Life in Bucovina is marked by a series of events, holidays and festivals that repeat themselves each year. These old traditions are well conserved in this part of Romania.
There are many occasions to celebrate; first of all there are important religious holidays, Christmas, Easter and the feast days of the major saints, there are several ethno folkloric festivals; to these could be added the numerous other cultural manifestation and fairs.
February
- Paltinoasa - A Time for Evening Sittings (Vremea Sezatorilor). A festival of folk music. Originally, a Sezatoarea is a reunion in a peasant house, a combination of a sewing circle and an occasion to sing, dance, recite poems, or make jokes.
March
- Last week, Fundu Moldovei - “The Annunciation” Religious Music Festival (Festivalul de Muzica Religioasa “Bunavestire”).
- Vatra Moldoviţei - Flowers from Bucovina (Flori din Bucovina).
- Cornu Luncii - Peasants’ Dance (Hora gospodarilor), a local festival of folk dance and music.
May
- Radauti - Rock Music Festival (Festivalul de Muzica Rock).
- First days, Marginea - Black Pottery Fair (Targul de Ceramica Neagra), a fair of the typical black pottery made in the village.
- Darmaneşti - Minorities Festival “Convieţuiri” (Festivalul Minoritatilor “Convietuiri”), a festival of Bucovina’s ethnic minorities, the Armenians, Poles and Ukrainians.
- Gura Humorului - National Festival of Caricatures and Epigrams “Humour at Gura Humorului” (Festival National de Caricaturi si Epigrame “Umor…la Gura Humorului”).
June
- The first half, Straja - Festival of Traditional Wedding Customs (Festivalul Traditiilor de Nunta).
- Sadova - Gathering of Sheep (Strunga oilor). The sheep are gathered together at the sheepfold, and the sheep that gives the most milk receives a prize. A cheese called “cas” is prepared from the milk of the whole flock.
- Horodnic - Festival of Folk Music Instruments “Silvestru Lungoci” (Festivalul Instrumentelor Populare “Silvestru Lungoci”).
- Putna Monastery - A special service connected with the end of the fasting period.
- First days, Horodnic - Traditional Dances (Dansuri Traditionale), a festival of folk dances.
- Balca - Old People’s Festival (Festivalul Batranilor). Old people perform traditional songs and dances.
- Baia - Symposium “Baia - Historical Moments” (Simpozionul “Baia - File de istorie”) A yearly symposium on important moments of history.
July
- Suceava - Classical music competition “Ciprian Porumbescu”
- Radauti - Pottery Fair “The Eye of the Peacock” (Targul Olarilor “Ochi de Paun”).
- Falticeni - The Evening Sitting (Sezatoarea) - happening of folk dance and music.
- Campulung Moldovenesc - International Festival of Folklore “Bucovinean Meetings” (Festivalul International de Folclor “Intalniri Bucovinene”).
August
- Suceava - Pottery Fair (Târgul Mesterilor Olari).
August, Suceava - Old Customs (Dupa datina strabuna), a presentation of old customs and traditions.
Radauti - International Folk Festival “Arcanul” (Festivalul International de Folclor “Arcanul”), a festival of folklore. The arcan is the symbol of the 19th century compulsory military service. The forced conscription of a young man was a tragedy for the entire family.
- Fundu Moldovei - Celebrating “Arcanul” (Sarbatoarea Arcanului), festival of folklore.
- First week, Suceava - National Dance Festival “Hora de la Prislop” (Festivalul National de Dans “Hora de la Prislop”). Hora is the traditional Romanian ring dance.
- Balca - The Celebration of the Virgin Mary (Sarbatoarea Sfintei Marii).
September
- Vama - Dance in Vama (Hora la Vama), a folk dance festival.
- Suceava - Ethnographic and Folk Festival “Simeon Florea Marian”.
- Straja - Treasures of the Romanian Soul (Comori de Suflet Romanesc), a festival of folk music and poetry.
- Volovat - Treasures of the Soul in Volovat (Comorile Sufletului la Volovat), folk music and poetry.
- Gura Humorului - Film Festival “Autumn in Voronet” (Festivalul de Film si Diaporama “Toamna la Voronet”). Short films and documentaries of young film directors compete for a prize.
October
- Suceava- Poetry Competition “Nicolae Labis” (Concursul de Poezie “Nicolae Labis”). A competition for the best new poem and the best reciter.
October, - - Suceava - Fine Arts Competition “Voroneteana” (Concursul de Arta Plastica “Voroneteana”).
November
- November, Suceava - Young Craftsmen’s Fair (Targul Copiilor Mestesugari), where the craftsmen sell their produce.
- Moldovita - Dance and Music Festival “The Song of the Mountains” (Festivalul de Dans si Muzica “Cantecul Obcinii”).
- Last week, Suceava - Celebrating the Great Union of 1918 (Sărbătoarea Marii Uniri), with a folk music festival, conferences and symposiums, as well as concerts of contemporary music.
December
- Suceava - National Fair of Photographic Art “Bucovina 2003″ (Salonul National de Arta Fotografica “Bucovina 2003″). An annual contest for the best photograph, as well as an exhibition.
- Marginea - Traditions and Customs (Datini si Obiceiuri).
- Falticeni - Traditions and Customs (Datini si Obiceiuri).
- Partestii de Jos - Traditions and Customs (Datini si Obiceiuri).
- Zvoristea - Traditions and Customs (Datini si Obiceiuri).
- Dorna Arini - Traditions and Customs (Datini si Obiceiuri).
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