January 1st – St. Basil – habits related to “Vasilca”. Carols “with Vasilca” is met on the eve and the first day of the New Year in the countryside practiced both by Roma and non-Roma in the Balkans (Romanian, Bulgarian).
January 27th – International Holocaust Remembrance Day (UNO)
February 20th, 1856 – Completion of abolition of Roma slavery. On 10/22 of December 1855, the Civic Divan of Moldavia voted “the Law to abolish slavery, emancipated slaves, regulation of compensation and taxation of new free people”. On 20 February 1856, Prince Barbu Dimitrie Stirbei promulgated in Wallachia “The Rule for the emancipation of all Gypsies in the Romanian Principality”, marking the last bill on the liberation of Roma owned by boyars in Romanian Principalities. In Transylvania, similar measures were adopted before and during Emperors Maria Theresa and Joseph the 2nd and strict action were initiated and taken to integrate Roma. In 2011, the Romanian Parliament adopted Law no. 28/2011, which recognizes the long period of slavery and states that on 20 February each year, to be the day that celebrates “the Abolition of Roma Slavery”.
February 21st – International Mother Tongue Day (UNESCO)
March 7th – Roma Parents Day. The day when Roma parents, co-opted in various educational programs of the school – ” Mothers School”, “Young fathers school”, “Grandparents school ” – meet for consultations with teachers on the education of Roma children.
March 8th – International Women’s Day
March 17th, 2000 – Roma School Mediator Day – Marks the elaboration of the first job description of the Roma school mediator by inspectors for Roma schooling, who participated at the second workshop in Tulcea, 15-17 March 2000 organized by the Ministry of Education, Romani Criss and OSCE. Subsequently (see GD 721/14 May 2004), the profession of school mediator for educational needs/ PHARE Programme (which had begun in September 2002 in 10 counties in Romania) becomes part of the COR (Classification of Occupations in Romania), code 334 010. The occupation is part of major Subgroup 33 – Teachers and assimilated, but actually fall in minor Group 334 – Other staff in education; Basic group: 3340 – Staff in education, unclassified in previous groups.
March 18th, 1812 – Roma Writer Day – The day when Ion Budai-Deleanu signed and sent a letter to Mitru Perea (Petru Maior), a prestigious singer, where it appeared that both of them were Roma. With this very occasion, other Roma writers are celebrated (in Romania, Anton Pann, Valerică Stănescu, Păun Gheorghe Ialomiţeanu, Irina Gabor-Zrinyi, and abroad John Bunyan (England), Celja Stojka (Austria), Sali Ibrahim (Bulgaria), Daniel Bartolomej (Czech Republic), Marilla Mehr (Switzerland), Vejo Baltzar (Finland), Mateo Maksimof (Spain, France), Philomena Franz (Germany), Aleksandr Germano (Russia), Dezider Banga (Slovakia), Elena Lackova (Slovakia), Slobodan Berberski (Serbia), Ali Krasnici (Serbia), Jose Heredia Maya (Spain), Katarina Taikon (Sweden), Bari Karoly (Hungary), Menyhert Lakatos (Hungary), etc).
Roma poets from different countries are celebrated, too: (Uzin Kerim (Bulgaria), Santino Spinelli (Italy), Kujtim Paćaku (Kosovo), Ljatif Demir (Macedonia), Bronislawa Wajs – Papusza (Poland), Nikolaj Pankov (Russia), Leksa Manuš (Russia, Latvia), dr. Rajko Djurić (Serbia), Jovan Nikolić (Serbia), Bairam Haliti (Serbia), Choli Daróczi József (Hungary). We also celebrate Romanian Roma poets, for example, Ştefan Fuli, born august 23, 1950, in Mureseni – neighborhood in Tg. Mures, the first Roma poet publishing a poetry volume in 1933 – “Close-Faraway” (Ed. Tipomur: Tg. Mureş). Touched by a “depressed mood futility”, poet poisons himself in December 1994, but dies in long-suffering, until March 28, 1995. Other Romanian Roma poets: Luminiţa Mihai Cioabă, Gelu Măgureanu, Marius Lakatos, etc.
