| |
About Moldova
The Republic of Moldova is a small country, favorably situated in the Southeast part of
Europe, neighboring Romania to the West and Ukraine to the East. This piece of land boasts a
rich history, abundant in dramatic and agitated events.
From the XIV century it was a part of the Moldova Principality, situated between Oriental
Carpathians and the Nistru river, in the north bounded by Hotin, and in the South – by the
Low Danube and the Black Sea.
Following the Peace concluded in Bucharest, in 1812, a part of this territory was assigned
to Czarist Russia, which called it Basarabia - an older name, earlier attributed to the
southern part. The aim was to identify this territory as a separate geographic entity from
the Moldova Principality.
The Independence of the Democratic Republic of Moldova was proclaimed in January 1918. And
later, on March 27 1918 it was decided to re-unite it with Romania. The next annexure
process took place in 1940, following the Molotov - Ribbentrop summit. According to this
Basarabia became part of the USSR and was proclaimed as the Soviet Socialist Republic of
Moldavia. It comprised only nine Basarabian counties and six districts from the left bank of
the Nistru River. The present territory of Moldova is smaller compared to the area
attributed to Russian authorities in 1812, since the North Hotin, Acherman and the southern
Ismail were given up in 1940 by the Soviet authorities to Ukraine.
Due to the restructuring process that started in the Central and Eastern Europe, in June
1990 Moldova proclaimed its sovereignty, and on August 27, 1991 – its State Independence. In
March 2, 1992, the Republic of Moldova became a member of the United Nations.
Top
Moldova is a European Country, which has a rich ethnic history. The majority of the
population are Moldovans (Romanians), but the following national minorities live on this
territory too: Ukrainians, Bulgarians, Gagauzians, Russians, Germans, Greeks, and others. In
Moldova many traditions are centuries old. It is hard to believe that the multi-ethnic
character of the country still exists within the popular traditions. What’s more it has
enriched them with new qualities, giving them a new colour and transforming them into an
original bunch of customs, rituals, and folklore present in Moldovan villages. In spite of
the differences of nationalities, the people here have the most important quality –
Hospitality. In Moldova every guest is received with a special warmth.
The householder will always serve his guest with great Moldovan wine and with the best
dishes of food. Usually, the guests are invited into the “Casa Mare” (Big Room) – a
traditional room in each house where people feast together. There are a lot of holidays in
Moldova and everyone can join in them.
The Winter Holidays, for instance, feature greetings cards, best wishes, plays performed by
both children and adults from one door to another, thus announcing with joy the coming of
the New Year. Everybody is looking forward to Santa Claus to come on a sleigh filled with
presents. Especially children prepare themselves for this event: they put on different
costumes and masks and perform in front of the Christmas tree. In fact, at that period the
holidays, following the traditional agricultural calendar coincide with the Christian
festival of Christmas.
Another very important traditional holiday is "Martisor" – the symbol of spring. In March
everybody in Moldova hangs on their collar two knitted white and red ropes, which symbolize
nature’s revival.
In Spring the most important holiday for our people is the Easter religions holiday. For
this celebration people prepare in good time, they cook special food: Easter Cake and
painted eggs and the best wine. In the course of time the painted eggs have become a
handicraft art.
A lot of traditional events in our country represent an amalgam of elements characteristic
to the agricultural, religious and civil calendars, a mixture that was transformed in a
permanent source of goodwill, warmth and hospitality in Moldova. During the holidays guests
in Moldova can participate in a range of cultural events: concerts “Martisor”, “Ciresar”,
“Maria Biesu Welcomes”, etc., performances, parades, mass manifestations on Independence
Day, on “Limba Noastra” Day, on towns or villages’ Day, etc. On Harvest Days traditional
fairs are organized in towns and villages. Especially during these holidays, tourists can
get closer to the national folk and handcraft art.
We cannot speak about Moldova without mentioning the traditions of a family nature:
weddings, celebrations, etc., which become real shows performed by guests and hosts.
In Moldovan villages “sezatorile” are very traditional social meetings, especially in the
winter, where people sing, dance, and make handicrafts.
It’s truly said that each guest in the “Casa Mare” of Moldova is a real friend.
Top
Moldova is rich in fertile soil and in hardworking and caring people. Nature is very
generous in Moldova, offering plentiful grapes, fruits, vegetables, meat and milk products
and cereals, all of which have found their uses in our national food. The fertile soil and
the traditional agricultural methods make possible the cultivation of a diverse range of
ecologically pure raw materials.
Moldovan cuisine has had a great influence on the traditional food of the other
nationalities that live on this territory. At the same time some elements have been
incorporated from Ukrainian, Bulgarian, Gagauzian and Russian cuisine, as well as elements
taken some centuries ago from Greek and Turkish food.
