Moldova: Holidays, Events, and National Customs
Public holidays
There are a number of public holidays that do not have a fixed date, but are based on the location of Easter. Easter takes place on the first Sunday that follows the first full moon after the beginning of spring. Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, which ends on Holy Saturday, is 46 days before Holy Saturday. The date for Pentecost is then 50 days after Easter. The Corpus Christi festival is celebrated on the 2nd Thursday after Pentecost.
All Saints’ Day is celebrated for Orthodox Christians on the 1st Sunday after Pentecost, but for Catholic Christians the date is fixed on November 1st. On October 31, Protestants celebrate Reformation Day. The Halloween festival also takes place on this day.
Date | Holiday |
January 1 | New Year |
January 7th and 8 | Moldovan Christmas |
8th of March | International Women’s Day |
April May | Orthodox Easter |
1st of May | Labor Day |
8th of May | Remembrance day |
May 9 | Victory and Remembrance Day |
August 27 | Independence from the Soviet Union (August 27, 1991) |
August 31 | Limba Noastră (Day of Our Language) |
2nd Sunday in October | Sarbatoarea Vinului (National Wine Day) |
Source: Countryaah – Moldova Holidays
Cultural events
On the second Sunday in October every year, since 2002, Moldova celebrates the national wine day (Sarbatoarea Vinului). The celebrations take place mainly in the central square of Chişinău.
National customs
The folklore typical of the country is cultivated by the Tarafs, traditional music groups, whose instruments include the tsamabal (a kind of cymbal) and the bagpipe-like tsimpoi.
Moldova: climate
Travel times
The ideas of what is meant by a particularly favorable travel climate depend on a number of factors. Pure cultural travelers certainly see the climate differently than people who want to spend a pure beach holiday, for example. The state of health or age can also play an important role.
Climate table
The following table shows a range of climate data for the country. It should be noted, however, that the climatic conditions in different regions of the country can differ considerably from one another and thus also from the values shown. In addition, such monthly temperature averages say little about the possible current minimum or maximum temperatures. It is not uncommon for average temperatures of around 30 °C to reach maximum values of 40 °C or even more on a number of days. The table therefore only provides a general overview of the climatic conditions in the country.
Month | Mean number of days with precipitation | Mean maximum temperatures in (°C) | Mean minimum temperatures in (°C) |
January | 14 | -02 | -08 |
February | 16 | -02 | -06 |
March | 12 | 05 | -03 |
April | 09 | 11 | 05 |
May | 09 | 15 | 10 |
June | 10 | 23 | 13 |
July | 09 | 25 | 15 |
August | 06 | 24 | 15 |
September | 06 | 21 | 10 |
October | 06 | 16 | 06 |
November | 11 | 09 | 02 |
December | 13 | 01 | -04 |
Attractions
- Abbreviationfinder.org: Presents the way that MD stands for the nation of Moldova as a two-letter acronym.
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Struve Arch
The Struve Arch is a cross-border scientific monument with a length of 2,821 km and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005. This geodetic survey sheet covers ten countries. It starts in Hammerfest in Norway and then continues through Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Moldova and ends in Ukraine. There is a chain of geodetic measuring stations on the Struve Arch.
It was used to measure parts of the earth’s surface and had its origin in the Tartu observatory in Estonia, of which Struve was director from 1820-1839. More details under Struve arches.
Cities in the country
Chişinău
The approximately 500 year old capital of Moldova was built on the bank of the small river Byk on seven hills.
The architectural features include around 30 buildings, which show a unique fusion of Russian and Italian style elements. The large number of artistically designed parks in the city is also remarkable.
Tiraspol
The capital of the unilaterally proclaimed Republic of Transnistria is only 70 km from Chişinău, it was founded in 1792 on the then border with Russia.
Special structures
Castle in Benderi
The building from the 17th century was unfortunately damaged in the recent fighting.
Citadel of Soroca
The strategically important fortifications were developed and expanded several times, especially under Stefan cel Mare (around 1433-1504) and Petru Rares (around 1487-1546). The present complex was built between 1543 and 1546 by Transylvanian master builders.
Kino Patria (Vaterland) in Chişinău
The largest cinema in the city was built in 1947 by German prisoners of war.
Museums
National Art Museum in Chişinău
You can see a collection of Russian, Western European and Moldovan paintings and sculptures. Part of the exhibition is housed in a cathedral from the 19th century.
