu was born on January 15, 1850 in Romania. He received his elementary education at the German school in Cernăuţi (now in Ukraine), which he left in 1864, following a theatrical troupe throughout Romania and Transylvania. He then continued his studies in Vienna and Berlin. Between 1874 and 1876, he was appointed a school inspector in the Iasi region, and later he worked for the newspaper “Timpul” (“Time”). Throughout his life he loved several women, traces of whom can be found in him as a poet. “The tragedy of a genius is that he cannot have the common, simple happiness of a human being. He has eternity, but he does not have love”. Eminescu died in 1889, after long sufferings, in an insane asylum. Eminescu left us an immortal literary legacy, which, despite the passage of time and the changes in the places in which it was conceived, we can recognize today as ahead of its time. His work is marked by a profoundly human content and the freshness of its poetic technique. Eminescu’s poetry has great and exciting musicality, harmony and charm, ideas and symbols, and discusses themes close to the human heart. He wrote poems dedicated to his childhood – “Fiind băiat, păduri cutreieram” (Being a Boy, I was wondering the woods), “Dorinţa” (The Wish), and “Povestea Codrului” (The Forest’s Tale) – and wonderful poems about love – “Floare albastră” (The Blue Flower), “De câte ori, iubito” (How often, my love), and “Şi dacă…” (And if…).
Ion Creangă (1839-1889) A close friend of Mihai Eminescu, Creangă is known as a great teller of tales. Born in a peasant family on June 10, 1839, Ion Creangă attended the seminary and became an orthodox priest in 1859, a calling he followed until 1871. Since he was a dedicated teacher and the author of a teacher’s manual, it is not surprising that he made a very favorable impression on the local school inspector – Mihai Eminescu. They quickly became close friends and remained so until they died, both in 1889. Ion Creangă made his literary debut as a short-story writer in “Convorbiri Literare”, the literary journal that published most of his works, including the best loved of them – “Amintiri din copilărie” (Childhood memories). Ion Creangă is appreciated for his humor and for the joyfulness his works convey. He is known as one of Romania’s finest writers.
Vasile Alecsandri (1818-1890) Another outstanding Romanian writer was Vasile Alecsandri, born in 1818. He was an active participant in the democratic movement of his time. In his creative work he expressed the wishes of working people, their striving for freedom Romanian literature, Mihai Eminescu. While returning to Chisinau from the south of Moldova after an event dedicated to the anniversary of the famous author of “Luceafarul” poem on January 16, 2009, Grigore Vieru was involved in a road traffic accident, which was fatal for the poet. The memory of the poet has been immortalized at government level, but the most important will remain people’s love and memory about the person whose poetry has enlightened their childhood, has venerated the mothers and has awakened in them deepest feelings.
Handicrafts and Folk Art
Moldova is well known for its distinct and lively traditions and customs, which despite adverse historic circumstances have been preserved and transmitted from generation to generation. Moldovan handicrafts, traditions, customs, and folk art have been strongly influenced by the country’s geographical situation; the intermingling of Latin and Slavic cultures has produced a unique people with unique forms of expression. Each people through its history forms its own culture; leaving a sign that expresses its own vital experience, and which can’t be merged with another people’s equally unique culture. This culture represents its people’s greatest treasure. The expression of Moldova’s cultural treasure includes traditional handicrafts like pottery, carving in wood, metal, and stone, leatherworking, weaving, and embroidery. A people’s character and its uniqueness are expressed in its art. The objects created by the popular masters present a model of beauty transmitted generationally.