March 21st – International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
March 21st – World Poetry Day (UNESCO)
April 7th, 1990 – Romani Alphabet Day. Endorsement of writing in a common international Romani language, at the Fourth International Congress of Roma (held in Warsaw), known as “Roma Alphabet” Decision; it was based on the results of the Commission for the standardization of Romani, reunited on 5 and 6 April 1990 in Jadwisin – Serock (Poland).
April 8th, 1971 – International Roma Day. The date represents a historical moment for Roma in Romania and worldwide. On that day, Roma representatives from 25 countries met for the first time in London at the first International Congress of Roma, where it was first talked about a common history of Roma. The symbol, flag (with the lower green strip symbolizing the unity of Roma with the nature and the upper blue strip symbolizing their unity with the heavens, in other words with the spiritual world, philosophy and such like; the wheel in the center of the flag symbolizes the migratory heritage of Roma and has its roots in the Indian red chakra wheel; it had originally sixteen spokes and its red color corresponds to the first chakra – the element of the Earth), motto and anthem “Gelem, gelem” of the Romani people have been adopted since; this was also the event at which the Romani language was officially recognized. In Romania, the 8th of April was recognized by Law no. 66/2006, as the “The Celebration Day of Roma ethnicity from Romania”.
April 16th, 1889 – Roma Actor Day. It marks Charles Chaplin birthday (born April 16th, 1889, died December 25th, 1977). He recognized his Roma origins 13 years before his death (see “My Autobiography”, 1964): “My grandmother was half gipsy.” In this context, many other actors with Roma blood celebrate, as Yul Brynner (born on July 7th, 1915, or July 12th, 1915, acc.to others, in Sakhalin Island, Vladivostok – Russia; died on October 10th, 1985, in New York). Yul Brynner’s biography [Tadje Kahn] is wrapped in mystery, researchers’ references being confused. But as Yul Brynner assumed his Roma identity (by attending and elected as honorable president of the second World Congress of Roma Union, in Geneva, in 1978), as he lived among Roma and circus people, as his biographers speak about him being “quarter” Roma and “quarter” Jewish, we may assume that the famous actor had Roma blood, indeed. The father of Brynner’s mother, Marusia Blagovidova, was a Russian Jewish and her mother was Roma. Anyway, in his incipient artistic life we could find him among Roma, playing the guitar and performing as a trapeze artist at circus. Celebration of Roma Actor Day extends also at national level, in Romania, when considering Roma actors, such as: Ştefan Bănică (Bucharest), Moca Rudi (Tg. Mureş), Mihai Răducu, Sorin Sandu Aurel, Zita Moldovan, Vera Lingurar, Mădălin Mandin – all young actors performing in Bucharest.
April 20th, 2004 – Day of non-segregation and non-discrimination in education. It marks the day when it was issued by the Ministry of Education and Research at the request and with the participation of Roma organizations, Notification no. 29323 / 20.04. 2004 banning segregation of children in education. In this context, in addition to meetings in schools, in order to analyze / awareness acts of discrimination and segregation, competitions should be organized for students, formed by multiethnic crews on the topic of the children’s book “Katitzi” written by writer Roma Katarina Taikon in Sweden (born July 29th, 1932 and died on December 30th, 1995).
April 24th, 1595 – Răzvan Vodă Roma Ruler’s Day (who ruled between April 24 / May 4 1595 and December 3/13, 1595). Proclamation as Ruler of Moldavia of Ştefan Răzvan was done thas day; he ruled in Moldavia up to December 3/13, 1595. In fact, he was the only Roma ruler of a Romanian country. On the night of April 25 / May 5, 1595, he Razvan Voda declared Aaron Voda as traitor and arrested him in Iasi. On 4/14 December 1595, Răzvan Voda is caught in its attempt to flee to Transylvania and surrendered to his pursuers on December 4th 1595, when the new ruler, Ieremia Movilă, commanded to chain Răzvan Voda in Suceava, to cut his nose and to impale him.