Pushkin House in Chişinău
The museum recalls the period between 1820 and 1823, when the Russian poet lived here in exile.
Theater and opera
Luceafarul Youth Theater The Luceafarul
Youth Theater puts together wonderful evening programs. By the way, the name of the house means “poetic star” in German.
Licurici
Puppet Theater The Chişinău Puppet Museum brings not only Moldovan but also Russian pieces to the stage. Translated into German, the theater is called “Glow Worms”.
Mihai Eminescu National Theater
The National Theater of Chişinău, located on Bulevardul Ştefan cel Mare şi Sfînt, dates back to the National Theater of Bessarabia, which was established in 1920. It often offers free classical music arrangements in its Sala cu orga (= organ hall).
National Philharmonic
The building of the National Philharmonic rises on Strada Mitropolit Varlaam in the historical center of Chişinău. The Philharmonic was founded in 1940 and also serves as a venue for music festivals. The Philharmonic Concert Hall serves as the seat of the Moldavian symphony orchestra, in which the folkloric Doinachor and the Dschok state dance ensemble also perform.
Pushkin Theater
This theater, named after Alexander S. Pushkin, stages plays in the Moldavian language in particular.
Chekhov Theater
The stage in Chişinău, which honors the Russian writer Anton Chekhov by name, was housed in a former synagogue.
Churches and monasteries
Numerous churches and monasteries bear witness to the 500-year history of Christianity in Moldova. The building style was subject to a wide variety of influences. The early Christian Orthodox buildings were mostly built according to the Roman Catholic model. In the time of the Turkish-Ottoman Empire from the 15th to the 18th century, churches could often only be built in secret. And at the end of the 18th and 19th centuries, many churches, cathedrals and monasteries with Russian influence were built.
Church of Our Lady in Chişinău
The building from 1803 was designed by an Armenian architect.
Church of the Dressing in Căuşeni
The church was secretly built during the Turkish occupation in the 15th century.
Church of the Entombment in Belgorod on the Dniester
The 15th century building was designed by an Armenian architect.
Church in Petruşeni
The wooden church dates from 1702.
Holy Trinity Monastery in Saharna
In the place of pilgrimage east of the Dniester River, there is a monastery from the 17th century and several churches, a monk hermitage, a “miracle spring”, a holy one Bathhouse and the relics of the Holy Martyr Makarius. The surrounding landscape with the forested Saharna Gorge and several waterfalls is particularly beautiful.
Monastery in Hîncu
Originally founded in 1678 at the source of the Kogylnik river in the Kodr area by Mihalcea Hincu, it consists of a wooden church and several cells.
Other important and worth seeing sacred buildings in Moldova include:
Butuceni monastery, 15th to 17th century.
Curchi monastery, 18th century.
Uspensk rock monastery in Zypowo.
Cave monastery in Orheiul Vechi from the 13th century.
Chisinau
cathedral
. c.
Căpriana monastery with the Church of St. George, 15th century
Monastery in Japca, 16th c.
Monastery in VARZARESTI, 15th c.
Monastery in Hârbovăţ, 18th cent.
Monastery in Hârjauca, 18th cent.
Monastery in Hâncul, 17th century.
Monastery in Suruceni, 18th cent.
Monastery Holy Trinity Church in Rudi, 18th century
Synagogue in Chişinău
Universities
The following universities are in Moldova:
Moldovan
Alecu Russo
State University Bălţi Moldovan State University of Agriculture
Moldovan Institute of Arts
Nicoela Testemitanu University of Medicine and Pharmacy
Ion Creanga University of Education Chişinău
University of Cahul
University of Chişinău
University of Comrat
University of Tiraspol
Technical University of Moldova
Natural beauties, parks
Pushkin
Park in Chişinău At the entrance is a memorial of the Moldovan ruler Stefan the Great (Stefan cel Mare), who ruled the country independently from 1457 to 1504.
Parcul Valea Trandafirilor (Park of Roses)
with ferris wheel in Chişinău
Parcul La Izvor (Park to the Source) in Chişinău
The park, opened in 1972, contains two large lakes and a water fountain.
Parcul Valea Morilor (Valley of the Mills) in Chişinău
This complex by the architect R. Curts was opened in 1951.
Zypowo nature reserve with numerous waterfalls
Thermal and mud baths in Kagul
Thermal bath in Hirjauca