Winter Traditions in Bucovina: Carols, New Year Wishes and Festive Customs

In the days before Christmas, villages across Bucovina begin preparing for the holidays. Families cook for the festive table, decorate their Christmas trees and listen as children practise their carols. Towards the end of the year, groups making their New Year visits can also be heard in the streets, accompanied by bells, drums and shouted verses.

Customs vary from one village and family to another. Some are kept within households, while others can be seen at community gatherings and performances. If you visit Bucovina in winter, here are a few traditions to look out for.

Christmas Eve carols

On Christmas Eve, carol singers visit homes to announce the birth of Christ and bring their hosts good wishes. Groups may include children, young people or adults, and both the songs and the way they are received differ from one community to another.

For children, going carol singing is also about setting off together, finding the courage to sing at a neighbour’s gate and being welcomed inside. Depending on local custom and what each household can offer, hosts may give the singers apples, walnuts, sweet bread, sweets or money.

Some families also sing carols at home around the table. If you hear them for the first time, listen to the words: some are familiar throughout Romania, while others have local versions and expressions passed down in the area.

From Christmas carols to New Year wishes

Carols are associated especially with Christmas. As the New Year approaches, groups known as urători visit homes with the Plugușorul and other traditional verses wishing households health and a good year ahead. The rhythm is often stronger, with bells, whips or a traditional friction drum known as a buhai accompanying the voices.

If you are visiting Bucovina, you will not necessarily find the same customs at every door. The groups, costumes and days on which they make their visits can differ. Asking your hosts or local residents is a good way to find out what happens nearby.

The goat, the bear and New Year masks

Among the most recognisable winter customs are the masked dances. You can often hear a group approaching before you see it: drums and bells announce its arrival, while the costumes quickly draw attention.

These dances can be seen in local communities, at festivals or as part of folk performances. If you would like to photograph participants up close, ask for their permission when you have the opportunity.

Preparations and the festive table

In many homes, preparations begin days in advance: the house is cleaned, food is made for the family and everything is readied for guests. Each household has favourite dishes and recipes that change a little from one generation to the next.

A Christmas meal may include sarmale – cabbage rolls filled with meat and rice – along with meat aspic, other meat dishes, pickles, cozonac sweet bread and pastries. During the period before Christmas, some families also prepare fasting dishes according to their customs. Menus vary from home to home, so it is worth asking your hosts about the dishes they have prepared.

You can find out more about dining at Piriu’Morii on our accommodation, restaurant and spa page.

Things to do when visiting Bucovina in winter

A holiday visit can include time in the local community as well as a few trips to nearby attractions. Leave room in your schedule for the weather and allow extra time for winter roads.

• Listen to carols: ask your hosts whether there are local carol gatherings or performances during your stay.
• Look for local announcements: programmes for festivals, performances and visiting groups are arranged for each year.
• Visit the Museum of Folk Customs of Bucovina: located in Gura Humorului, it is also a good stop on a cold day. Check the opening hours before leaving.
• Discover nearby monasteries: Humor and Voroneț can be included in your plans, with enough time for both the visit and the journey.
• Try local food: ask what is being cooked during your stay and choose a dish you might not usually prepare at home.

For distances and more places to visit, see our tourist map of Bucovina. To read about other seasons, crafts and customs, explore our guide to traditions and culture in Bucovina.

A few useful things to know before you leave

Days are short in December, and the weather can change quickly. For walks, bring footwear suitable for snow or ice, warm clothing and gloves. If you are planning a longer journey, check road conditions and allow plenty of time.

Opening hours at some attractions may change during the holidays. Checking before you leave can help you plan the day and avoid an unnecessary journey.

A base for your winter days in Bucovina

Piriu’Morii is in Mănăstirea Humorului, close to Gura Humorului and several places you can visit during a stay in Bucovina. After a day outdoors, you can return to the guesthouse for dinner and rest.

For other dates during the winter season, you can ask us about rooms and the availability of our relaxation facilities. Details are confirmed according to your chosen dates.