April 25th – Holocaust Day. It marks the extermination of six million Jewish, of over 500,000 Roma and other victims (on physic, sexual, religious, ideological, diversity) by the Nazis during the Second World War.
April 25th, 2001 – Strategy Day. National Law Day concerning Roma in Romania. G.D. 430/2001 regarding improvement of Roma condition was issued April 25th,2001; the regulatory document has been updated by G.D. 522 / April 2006.
April 28th – Roma Book in Romania Day. It marks the publishing in 1878, of the first bilingual collection of Roma folklore, elaborated by Barbu Constantinescu; after the Revolution – publishing on April 28th 1992 the first Roma dictionary in Romania, by Gheorghe Sarău.
April / May – Green Thursday. Roma Easter. The first Thursday after Orthodox Easter, Roma, particularly the musicians, coming mainly from among former Roma bears-leaders (ursari), because of being busy performing on Easter in the majority’ communities, used to celebrate the Easter on the first Thursday after the Orthodox Easter. Even today, especially in Moldova (Bacau, Suceava, etc.), Roma bears-leaders (ursari) celebrate this day.
May 1564 (first Sunday of May) – First confirmation of Indian origin of Roma, made by Giovan Andreea Gromo, captain of guards of Sigismund Zapolya of Transylvania.
May 6th – Herdelezi [Hıdrellez, Hıdırellez], St. George. Initially in eleventh century, on May 6th, they used to celebrate Prophet Elias (Old Testament). It is worthy noticing that the present Roma term Herdelèzi which is Turkish, preserves the name of Prophet Elias (see Elèzi). The song “Sa o roma, daje!” (All people, mother!) is assimilated today as “the Anthem of Muslim Roma”, while the day of Herdelezi is celebrated by Roma in Balcans, especially by the Muslim ones, or by those who, long ago, had assimilated cultural and religious influences from Muslims (see rudars in Romania).
May 24-25, 1935 – Saint Sara, Roma religious protector – marks the pilgrimage of Western-European Roma to the Church in Les Saintes Maries de la Mer in southern France, where the Saint Sara’ statue lays in the basement. After Christ’ crucifixion, the three Mary together with their servant Sara, were forced to get on a boat and abandoned on sea, with no water or food. The sea brought them to mainland, in South of France. Saint Sara was painted by the painter Ion Alexe, in 2001 in Saint Paraschiva Church from Segarcea Vale, in Teleorman County.
May (last Sunday of May – Florists Day. At the initiative of Association of Florists in Bucharest (president Florin Georgescu, the son of florist Bambina), The Florists Day have been celebrated for the first time in Romania, in May 28th, 2006, in “Plumbuita” Park, sector 2, Bucharest. It is worthy noticing that in May 31st 1934, Gheorghe Niculescu – called Gogu Floraru’ (the Florist) – the owner of “La doi trandafiri” flower shop (in 10, St. Anton Sq. in Bucharest), after the resignation of G. A. Lăzărescu – Lăzurică on May 29th 1934, became the president of the association “General Union of Roma in Romania”.
May 31st 1942 – Deportation in Transnistria Day – The General Inspectorate of Gendarmerie (GIG) transmitted the note 34647/30 May 1942 to Inspectorates of Gendarmerie in Bucharest, Chisinau and Transnistria giving instructions for taking over the “nomad gypsies” and their removal to Transnistria. The day after, GIG reported to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, in the note 34647/31 May 1942, that “General Inspectorate of Gendarmerie instructed all its subordinated units with the execution of the order related to nomad gypsies eviction from the entire Romanian territory to Transnistria/…/ As regards the non-nomad gypsies, the matter is left open until receiving the Order…”.
Based on the note 33911/May 17, 1942, transmitted to the General Inspectorate of Gendarmerie, the Ministry of Internal Affairs requested to make the census of Roma, “nomad (caldarari, lingurari, etc.) and sedentary (of those who, even if not nomad, were recidivist convicted or had no subsistence means or precise occupation which might provide a decent livelihood and therefore turn into a burden or a menace to public order”.
