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Republic of
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Moldova
Republica Moldova
Moldova gets its name from the Moldova River. Legend has it that Prince Dragosh named the river after his dog
Molda, who drowned in the river after an exhausting hunt.
Moldova is one of the top wine exporters (country that sells products to other countries) in the world. Milestii Mici,
located in Cricova, is the largest underground wine cellar in the world, with over two million bottles of wine.
Moldova is the second smallest former Soviet republic (after Armenia).
Around three thousand species of moss, fungi, and algae are found in Moldova.
Moldovan men usually shake hands when they greet each other. Most Moldovan women kiss on the cheeks
instead of shaking hands.
Moldovan singer Cleopatra Stratan released her first album at the age of three. She went on to become the
highest-paid young artist, the youngest artist to receive an MTV award, and the youngest artist to record a number
1 hit in a country.
Flag
The flag of Moldova was originally adopted on 12 May 1990. The colors are the same
as those of the Romanian flag, reflecting the two countries’ shared cultural history. The
coat of arms represents the heritage of the Moldovan people. The olive branch stands
for peace, while the cross symbolizes Christianity. The emblem only appears on the
front side of the flag.
National Image
The medieval fortress of Soroca was established by the Moldavian prince Stephen the
Great in 1499 and was an important link in a chain of forts defending Moldova. The
original wooden fort was later rebuilt in stone. The fortress withstood numerous attacks
and still stands today as a symbol of the culture and heritage of the nation.
Land and Climate
Area (sq. mi.): 13,070
Area (sq. km.): 33,851
Moldova is a small, landlocked country in southeastern Europe. About the same size as
Belgium and slightly larger than the state of Maryland, Moldova is located between
Romania and Ukraine. Two large rivers form its borders. The Prut, in the west, divides
Moldova from Romania, while the Dniester, in the east, runs along the nation's border
with Ukraine. Both rivers eventually drain into the Black Sea. Moldova is made up of
rich, rolling plains perfect for farming. Vineyards and fruit orchards are common in
central Moldova. Other plentiful crops include sunflower seeds, squash, and cabbage.
Forests of oak, ash, and maple dot this region. Rolling plains gradually transform into
steppe (grasslands) in the south. 1
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Although cold, dry winds sometimes blow from the plains of Ukraine, Moldova generally
has a mild climate. Winters are cold, and summers are warm. The average daily
summer temperature is between 70 and 80°F (21 and 26°C). Annual rainfall varies,
and long dry periods are not unusual. The heaviest rainfall occurs in early summer and
in October.
Population
Population: 3,619,925
Around half of Moldovans live in the countryside, while the other half make their homes
in cities such as Chisinau (the capital), Balti, Tiraspol, and Tighina. The majority of
Moldovans are of Romanian descent. Smaller groups include Ukrainians, Russians,
Gagauzi (a Turkish people), and Bulgarians. Moldovans are known for their friendliness
and strong family ties. In fact, it is not uncommon for three generations of a family to
live together in the same house or apartment.
Language
Romanian is the official language of Moldova. Most Moldovans speak a Romanian
dialect (way of speaking or pronouncing) called Moldovan. During Soviet rule, Russian
was the official state language and Moldovans were expected to learn and speak it.
After independence, Romanian was once again declared the official language. It took a
long time to transition back because Russian is written in the Cyrillic alphabet and
Moldovan in the Latin alphabet (the same as English). Street signs, government
documents, and school textbooks all had to be changed. Many minorities in Moldova
still speak Russian, especially those living close to the Ukrainian border.
Can You Say It in Moldovan?
Hello
Bună ziua
(BOO-nah ZYOO-ah)
Good-bye
Larevedere
(laray-VAY-dair-ay)
Please
Vă rog
(VAH-rog)
Thank you
Mulţumesc
(MOOL-tsoo-mesk)
Yes
Da
(dah)
No
Nu
(noo)
Religion
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The majority of Moldovans belong to the Eastern Orthodox Church, a branch of Christianity that split from the Roman
Catholic Church in the 11th century. Smaller groups belong to the Jewish, Protestant, and Roman Catholic religions.
Religion was discouraged under Soviet leadership. Priests were punished and many churches and monasteries were
destroyed. Faithful Moldovans were forced to practice their religions in secret. Today, those churches are being rebuilt
and people are allowed to worship in freedom and celebrate whatever holidays they choose.