The ingredients used in the traditional meals are: a variety of vegetables like tomatoes,
green peppers, aubergines, white cabbage, beans, onions, garlic, etc. The vegetables are
used for salads and sauces; they are baked, pickled, salted, and canned thus becoming a real
food art. The maize and maize flour give a specific color to the traditional meals, like
soups, biscuits, flakes, alcohol free drinks, etc. The most common is “mamaliga” – a maize
porridge or polenta with a fine and delicious taste. "Mamaliga" is served together with
diced meat, cheese, fried meat, cream, etc.
Meat cooked for the first and the second course has a special place in the Moldovan food.
The most common are chicken soup, goulash, roast meat, grilled minced meat rolls, etc. A lot
of meat courses are grilled over charcoal. But before the grilling procedure the meat is
properly picked.
There is not a holiday without cabbage rolls, meat jelly, noodles, etc. The traditional
table is not complete without biscuits, pies, cake dipped in syrup and fruit.
In different parts of Moldova there are local cuisines. In the East the Ukrainians prefer
borsch, in the south the Bulgarians can offer a delicious chicken sauce – mangea, and the
Gagauzians may serve you sorpa – a spicy ram soup, and the Russians will offer you their
traditional pelmeni – a kind of roll stuffed with meat.
The Moldovan cuisine is served with a variety of traditional drinks: stewed fruits, juices,
as well as alcoholic drinks like: wine, brandy, "tuica" – plum brandy, etc.
Wine growing in Moldova is a century-old tradition. The famous Moldovan wines are well
known and appreciated at home and far beyond the country borders. The wines can be dry,
sweet and strong, they have a varied bouquet of flavours and colours. For wine producing
European vines are used such as: Sauvignon, Cabernet, Muscat, etc., as well as Moldovan
varieties: Feteasca, Black Rara, Moldova, etc.
Strong drinks such as plum brandy, are produced using traditional methods.
Wine tastings are offered in most Moldovan cellars.
Top
“The State of the Republic of Moldova
(1)The Republic of Moldova is a sovereign, independent, unitary and indivisible state.
(2) The form of government of the State is the republic.
(3)Governed by the rule of law, the Republic of Moldova is a democratic State…”
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF MOLODVA
Adopted on the 29 th of July 1994
The President of the Republic of Moldova - VLADIMIR VORONIN
The President of the Parliament - EUGENIA OSTAPCIUC
The Prime-minister - VASILE TARLEV
The President of the Republic of Moldova - is the head of the State and is elected by
Parliament by secret suffrage.
The Parliament - is the supreme representative body of the people and the sole legislative
authority of the State in the Republic of Moldova. Parliament consists of 101 members.
The Government - the role is to carry out the domestic and foreign policy of the State and
to apply general control over the work of public administration.
Top
Flag - The State flag of the Republic of Moldova is a tricolour. The colours are arranged
vertically in the following order from the flagpole: blue, yellow, red. The coast of arms is
printed on the central yellow stripe of the tricolour.
Coat of arms - Moldova’s coat of arms consist of a shield divided horizontally into two
parts: the upper part is red, and the lower part is blue with a superimposed auroch’s head
showing, between its horns an eight-pointed star. On its right the auroch’s head is flanked
by a five –petalled rose, and on its left by a slightly rotated crescent. All heraldic
elements present on the shield are of golden (yellow) colour. The shield is laid on the
breast of a natural eagle holding in its break a golden cross, in its right claw a green
olive-tree branch and in its left claw a golden sceptre.
Top
Location: Eastern Europe, north-east of Romania
Geographic coordinates: 45o28’ - 48o28’ N, 26o40’ - 30o06’ E
Area:
total: 33,843 sq. km
land: 33,371 sq. km
water: 472 sq. km (main rivers: Danube, Nistru, Prut, Raut; main lakes: Beleu, Bic, Dracele)
Population: 4,264,300 inh. (126,2 inh./1 sq. Km)
Land boundaries:
total: 1,389 km
border countries: Romania 450 km, Ukraine 939 km
Coastline: 200 m at the south extreme point (Giurgiulesti) with the delta of the Danube
river
Extreme points:
lowest point: Nistru River -2 m
highest point: Dealul Balanesti +430 m
north point: Naslavcea
south point: Giurgiulesti
west point: Criva
east point: Palanca
Main cities: Chisinau, Balti, Tighina (Bender), Tiraspol
Climate: moderate winters (in January -4 -7 oC), warm summers (in July +25 +28 oC)
Terrain: Hilly steppes in the north & center (Codru), plain in the south (Bugeac Plain)
Natural resources: lignite, phosphorites, gypsum, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 53%
permanent crops: 14%
permanent pastures: 13%
forests and woodland: 9%
others: 11%
Soils: chernozemic (black soil), podzolic (forester soil)
Flora: 2300 species of wild plants (oak, beech, maple, linden)
Fauna: 68 species of mammals (fox, roe buck, deer, wild boar), 270 species of birds and
more than 10 thousand species of invertebrates
Top
|
|