Carpet making – Moldovan carpets, unlike piled carpets from the Caucasus, Central Asia, the Middle East, are of flat woven texture. They belong to the most ancient type of carpet making, which was widespread both in Europe and Asia long ago. The earliest existent references to Moldovan carpets are from the end of the 18th century. Documents of the 14th and 15th centuries mention the existence in Moldova of fullers and spinning and weaving mills. Carpets, floor rugs and bed covers are mentioned in grants and dowry inventories of the 15th and 16th centuries. Technological processes, terminology and ornamental designs bear traces of various ethnic influences: Thracian, Roman, Slavic, Turkish and others. Moldovan folk carpet making was originally a part of household production. Each peasant family produced most of the things necessary for its life: fabric for clothes, sackcloth for domestic needs, carpets, etc. The skill of carpet making was highly esteemed. According to strictly observed wedding traditions, carpets were a part of a bride’s dowry and during the wedding ceremony they were exhibited to demonstrate the bride’s carpet making skill. In Moldovan folklore a beautiful carpet was the symbol of the diligence and skill of a woman. Carpets were cherished by people; passed down from generation to generation, they would be sold only in case of extreme need. According to their function, ornamental design and make, carpets may be grouped into the following types: big wall carpets (scoarţe, covor, ungherar, război, chilim, rumbe, polog); long wall carpets or rugs, attached to the wall above a bench (păretar, drum, drum de perete); rugs for covering benchers, trunks, beds (lăicer, chergă). The many complicated processes in carpet making include yarn dying. Natural home-made dyes were used. Carpet makers used to obtain dye-stuff from leaves, flowers, tree bark and plant roots boiled in water, and also from some minerals. Over the years artificial paint started to be used. Traditional Moldovan decorative designs include a number of motifs the origin of which goes back to ancient times: a tree of life, a symbol of the sun, and a horse and rider. One more ancient motif – a rhombus with hooks – has become one of the most common in Moldovan carpet geometrical design. Anthropologists believe it to be the symbol of fertility, a pagan sign, used by ancient Thracians and Slavs. Geometrical designs are the oldest form of carpet ornamentation. Rhombuses, triangles, crosses, rosettes, angles, meanders, stars and zigzag lines in Moldovan carpets are the reflection of real life objects presented in an abstract, stylized form. Over the years plant images became more and more popular and spread widely. Carpets with plant patterns are considerably richer and more varied in ornamental design than those with geometrical patterns. There is a great variety of plant motifs. Specialists distinguish among them representations of a tree, a flower, a bouquet, or a tree branch. Modern carpet making in the Republic of Moldova takes several forms: domestic peasant, industrial, and professional artistic. The general color scheme has become brighter and richer in color tints over time. Though black remains the main background color, a tendency to revive such colors as white, beige, wine color, pink and blue for the background has emerged. Alongside domestic carpet making, industrial production is currently expanding. Carpets are produced by the artisan Folk Crafts association and the “Floare” Carpet Association. Industrial carpet making is aimed at preserving and reviving the best folk traditions in the decoration of carpets. Moldovan carpets have been exhibited at many international exhibitions and have won the admiration of viewers. Foreign guests who come to Moldova often buy a carpet to take back home with them. Smaller samples of carpets can be found in the “Fantezia” art shop.
Hand embroidery – Hand embroidery is widespread and rich in tradition. Once, the ability to embroider fabrics with different, hard ornaments was an important criterion in the evaluation of a girl’s potential to be good wife and housekeeper. The most important items were those used in clothing (shirts, handkerchiefs) and items for interior decoration (tablecloth, tapestries, napkins). The virtuosity of Moldovan embroidery can be admired today in the costumes of the folk-dancing troupes which perform all over the world.
Lace – Lace is another traditional handicraft of great interest. The most common of the many techniques of lace making is hook-work, meant for decoration of clothes, tablecloths, ceremonial sashes, blankets, hangings, collars, and pillow cases. Now the crocheting is used not only for garnishing different objects, as in the past, but also to manufacture a complete object. Tablecloths, blankets and other items are full of elegance and delicacy.
Pottery – Moldovan pottery art has ancient roots. Ceramic items are marked by elegance and simple ornamentation. You can find a variety of pots, toys, decorative panels, tile, etc. Traditional Moldovan ceramics are shaped only on a wheel. Once formed on the wheel, pottery is fired in horizontal ovens using one of the two distinct techniques: oxygenated and non-oxygenated firing. As a result the ceramics have two colors: red and black. Red pottery is decorated with paint of different colors or glazed. A method called “rock polishing” is used to decorate black pottery. It is not glazed. Handicraftsmen mostly make pots for cooking and food storage. However, toys and souvenirs are also made. Sometimes you can find impressive works of art, such as the work M. Grati called “Memoirs of the native Village”. Traditional musical instruments called ocarina can be found at the Art market in Chisinau. The biggest industrial producer of ceramics is a factory in Ungheni. Ceramics are also used in the building industry and are produced at big factories in Chisinau, Bălţi, and Râbniţa.
