What the Second Day of Christmas Means in Romania
In Romania, the Second Day of Christmas falls on 26 December and is observed as a continuation of the Christmas feast. Like many countries with a strong Eastern Orthodox tradition, Romania treats the days following Christmas Day as part of an extended celebration rather than a single-day holiday. The second day is widely associated with the honouring of the Virgin Mary and with family gatherings, and it remains a public holiday in the country.
Because Romania follows the Orthodox calendar for many of its religious observances, the precise dating of Christmas and its surrounding days can differ from Western practice depending on which calendar a particular church uses. The majority Orthodox Church in Romania uses the revised Julian calendar, which aligns Christmas with 25 December, so the Second Day of Christmas is generally marked on 26 December.
Origins and Religious Background
The Second Day of Christmas in Romania is rooted in the broader Christian tradition of celebrating the Nativity over several days. In Orthodox practice, major feasts are often given an "afterfeast" period, and the days immediately following a great feast carry their own significance. The day after Christmas is traditionally linked to the Synaxis of the Theotokos, a commemoration of the Virgin Mary, which is why the second day is often treated as a Marian feast in Orthodox countries.
Romania's Christmas customs more broadly draw on a mixture of Orthodox Christian liturgy, pre-Christian winter solstice traditions, and rural folk practices that were gradually woven into the religious celebration. Many of the carols, masked rituals, and food traditions associated with the season predate or run alongside the formal church calendar, and they carry over into the days after Christmas.
Customs and Traditions
Romanian Christmas customs are strongly communal and often continue past Christmas Day itself. The second day typically extends the visiting, feasting, and carol-singing that begin on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
- Carol singing (colinde): Groups of carolers, often children or young people, go from house to house singing traditional Romanian carols. These visits can continue on the second day of Christmas.
- Star singing and folk performances: Some regions feature performances such as the "Steaua" (star) tradition, in which singers carry a decorated star, and masked or costumed folk rituals tied to the winter season.
- Family visits and hospitality: The days after Christmas are a time for visiting relatives and neighbours, sharing food and drink, and receiving guests.
- Church attendance: Many Romanians attend religious services on the days surrounding Christmas, including the second day, which is associated with the Virgin Mary.
Food and Drink
Romanian Christmas food is hearty and tied to the winter season and the end of the pre-Christmas fast. The same dishes served on Christmas Day are typically eaten again on the second day, often as part of extended family meals.
- Sarmale: Cabbage rolls stuffed with meat and rice, one of the most characteristic Romanian holiday dishes.
- Cozonac: A sweet, enriched bread filled with nuts, cocoa, or poppy seeds, traditionally baked for Christmas.
- Pork dishes: Various pork preparations, including sausages and roasted meats, feature prominently, reflecting the traditional winter pig slaughter.
- Piftie and other aspics: Meat jellies are common in some regions during the cold months.
- Țuică and wine: Traditional plum brandy and wine are commonly offered to guests during the holiday visits.
Religious and Civic Observances
The Second Day of Christmas is a public holiday in Romania, so government offices, schools, and many businesses are closed. Religious observance centres on church services that continue the Nativity celebration and honour the Virgin Mary. Because the day is a legal holiday, it is also a time when families travel and gather, and public life slows considerably.
Public Festivities
Public celebrations in Romanian cities and towns during the Christmas season include Christmas markets, decorated squares, and light displays. These festivities typically run through the holiday period, so the second day of Christmas often falls within the window of ongoing public events. In many communities, carolers and folk ensembles perform in public spaces, and the festive atmosphere continues from Christmas Day into the following days.
Regional Variations
Romania has several historic regions, each with its own folk traditions, and Christmas customs vary accordingly.
- Transylvania: Influenced by Hungarian and Saxon communities, Christmas customs here can include distinct carols and local food traditions.
- Moldavia and Bukovina: Known for rich carol-singing traditions and masked folk rituals during the winter season.
- Maramureș: Famous for preserved rural customs, including elaborate caroling and costumed performances around Christmas.
- Wallachia and Oltenia: Southern traditions include their own carols and holiday dishes, with strong emphasis on family gatherings.
- Banat and Crișana: These western regions show a mix of Romanian, Serbian, Hungarian, and other influences in their holiday customs.
Across all regions, the second day of Christmas is primarily a time of continued feasting, visiting, and religious observance, with local folk traditions shaping how each community marks the day.