Romanian Traditions Bloom in Minneapolis

A peek into the busy Spring of Romanian-Americans living in Minnesota

By: Kathleen Zhang

With the re-emergence of warm weather in Minnesota, many communities are celebrating the return of spring. For college students, this meant sporting various shades of green and celebrating the patron saint of Ireland, although his message may have become a little lost on the way.

For the roughly 5,000 Romanian-Americans in the Twin Cities area, however, spring brings along other important cultural traditions. Romanian spring celebrations begin in late February with the Dragobete, a celebration of love tied to the Thracian god for which it is named. It will end on June 24th with the Sanziene, a maiden-based festival similar to the Swedish Midsummer.

The biggest celebration in March is Dochia, which lasts the first nine days of the month. One of the traditions practiced during this time is the Martisor—a white and red entwined string typically meant to be worn until the end of March, where they are then hung on a tree with flowering branches. The string often has a small trinket attached and is meant to serve as a talisman of friendship, respect, or good luck.

For those interested in learning more about Romanian culture, look no further than the Romanian Spring Traditions gallery at the Landmark Center in Saint Paul! The gallery is hosted by the Heritage Organization of Romanian Americans in Minnesota and will be at the Landmark Center until mid-April. Some features include traditional full-length dresses, bright ornate easter eggs, educational displays, and other selections of local artwork. Additional events such as pottery making and folk music will be held on the first two Sundays of April. 

The exhibit is wonderful, informative, and worthy of an in-person visit. Minnesota is home to many ethnicities, including the largest concentration of Somali and Hmong populations in the United States, and it would be a shame not to take advantage of our diverse city to experience the rich cultures and values of the various other communities sharing our space. If you find any free time on the weekends, I highly recommend going to Saint Paul and checking out the exhibit before it leaves!