Plant-fiber weaving – One of the oldest handicrafts practiced in Moldova is plant-fiber weaving. The objects produced from plant fibers (willow, bulrush, straw, corn husks, etc.) are very beautiful, durable, light, and all-natural. Lately these objects are becoming more popular. Willow weaving is the most developed plant-fiber weaving genre. Usually, the willow-weavers work at home. There are also a few collective willow-weaving centers in Moldova, the oldest being in Soroca district. Other centers can be found in Tighina, Ungheni and Lăpuşna. Different types of baskets, household objects and pieces of furniture are produced. The furniture is valued both in the domestic and export markets for its high quality, original design, and competitive prices. Other genres of plant weaving involve straw, corn husks, and bulrush. They have very different product lines: from household objects to souvenirs and decorative objects. Preferentially straw is used for making hats, bags, bibelots, and toys. Cornhusks and bulrush are useful for weaving bags, baskets, decorative items, as well as different types of mats. Many unemployed people from rural regions have the opportunity to earn money through plant-fiber waving.
Woodcarving – Handicraftsmen continue the old traditions of woodcarving to this day, although it is much less common than it once was because of severe deforestation in the country. Artistic woodcarving remains an important occupation of Moldovans, despite this fact, and the wood is used in home construction, work tools and household objects. In traditional architecture it was common to build decorative gates, doors and windows, and sculptured pillars at wooden balconies, which support the roof. Household items include casks, wagons, boxes and roofs for wells. The best craftsmen specialize in decorating the interiors of homes, public buildings, and churches. It is quite traditional to have decorated wooden gates. This wide range of uses for carved wood gave birth to a strong tradition of wooden ornaments, like the rosette, the circle, the wolf’s tooth, the wave, and the rhombus.
Stone carving – Moldova is rich in stone. Two types of stones are quarried here: limestone, which is light, soft, porous, and cream-colored; and Cosăuţi stone, which is very hard, and yellow colored. A very important characteristic branch of the craft, connected with woodwork and stonework, are the large outdoor crucifixes. Having appeared in Moldova during the 17th – 18th century under the influence of the Polish and Lithuanian catholic culture, these monuments, unusual for the orthodox environments, spread all over the region. In the 1960’s, following some unofficial decision of the communist party of the former Soviet Union, many large outdoor crucifixes were destroyed. Usually placed at crossroads or near wells or springs, large outdoor crucifixes, often ornately decorated, continually remind the traveler about the suffering of Christ, and protect the road, the wells, and the traveler.
Musical Instruments – From times long past Moldovans have been known for making musical instruments, a difficult art that requires special skills. The famous musicians in olden times were called ‘lăutari’, and their instruments were unique and made by hand. Violins, ‘cobză’, ‘bucium’, ‘nai’, ‘fluier’, ‘ocarina’ – those are only a few names of traditional instruments that were made in Moldova before. Now only the ‘nai’, ‘fluier’, and ocarina are commonly made. ‘Nai’ and ‘fluier’ are usually made of wood. Ocarina is made of clay, it is small and looks like a toy for children but produces a wonderful soft sound when played. Unfortunately the tradition of making musical instruments has been lost over the centuries. It is difficult to find many handmade instruments today and most found in Moldova are produced at factories abroad.
Masks – A special folk Moldovan art is mask-making. Usually these masks are part of the traditional costumes worn by people during New Year’s celebrations. People wear special costumes and masks and go from house to house to congratulate their neighbors on the arrival of the New Year. One of the famous contemporary Moldovan artists, Gleb Sainciuc, gave this old folk art a new life, bringing it to the same level of appreciation as the “fine” arts. If you visit the art market in the center of Chisinau, you should be able to find a small exhibition of masks.
Fine arts – The national school of fine arts appeared in Moldova, at the beginning of the 20th century. Among the famous painters of that period we can mention M.Grecu, E. Romanescu, I Vieru, A. David, M.Ţaruş, and A. Sârbu. Basarabian art benefited from the profound evolution of medieval to modern art in a short time (about half a century). M. Grecu is one of the most famous painters of that period, whose art was criticized by the leaders of the communist party of the Soviet Union for its new perspective and non-traditional approach. Another famous artist was the sculptor A. Plămădeală. Among his works is the sculpture of Stefan cel Mare in the center of Chisinau. His contemporary O. Han created the monument to Vasile Lupu in front of one of the old churches in Orhei. Within the context of the same period, we can’t help mentioning the sculptures of the world-famous Romanian artist Constantin Brâncuş (1876-1957). Among them are “Prometheus”, “Vitellius”, “The child’s Head”, “The Fish”, “The Rooster”, “The table of Silence”, “The Bird in the Sky”, “The Kiss”, “The Head of the Laocoon”, “The prayer”, “Adam and Eve”, “The Beginning of the World’, “Miss Pogany”, and “The Endless Column”. Many of his works have been exhibited in other countries of the world, including the U.S.A. (particularly the Art Museum in Philadelphia). The liberation of artistic creation from the dictates of Communist ideology radically transformed the cultural ambience in the Republic of Moldova. In the 1990s modernist and postmodernist tendencies emerged in Moldovan art. Particular importance in the story of contemporary painting in Moldova can be assigned to some works by I. Bogdesco, G. Sainciuc, I. Dubinovschi, and C. Cobizeva.