June 1st, 1942 – Marks the beginning of nomad Roma deportation in Transnistria. On the other hand, on November 3rd, 1831, it was an attempt for the first time to evict the Roma outside the Romanian territory, when Vornicia Dinlauntru begun the eviction of fools from Wallachia to Turkey. The operation was a failure because of the Turkish pashalics on the South of Danube.
June 1st – International Children’s Day
June 16th – Romani Language Day
July 1st, 1999 – Roma Education Day. By nominating Roma and non-Roma inspectors for Roma education within the 42 County Education Inspectorates (Decision no. 3363 / 01.03. 1999 of the Ministry of National Education), previous enterprises from 1990-1999 regarding the Roma education and configuration of a new institutional approach of Roma education, have been officialized.
July 25th, 2001 – Roma Health Mediator Day – As a result of programs and enterprises undertaken by organization Romani CRISS and the young Roma activist Mariana Buceanu, Roma health mediator occupation has entered the Code of Occupations in Romania / no. 513902/2001. The Ministry of Health and Family issue the Order no.619/14.08.2002 for the approval for the health mediator to be operational and for the Technical Norms regarding the organization, operation and financing the activity of health mediators in 2002 (published in O.M. no.655/3.09.2002). The date chosen represents the date Romani CRISS requested the Ministry of Labor and Social Solidarity (letter no. 330/25.07. 2001) to include that occupation within the COR. The General Directorate for Work Force answered, by letter no.1077/06. 08.2001, hat “ the occupation will be included in Base group 5139 Workers in public service, code 513902/…/, General director Laurenţiu Ungureanu”.
August 12th – International Youth Day
August 27th, 1933 – Roma Movement in Romania Day. Roma Activist Day. Starting with the early 20th century, some shy forms of organization of Roma could be seen in syndicates of fiddlers or associations. In 1927, the Fiddlers Society “Junimea Muzicala” was created under Iancu Panaitescu’ leadership (admitted by public decree no.18/1927 issued by Ilfov Court, section I). Its headquarters was in Bucharest (147, Vulturului St.) at the Coffee Shop owned by Constantin Urziceanu, the cashier of the Society. In April 1933, at Archimandrite Calinic I. Popp Serboianu’ initiative, a non-Roma who used to speak Romani, was set-up “The General Association of Gypsies in Romania”, for a starter as a provisory committee formed by the board of Society “Junimea Muzicala”, having the same headquarters (147, Vulturului St.), under his presidency, aiming at the organization of affiliation to the Association. In September 20th, 1933, The Association had been legally created, but by the Note of November 5th, 1933, The General Directorate of Police proposed to not admit the Association as a legal entity.
In August 27th 1933, Archimandrite Calinic I. Popp Şerbănoiu launched an “Appeal to all Gypsies in Romania”. This “appeal” consisted of demands regarding the cultural and social rights: access to education, qualified professional training, editing a newspaper for Roma minority to express themselves, building soup-kitchens for the poor, dormitories for homeless, free medical and legal assistance, etc. In September 1933, the General Union of Roma in Romania (GURR) is established, under the leadership of A. Lăzărescu-Lăzărică. After the fixed resignation pf G.A. Lăzărescu-Lăzărică on May 29th, 1934, Gheorghe Niculescu (Gogu the Florist) will become the leader of GUUR starting with May 31st, 1934, as “Voivode of Roma”, until 1948, when the Communist authorities dissolved it. The GUUR (with headquarters in Bucharest, 10, St. Anton St.) was the most important Roma organization and the only one active at level of entire country. It became a legal entity by Ilfov – section I Court decision no.117/November 30th, 1934, published in the Official Monitor no.52 from March 2nd, 1935, pag.22. If we take the Union’s statistics, in 1939 it had 40 county branches and 454 sub-centers, with a total of 784,793 members. For a long time, Calinic I. Popp Şerboianu and G. A. Lăzărescu – Lăzurică had tried to carry several subsidiaries with them or to insinuate themselves in their structures (for example, G. A. Lăzărescu – Lăzurică became, starting with 1936, one of the presidents of honour of Association « Revival of Roma man and women in Romania », set-up August 5th, 1936 (headquarters in Bucharest, 2, Radulescu Tei St., president Apostol Matei). In spite of all attempts of the first two promotors of Roma movement, Calinic I. Popp Şerboianu and G. A. Lăzărescu – Lăzurică, the General Union of Roma in Romania (GURR) remains the most long-lasting organization during the inter-war period; it activated until 1940.
