Not many people know about Romania and so, without knowing Romania, a person’s perception is based on what he or she heard or read about the country. And usually what we receive are misconceptions, an overall altered image of what the country and it’s people really are. The land of dracula, gypsies, country of thieves and many stray dogs, are just some of the fallacies that pop into mind referring to Romania. So, without further ado, let us discuss the REAL romania.
Albeit Romania being little-known, it has a lot to offer. From the architecture of every village and city, to the gold-hearted citizens, very welcome and inviting. Romania is authentic, natural and cultural. These are the words that best capture the essence of Romania a dynamic country that is fruitful in history, arts and scenic beauty. Even Romania’s slogan is ‘Explore The Carpathian Garden’. Some of the most beautiful sites to visit are the Danube River, Bucharest – Romania’s Capital City, because of the elegant architecture built between the two world wars, Bucharest, surprisingly, used to be called little paris (Oui, Oui!). To the black sea; from Southern Transylvania (Dracula?!) to the historic regions of Bucovina or Maramures.
Visiting the uniquely painted monasteries in Bucovina is just like taking a step back in time, the preserved hilltop citadel in Sighisoara or an authentic, centuries-old, modest village in Maramures. This is just a snippet of Romania, with many more to come. Now, with this introduction, let us jump in to the stereotypes, and see if these are true or just more incorrect assumptions that people have seen valid for years?
The Land Of Dracula
(Vlad the Impaler represented as Dracula)
Starting off, i’ll answer one of the most commonly asked questions; Is Romania the land of Dracula? Is Dracula still there?. The answer is partly true. Romania is definitely the land of Vlad the Impaler, a brave medieval knight who used to fight the Turks and impale the traitors. Romanians admire this medieval knight and sometimes, tend to be annoyed each time tourists ask about Dracula, a fictional character placed in Transylvania, central Romania. So if you are thinking of going to Transylvania and inquiring the locals about Dracula, think again, it might not be the best question to ask after all.
Romania Is Dangerous
This is surely the most misunderstood and poorly interpreted stereotype. If you are imagining a country where it is not safe to travel alone, then you are most likely wrong. Yes, Romania still suffers from the bad reputation it gained in the early 90’s where pickpocketing and cheating taxi drivers where ubiquitous. Luckily, time has passed and most things have changed. Perpetually, Uber services and other taxi apps are becoming a more increasingly used service, as being a reliable alternative rather than taking a taxi from the street. Generally, no one should be worried about travelling to Romania if you take the minimum required precautions measures recommended anywhere else in the world. Trust me, you won’t regret traversing through Romania.
The Land Of Gypsies
It's the ignorance of people that lead to such assumptions. If the person wants to see the substandard, they will see it. Romanians (including me) are often irritated when foreign governments, media or foreigners insist on portraying the whole country through gypsy images. This might be because the gypsy minority represent only some 3% of the entire population and since, after hundreds of years, Romanians have not yet managed to consolidate this ethnic group. Not all gypsies are beggars or aggressive and illiterate human beings. As you travel across Romania this ethnic group will come into the light; their colourful habiliment, gypsy palaces and distinct rules and traditions.
Romanians Eat A Lot Of Garlic And Onions
Having been to Romania countless times, I can clearly state that this stereotype is unquestionably, positively true. Romanians love adding onions and garlic to any dish, especially the traditional ones. Having heard this, do not associate us with vampires and Dracula once more. It will surely aggravate locals even more. However, there might be another side to this stereotype as through practices passed down generations, garlic was/is thought to protect people and homes (you might even see multiple garlic heads hanging down ropes in households!) from evil spirits, as well as curing sickness such as colds and coughs. Without hesitation, garlic is an explicit ingredient in Romanian Cuisine; so whether or not vampires really exist, garlic most definitely does, present in its food, medicine and ancient beliefs.
Fun Facts About Garlic In Romania
‘In Copalau Village, in Botosani County, this plant is cultivated by more than 40% of locals. Considered unique due to the remote settlement’s soil quality, the garlic of Copălău has gained fame both nationally and internationally – so much so that the county’s agricultural authorities are preparing to register it as a product with a protected geographical indication.’ – Monica Suma, BBC Travel
At the Garlic festival in Tihuta Pass (Bargau Mountains) , traditional dishes with garlic are prepared, garlic wreaths are woven, and magic shows and spells are all part of the event.
– Monica Suma, BBC Travel
I wrote this blog as a Romanian myself, unraveling some of the most common stereotypes present today. Romania might be little known, but it sure has its own personality. All things considered there is so much to discover and capture, hope to see you there!
About The Author
Hey, i’m Mara, the author of this blog. I am actually from Romania, both of my parents being Romanian citizens. However, I was born here, in The Hague and so lived here for virtually all my life. I am 13 years old. I love travelling and discovering new cities and countries, as well as eating food, especially japanese and italian cuisine.