Architecture – Alexandru Bernadazzi played a special role in the development of local architecture in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. More than 30 edifices were built by him or with his participation in Basarabia, Projects in which techniques and elements of Italian, Russian, and Byzantine architecture can be seen. Among them are the Chisinau Cathedral and the Girl’s secondary school of the princess Dadiani (1900). One of the most beautiful examples of Basarabian architecture belonging to the architect is Chisinau Primăria (City hall), built in 1901. Built on two levels and decorate d in an eclectic style with renaissance and gothic elements, the building had two facades adorned with a small tower, dominating the whole complex. The influences of Basarabian architecture of oriental decorative elements are evident in several buildings, among them the Crafts Museum (1906). Unfortunately during World War II many wonderful architectural monuments were destroyed. Because of a lack of money and the generally difficult economic situation the restoration of many architectural monuments has been stopped.
Theatre – Theatre is one of the most popular arts in Moldova. The first amateur dramatic groups appeared under the influence of the Romanian theatre. Following the declaration of Moldova’s independence, in the context of general national revival, theatrical life is undergoing an esthetic renewal and redevelopment. A number of new theatres, as well as new generation of players, have appeared. Now there are over 15 theatres in Moldova and while most of them perform in Romanian, though there are a few Russian and Gagauz theatres as well. Among them are the Eminescu Theatre, Alecsandri Theatre, Chekov Theatre (Russian), Satiricus Theatre, Eugeniu Ionesco Theatre, Luceafărul, Ginta Latina, and the Licurici and Guguţă puppet theatres for children. You can watch almost everything here, from classical performances to quite modern ones. Plays of Moldovan and Romanian writers as well as writers from other countries are staged. In 2010 one of the well-known independent theatres is established, Geneza Art Theatre. Its main goal is to promote young actors in Moldova. Its founders are the Burlaca-Gologan family, art director of the theatre is Daniela Burlaca, a young actresses and producer. The theatre aims to exclude the stereotypes from the theatric art and it’s already appreciated by the public as well as by specialized festivals. The opera and Ballet Theatre, founded in 1957, has performances of Moldovan troupes as well as foreign ones. One of the most famous opera singers at the beginning of the century was Maria Cebotari. She studied in Germany before performing on the most prestigious stages of the world. The street next to the Opera and Ballet Theatre in Chisinau is named after her. Maria Bieşu (1935-2012) was the most famous opera singer in Moldova. She started performing in 1961. Between 1965 and 1967 she improved her craft at La Scala Theatre in Milan, Italy. Maria Bieşu was a laureate of the “P. Tchaikovsky” International Contest and won the First Prize for the best interpretation of the Cio-Cio-san part in the opera Madame Butterfly at the “Miura Tamaki” International Contest in Tokyo. As a result, she was invited to sing for the Metropolitan Opera in New York. She performed on the stages of Berlin, New York, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kiev, Tbilisi, Vilnius, etc. Her special musicality, the color of her voice, and her technique fit very well with scenic dramatism and allowed her to interpret leading parts of both pre-classical and modern composers. Her special talent allows the Moldovan Opera and Ballet theatre to have in its repertoire some classical operas that are performed only in a few theatres throughout the world.