August 31st, 2000 – Non-discrimination in Romania. It marks the approval of Decision 137/August 31st, 2000 of the Government of Romania, regarding the preventing and condemnation of all kind of discrimination – document followed by other connected regulatory documents.
September, 8th – Caldarar and Nomads Roma Day (Costeşti, Vâlcea). Saint Mary (Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
September, 8th – International Literacy Day – UNESCO
September 15th, 1990 – Roma High-school Students Day. It marks the initiation of affirmative measures in favour of Roma students, by their admission, in 1990, on distinctive places to regular schools (Pedagogic Lyceums) in Bucharest, Bacau and Targu Mures, in order to prepare them as teachers for Roma education. In this day, Roma students meet Roma and non-Roma organizations, philanthropists, who support them financially, depending on their results at school and/or circumstances.
September 16th, 1990 – Roma Traditional Apparel and Dance Day. Parade of Roma traditional apparel.
September 17th, 1990 – Roma Craftsmen and Artists Day. Roma folk craftsmen fair: goldsmiths, coppersmiths, tinsmiths, comb makers, tailors, shoemakers, etc. Exhibitions of Roma artists: paintings, sculpture, photography, ceramics, fashion design etc.
September 20th, 1620 – Rudari/Baiesi Roma Day. In Wallachia, rudars are mentioned on September 20th, 1620 in the Deed of Gavrila Movila, the Voivode of Wallachia, to Cozia Monastery.
September 24th, 1932 – Roma Press Day. Between September 24th, 1932 and March 8th, 1938, 70 editions of “Time” newspaper have been edited by a group of Roma and non-Roma scholars and printed in Craiova (Aurel Th. Manolescu Dolj, Marin I. Simion, N. St. Ionescu, C. Nicolăescu – Plopşor). Between 1934 –1935, in Calbor (Făgăraş), Roma peasant Naftanailă Lazăr edited the newspaper “Roma kin”. Between November 1934 (first edition: 1-15 November 1934) and 1940, 14 editions of the publication “Roma Voice” (founder Gh. Niculescu) have been issued in Bucharest.
September 26th – European Day of Languages
October 2nd, 1992 – Roma Student Day. It marks the allocation for the first time in the history of Romanian higher education of 10 distinctive places for Roma candidates to Social assistance department at University of Bucharest, on professor sociologists’ initiative dr. Elena Zamfir and dr. Vasile Burtea. The number of places has grown every year since, ending in 2006 to 420 places in different faculties in the country.
October 3rd, 1385 – Day of Certification of Roma in Romania geo-historical territory. Forty abodes of “aţigani” have been mentioned in a document signed by Dan Voda, on October 3rd 1385, who belonged to Vodita Monastery (Mehedinti County) – as donation made by the Ruler’s uncle, Vladislav Voda, and who belonged on that very date to Tismana Monastery (Gorj County).
October 5th – World Teacher’s Day – UNESCO – also Roma Teachers’ Day.
October 8th, 1923 – Roma Musician in Romania Day. On that day, Ion Voicu, the great Roma violinist and conductor was born. He died on 24 of February 1997, at Bucharest. In that context, is the celebration day of other Roma musicians: Mădălin Voicu (conductor), Johnny Răducanu (jazz), Marius Mihalache (dulcimer, jazz), Marin Petrache Pechea (jazz), etc.
October 9th – Holocaust Day. Commemoration in Romania of victims of the Holocaust – Jewish, Roma and other categories of victimized people for physical, sexual, religious, ideological reasons).