Music – A famous folk song says that “…when Moldovans get together, at one end of the table they cry, at the other end they sing” (“…la un colt de masă plâng, la alt colt de masă cântă”). These words tell a lot about the Moldovan character. It doesn’t matter how difficult life is for Moldovans, they sing. They sing when they are sad, and they sing when they are happy. The origins of the contemporary music and of concert performances in Moldova today go back to the end of the 19th century and period between the two world wars. The process of professional training became more systematic with the founding of three musical academies (“Unirea”, “Naţional”, and “Municipal”), on the basis of which in 1940 the State Conservatoire was founded, now the Academy of Music. In the 20th century such remarkable singers and composers as Mihai Drăgan, Tamara Ciobanu, Nicolae Sulac, Ion and Doina Aldea-Teodorovici, Petre Teodorovici, Ion Enache, Constantin Rusnac, Anatol Chiriac, Gheorghe Mustea, Serghei Lunchevici, Nicolae Botgros, Ion Suruceanu, Olga Ciolacu, Anastasia Lazariuc, Margareta Ivanuş, Nadejda Cepraga appeared. A page apart in the history of Moldovan music was written by Eugeniu Doga, Moldova’s most famous contemporary composer, whose music is listened to and loved in Moldova and abroad. The most outstanding musical groups in our country are the “Doina” Choir Chapel, founded in 1930 and the Symphonic Orchestra of the National Philharmonic society, created in 1940. In recent decades the Symphonic Orchestra of Teleradio Moldova is well-known. The most famous among folk groups are the folk music orchestras “Fluieraş” and “Lăutarii” that have been very active during the last decade. Folk groups surprise admirers with the colorfulness and originality of Moldovan melodies and words and beauty of Moldovan national costumes. Festivals of folk music are being organized each year and concerts are held regularly. 23 Pre Departure Material: Country and Culture Guide/M 34 2019 In the period after 1989 a lot of young singers and modern groups appeared as well among them the most popular are the rock and pop groups “Zdob şi Zdub”, “The Snails”, “Gândul Mâţei”, “Carlas Dream”, “The Motans”. Some of the popular singers include Natalia Barbu, Nelly Ciobanu, Silvia Grigore, Vitalie Dani, Irina Rimesh and Dan Balan. The National Palace, the Organ Hall, the Philharmonic, and The Opera and Ballet Theatre are some of the places in Chisinau where one can listen to folk, classical or modern music. Dance – Moldovans dance a lot. No party can happen without dances. Among the most popular are the circles dances “Hora” (a slow dance), “Sârba” (a quick dance), “Bătuta” and others. There are certain steps characteristic for each. Moldovans also dance traditional ethnic dances in pairs, waltzes, and simple tango steps. There are folk and modern dance groups that perform regularly for the public at the Palatal National or Opera and Ballet Theatre in Chisinau as well as on stage in towns and villages. During the Communist era folk music and dances from different regions were collected and brought back to the public. People started singing old Moldovan and Romanian songs. Now practically every town and many villages have their own folk singing and dance groups. The most famous folk dance group in Moldova is “Joc”, led by V. Curbet this group has performed on many stages of the world, bringing to other peoples the colorful Moldovan dance. The modern dance group “Codreanca” has won many international contests. Many times concerts of music and dance are held in the main squares of Chisinau or other towns for free for the public at large. Often singers and dance groups from other countries perform. The period from March 1 to March 10, called Marţişor, is the time when the best musical and dance groups from other countries and Moldova perform throughout Moldova.
Cinematography – One of the youngest film industries in Europe, Moldovan cinema appeared only at the beginning of the 50’s. One of the first movies that opened the Moldovan cinema era was “The Haiduc Ballad”, filmed in 1958 by Moldova-Film, the State-owned film company. In the middle of the 60’s Moldovan film reached its apogee. The feature films “The Red Glades” and “Lăutarii” by Emil Loteanu, “Searching for a Watchman” by Vlad Ioviţa and Gheorghe Vodă, “The Last Month of Autumn” by Ion Druţă and Vadim Derbeniov, the documentaries “The Well”, ”The Stone”, and “The Autumnal” were essential events in the evolution of post-war film. The high opinion of the cinema critics was confirmed by many prestigious awards from international festivals (Canes, Mar-del-Plata, San-Sebastiano, Orvieto, etc.) One of the most famous theatre and cinema actors in Moldova is Mihai Volontir. Being part of a theatrical group in Bălţi, the second major city in Moldova, he also played leading roles in some wellknown Moldovan films. Yet, the estrangement of the nation from its spiritual traditions, determined by the intensification of the communist censorship at the beginning of the 70’s, condemned Moldovan film in recent decades to a loss of originality. This creative crisis was renewed under new conditions and brought new films like “The Wooden Gun” by V. Brescanu, “Ioana and Dissenter” by V. Jereghi, “The Blue Flower” by S. Bulicanu, and “The Best of the Worlds” by V. Prodan. One of the most promising local filmmakers, who won the 2018 National Prize for original creation in the art of publicity film and promoted the image of Moldova, was Viorel Mardare. He was born on October 7, 1981, but passed away vary young, on March 9, 2019, after a fight with ruthless illness. Since 2000, he has been a young journalist, actively involved in the social sphere, but also as a participant in municipal debate and intellectual gaming clubs. So far, Viorel Mardare remains the holder of most Master degrees in the Moldovan Club of Intellectual Games. His spots, which have prompted people to vote for years, to be better with peers, to love their country and to promote it abroad, have characterized Viorel Mardare, and all were a sincere personal message for a better world. Viorel can be considered one of the leaders of the generation that has formed in a free Moldova, and which through his work has contributed to the democratization of the country, a terrible fate, by ratting us the chance to still enjoy his cinema talent which would make us laugh, weep, revolt and feel fulfilled. Among his works is the one promoting the truism in Moldova, Be our Guest in Moldova, which in short time after it was lunched, November 2017, received lots of appreciation and remains one of the most beautiful country’s presentation.
Food in Daily Life
Mamaliga, a hard corn porridge, is regarded as the national dish. It is poured onto a flat surface in the shape of a big cake and is served mainly with cheese, sour cream, milk or meat. Non-Moldovan inhabitants joke that Moldovans would be unhappy if they could not eat mamaliga once a week. The main foods in daily life are a mixture of vegetables and meat (chicken, goose, duck, pork, and lamb), but the availability of vegetables depends on the season. Filled cabbage and grape leaves as well as soups such as zama and the Russian borsch also form part of daily meals. Plăcintă is a pastry filled mainly with cheese, potatoes, or cabbage that often is sold on the streets. Restaurants in Chişinău offer Russian, Moldovan, and Jewish dishes along with an increasingly international cuisine. Orthodox Christian baptisms, funerals, and weddings are accompanied by large gatherings where several meat and vegetable dishes, desserts, and cakes as well as wine are served. Homemade vodka and brandy also are offered.
Government
Government type: Republic. Sate symbols: The Republic of Moldova has its own flag, coat of arms and hymn. The flag of Moldova: The state flag is a tricolor. Blue represents the sky and the peace; Yellow represents the sun and the wheat; Red represents the blood of those who died for this land. 25 Pre Departure Material: Country and Culture Guide/M 34 2019 The emblem of the coat of arms consists of a shield divided horizontally into two parts. The upper part is red and the lower one is blue with an aurochs’s head that has between its horns an eight-pointed star. On its right, the aurochs’s head is flanked by a five-petal rose and on its left, by a slightly inclined crescent. All heraldic elements on the shield are gold. The shield is laid on the breast of an eagle carrying in its beak a golden cross. In its right claw, the eagle holds a green olive branch and in its left claw a gold scepter. The Republic of Moldova has a mixed system of government. It has a dual executive consisting of a President, Prime Minister leading the Government and a unicameral legislature (Parliament). The President is the Head of State, serves as the Commander in Chief of the armed forces and is elected by direct popular elections. The President is competent to initiate laws and address the legislature on several matters. He has the power to dissolve the Parliament and suspend acts of the government under certain circumstances. His duties moreover include negotiating and concluding international treaties, accrediting high officials, conferring medals and other honorary ranks, resolving citizenship disputes as well as granting political asylum and individual pardons. After two consecutive terms of office, reelection is precluded. As a precondition, the President shall be