Octomber 20th, 1992 – Romani Language Department Day. It was the date when first course of Romani language started at university, at the Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literatures, University of Bucharest – initiated and lectured by prof. Gheorghe Sarau, until 2000/2001 university year. Starting with 1998/1999 university year, it was introduced section B – Hindianistic (Hindi-Romani), as B specialisation, section Romani language and literature. Since 2005/2006 university year, the section has a status of main section A.
November 2nd – Roma Folk Day. The day is dedicated to the commemoration of the death of Roma folklorist and scholar Anton Pann, born in 1796 in Sliven in Bulgaria, and dead on 2 November 1854 in Romania. It is also the celebration of other non-Roma ethnologists, anthropologists and folklorists (CS Nicolaescu – Plopøor H. Wlislocki Barbu Constantinescu, Peter Copoiu etc. and Roma (Costică Băţălan, Alexandru Ruja – Gribussy, Delia Grigore, etc.). The day is marked in schools and in various contests and folk performances (songs, dances, rituals, customs, etc.).
November 16th – Tolerance and Diversity Day (in the context of International Day for Tolerance (UNESCO). Organization of programs for tolerance and diversity in schools (ethnic, religious, physic, etc.)
November 20th – Universal Children’s Day (UNICEF)
November 30th – Ursari Roma Day. The day marking the disappearance of ursars (bear leaders). It happened through a series of successive regulations. By Order no. 24.643/ 1908, it was forbidden breeding and walking of bears by Roma ursars / bear leaders, because “walking the bears through the city by Roma offers to citizens, under the hope of amusement, one of the most savages shows”. Starting with February 1924, the specific Ministry periodically requested to prefectures to obey that Order. On October 22nd, 1928, by letter no.14.799 –A, signed by the Minister I.G. Duca and by the general director N.T. Ionescu, the prefects were requested to take measures “in order to stop entirely the Gypsies who went in for the occupation of walking the bears”. The general Order no.38/30.11.1940, sent by the General Inspectorate of Gendarmerie to all gendarmerie units and the Order no 19862 / 19.11.1940 of Ministry of Internal Affairs concurred to that, “ordering to stop the Gypsies to walk the bears to towns and villages and to make shows with them and removing their licenses”.
December 1st, 1918 – National Day of Romania. Romanian Roma, as other Romanian citizens belonging to other ethnic groups have been and are generating history and civilization on Romanian and universal context.
December 2nd – Fiddler music Day. It marks the presence, the 1st of December 1599, of a Roma fiddler group singing “national anthems” at the moment of Michael the Brave’ entrance in Alba Iulia. The fiddler music is emblematic represented by the “titan-interpreter” of this folk music, the peerless Roma singer Dona Dumitru Siminică. In that context, other great fiddlers and interpreters are celebrated – (Barbu Lăutaru, Petre Creţul Solcan, Sava Pădureanu, Toni Iordache, Florea Cioacă, Marcel Budală, Fărămiţă Lambru, Fănică Luca, Ion Onoriu, Alexandru Ţitruş, Ilie Udilă, Ionel Budişteanu, George Udilă, Ion Miu, Marian Mexicanu, etc.) or singers: Zavaidoc (Marin Teodorescu), Romica Puceanu, Gheorghe Lambru, Gabi Lunca, Mioara and Paula Lincan, Catanga – Pădureanu, Elena Pascu, Valentina Mocanu, Panseluţa Fieraru, etc.
December 10th – Human Rights Day- UNO
December 18th – Minority Groups in Romania Day.
December 18th – Unrooted and/or Nomad People Day (Jewish, Roma, Tatar, Armenians, etc.) – in the context of the International Migrant’s Day. The poet Rose Ausländer defined herself as:” I am a Jewish Gypsy speaking German. Jewish and Gypsies are both nomad and unrooted people. Stili, if the Gypsies have the nomad life as part of their tradition, this state is involuntary, forced for Jewish, because they once had a country of their own”. The poet was born in 1889, in Storojineţ, near Cernăuţi and died in Germany. The day is probably celebrated by