proficient in the Moldovan language, have lived in the country not less than 10 years, and be at least 40 years old. The current president of Moldova is Igor Dodon, elected in 2016. The powers and duties of the Prime Minister include informing the president of “matters of special importance” and nominating and coordinating the Government. Nominated by the President, the Prime Minister is subsequently approved by Parliament by a vote of confidence. The Government’s task, which currently consists of 9 ministries, is to implement the domestic and foreign policy of the nation. Aside from the Prime Minister, the government compiles the first Vice Prime Minister, the other Vice Prime Ministers, Ministers, and other persons specified by law. PC Moldova works closely with the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research, Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection and Ministry of Internal Affairs of Moldova. The unicameral Parliament enjoys vast oversight powers over the executive branch. It is the country’s supreme representative body and its 101 members are elected for a four-year term of office. This term may be shortened through dissolution or extended for one year in the event of a war or catastrophe. In July 2018, the President of Moldova promulgated the law proposed by Parliament on the switch to the mixed electoral law – this means that half of the members of Parliament are elected in accordance with the party ticket, and the other half as single-seat constituencies. This system has been implemented for the first time in February 2019 parliamentary elections. The first multiparty presidential elections were held in the fall of 1996 and were generally regarded as fair. The winner, Petru Lucinschi, assumed office in January 1997. Since July 2000 and till November 2016, the president has been elected by the Parliament for a four-year term. The parliamentary elections held in 2001, as well as in 2005, were won by the Party of Communists. Since 2009 the country is 26 Pre Departure Material: Country and Culture Guide/M 34 2019 governed by center-right parties. After a long period of political struggle market through riots, incarcerations and a lot of speculations, in 2016 the Presidential office has been occupied by a socialist. Pro-Russian candidate Igor Dodon was elected president in November 2016 beating pro-European rival Maia Sandu with 52 percent of the vote. His election marked the first time in 16 years that Moldova’s head of state was chosen directly by the people and not by parliament. During his election campaign Mr. Dodon pledged to end Moldova’s seven-year flirtation with the European Union and steer his country back towards Russia. In 2015, Moldova was wracked by a banking scandal leading to deep public discontent over high-level corruption and poor living standards. A former economics minister, Mr. Dodon has led the Party of Socialists since 2011. His party is keen to scrap a 2014 blueprint for closer trade and political ties with the EU and instead sign up to the Russian-dominated Eurasian Customs Union. In January 2016 Pavel Filip became Moldova’s third prime minister in the course of a year, the previous two having been brought down by an unfolding scandal over the embezzlement of $1bn (12.5% of GDP) from the banking system. Like his predecessors, Mr. Filip is part of the three-party pro-European-Union coalition that has run Moldova since 2009.
Economy
Moldova is a small lower income European economy. Moldova continues to be one of the poorest countries in Europe and has made moderate progress in reducing poverty and promoting inclusive growth since the early 2000s. The economy has expanded by an average of 4-5 percent a year and was driven by consumption and fueled by remittances. With a moderate climate and productive farmland, Moldova’s economy relies heavily on its agriculture sector, featuring fruits, vegetables, wine, and cereals. Moldova also depends on annual remittances of about $1.2 billion – almost 15% of GDP – from the roughly one million Moldovans working in Europe, Israel, Russia, and elsewhere. Against a background of political instability, a polarized society and an adverse external environment, Moldova faces big economic challenges. After the loss of an eighth of GDP to a massive fraud in the banking sector (late 2014), transparency, accountability, and corruption have emerged as crucial concerns. With higher public debt and damaged business confidence, the macroeconomic framework was severely damaged, while external budget support were halted till an IMF agreement is achieved. On the back of a prolonged recession in Russia and uncertainty in Europe, macroeconomic and fiscal stabilization is an important short-term challenge. Differences remain between the economic development of urban and rural areas. Moldova‘s annual per capita GDP remains one of the lowest in Europe at U.S. $2,692 (2018). The national currency is the leu (100 bani). The country has very few natural resources and is totally dependent on energy imports, mainly from Russia. Moldova’s dependence on Russian energy is underscored by a more than $6 billion debt to Russian natural gas supplier Gazprom, largely the result of unreimbursed natural gas consumption in the breakaway region of Transnistria. Moldova and Romania inaugurated the Ungheni-Iasi natural gas interconnector project in August 2014. The 43- kilometer pipeline between Moldova and Romania, allows for both the import and export of natural gas. Several technical and regulatory delays kept gas from flowing into Moldova until March 2015. Romanian gas exports to Moldova are largely symbolic. In 2018, Moldova awarded a tender to Romanian Transgaz 27 Pre Departure Material: Country and Culture Guide/M 34 2019 to construct a pipeline connecting Ungheni to Chisinau, bringing the gas to Moldovan population centers. Moldova also seeks to connect with the European power grid by 2022. Land Tenure and Property. During the Soviet period, there was no private land, only state-owned collective farms. Since 1990, as part of the transition to a market economy, privatization of land as well as houses and apartments has taken place. As the result over 1 million of people became owners of the small plots of land (5 acres on average) and had to start farming with limited resources and knowledge. Commercial Activities. Moldova in general and Chişinău in particular have many traditional Balkan-style markets. There are mixed as well as specialized markets for food, flowers, spare parts, and construction materials. This “market economy” clearly outsells the regular shops. Besides foodstuffs, which are partially home-grown, all products are imported. These types of commercial activities are flourishing because of market liberalization and the economic downturn. Major Industries. Industry is concentrated in the food-processing sector, wine making, IT services, fashion and apparel, and tourism. . The small heavy industry sector includes a metallurgical plant in Transnistria that produces high-quality steel. Moldova has a well-established wine industry. It has a vineyard area of 48,500 hectares (367,000 acres) of which 107,800 hectares (266,000 acres) are used for commercial production. The remaining 40,700 hectares (101,000 acres) are vineyards planted in villages around the houses used to make home-made wine, or “vin de casa”. Many families have their own recipes and strands of grapes that have been passed down through the generations. In 2014, Moldova was the twentieth largest wine producing country in the world. Most of the country’s commercial wine production is for export. The Moldovan wine collection “Mileștii Mici”, with almost 2 million bottles, is the largest wine collection in the world, according to the Guinness Book. It stretches for 250 km, of which only 120 km are currently in use. The Cricova winery also has an extensive network of underground tunnels that stretch for 120 km. Trade. In 2017 over three-quarters (76.9%) of products exported from Moldova were bought by importers in: Romania (24.8% of the global total), Russia (10.5%), Italy (10.2%), Germany (6.9%), United Kingdom (5.6%), Belarus (4.5%), Turkey (4.3%), Poland (4.2%), Bulgaria (3.2%) and Ukraine (2.7%).To realign foreign trade away from Russia and toward Western European and other countries, Moldova has constructed an oil terminal on the Danube and is seeking closer economic ties with Romania and the European Union. Moldova had a total export of 2,425,118.75 in thousands of US$ and total imports of 4,831,414.61 in thousands of US$ leading to a negative trade balance of -2,406,295.86 in thousands of US$
Geography
Strategically located at the crossroads of central, southeastern, and Eastern Europe, the Republic of Moldova is the second smallest of the Newly Independent States. Situated along the Danube, Prut, and Nistru rivers, Moldova occupies 13,000 square miles, has approximately the same land area as Maryland, and has a population of approximately 3.4 million. The country borders Romania in the west and Ukraine in the east and south, a landlocked country. It includes the Gagauz Autonomous Region in the south and the disputed Transnistrian region in the east. The latter region separated from Moldova in 1991–1992 but did not gain official recognition. Its central region, the Basarabian Plateau, consists of forested highlands (up to 1,300 feet in elevation) and is known as the Codru. Most Volunteers easily adjust to Moldova‘s geographic environment. The capital, Chişinău, is in the center of the country and has 740,000 inhabitants. Chişinău was first mentioned in 1436 and was the capital of the Russian province of Bessarabia in the nineteenth century. Moldova is on a fertile plain with small areas of hill country in the center and north. Only 9 percent of its territory is covered by forest, mostly in the middle. In the northern part, fertile black soil prevails and the primary crop is sugar beet. In the central and southern zones, wine making and tobacco growing are widespread. The temperate continental climate in the center of the country, with long warm summers, relatively mild winters, and high rainfall, is favorable for agriculture. The semiarid Budjak steppe in the south has drought problems. Moldova has a climate which is moderately continental; its proximity to the Black Sea leads to the climate being mildly cold in the fall and winter and relatively cool in the spring and summer. The summers are warm and long, with temperatures averaging about 25-27 °C (77-80 °F) and the winters are relatively mild and dry, with January temperatures averaging −4 °C (25 °F). Annual rainfall, which ranges from around 600 mm (24 in) in the north to 400 mm (16 in) in the south, can vary greatly; long dry spells are not unusual. The heaviest rainfall occurs in early summer and again in October; heavy showers and thunderstorms are common. Because of the irregular terrain, heavy summer rains often cause erosion and river silting. The highest temperature ever recorded in Moldova was 42.4 °C (107.6 °F) on 7 August 2012 in Făleşti. The lowest temperature ever recorded was −35.5 °C (−31.9 °F) on 20 January 1963 in Brătușeni, Edineț.
Sean in Moldova-land 