Time Line
AD 1
AD 1
The land is inhabited by Dacian tribes
100
The Romans invade the region and it becomes part of the Roman
Empire
1300
1359
The principality of Moldavia is created, stretching between the
Carpathian Mountains and the Dniester River
1457
Moldavia flourishes under Stephen the Great
1500s
Several powers fight wars over the territory; Russia and the Ottoman
Empire are the main rivals
1800
1812
The Treaty of Bucharest grants Russia control of eastern Moldova, or
Bessarabia, the area between the River Prut and the west bank of the
Dniester; the Ottoman Empire gains control of western Moldova
1878
The Ottomans recognize Romanian independence, including western
Moldova
1900
1907
The Romanian army stops a Moldavian farmers’ revolt
1918
After the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, Bessarabia declares
independence, calling for a union with Romania
1920
The Treaty of Paris recognizes the union of Bessarabia and Romania;
the Bolsheviks do not recognize it and consider it an occupation of
Russian land
1924
The Moldavian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic is established
east of the Dniester River inside Ukraine
1939
Romania is divided up in a pact (agreement) between Hitler’s Germany
and Stalin’s Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR); Bessarabia
goes to the USSR
1940
Russia combines Bessarabia with the Moldavian Autonomous Soviet
Socialist Republic to form the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic
1941
Thousands of Jewish community leaders are sent to Siberia; German
and Romanian troops reoccupy Moldavia
1941–45
After Germany attacks the USSR, a Romanian government is set up in
the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic but is driven out shortly before
the end of World War II when the Soviet Union regains control
1944
The death march of 1,200 Jews from the city of Lipcani begins
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Late 1980s
Moldovan nationalism (loyalty to one’s country) increases as Soviet
leader Mikhail Gorbachev introduces more open policies
1989
Romanian becomes the official language again; the Latin alphabet
replaces the Russian Cyrillic alphabet
1990
The Gagauz people in the southwest declare their independence,
followed by the Trans-Dniester region; the central government does not
recognize them
1991
Moldavia declares independence
1992
Fighting in the Trans-Dniester region leads to a state of emergency;
hundreds die in the fighting, and Russian peacekeepers arrive after a
cease-fire agreement
1993
The leu replaces the Russian ruble as the official currency
1994
A new constitution states that Moldova is neutral (does not choose
sides), gives autonomy (control over its own affairs) to the
Trans-Dniester and Gagauz regions, and makes Moldovan the official
language
1995
The death penalty is abolished (outlawed)
2000
2006
The Trans-Dniester region votes overwhelmingly in favor of
independence from Moldova and eventual unification with Russia
2009
Protests demanding a re-count of votes break out in several cities after
presidential elections are said to have been fixed
PRESENT
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Dacian Tribes
The Dacians were the ancestors of today's Moldovans. As far back as the 4th century BC, these early peoples lived in
tribes between the Dniester and Prut rivers. They left behind no written records, but evidence of their lives remains,
including burial mounds and religious buildings. The Dacians were farmers who settled near the river valleys to raise
their crops and trade with the Greeks from trading posts set up along the coast of the Black Sea. The Romans
conquered the Dacians in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. The Romans taught the Dacians Latin and built roads, forts,
and trading centers. Eventually, they left and were followed by the Slavs. During this time period, the Romanian
language developed from Latin, and the land was ruled by a series of local lords. One of these lords, by the name of
Bogdan, founded the principality of Moldavia, including the region known as Bessarabia (what is now Moldova).
The Turks and the Russians
Moldavia was repeatedly invaded by outside forces, especially the Ottoman Turks,
throughout the 15th century. Stephen the Great, prince of Moldavia between 1457 and
1504, defended the principality in numerous battles with Turkish, Hungarian, Polish,
and Crimean troops. He built strong fortresses that still stand today and raised peasant
forces to fight off the Turkish sultan. Today, he remains one of Moldova's greatest
national heroes. In 1513, Moldavia finally became part of the Ottoman Empire, where it
would remain for the next three hundred years. By the 18th century, Russia was
attempting to gain control of Moldavia. Russia eventually defeated Turkey, and
Moldavia became part of the Russian Empire. But when the Bolshevik Revolution
occurred in Russia in 1917, Moldavia separated from the Russian Empire and united
with Romania because the two peoples shared a history and culture.
The Soviet Era
In 1922, Russian communist leaders founded the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
(USSR). At first it included Russia, Ukraine, and several nearby republics. But by 1940,
the USSR occupied Moldavia and renamed it the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic.
During Soviet Rule, many Russians and Ukrainians moved into Moldavia, especially in
the areas along the banks of the Dniester River. They brought with them the Russian
language, which soon became one of the official languages of the republic. Teachers
were forced to teach it in school. The government seized private property and farms,
making them property of the state. The government went on to close churches and
discourage religion of any kind.
Independence
In 1986, Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev came to power and introduced more open policies within many of the Soviet
republics. The people of Moldavia responded by joining other Soviet republics in looking toward independence from the
USSR. New political parties formed, and slowly things changed. The Latin alphabet was allowed once more, Romanian
names came back to replace Russian names, and eventually the communists were forced out of power. Moldavia
declared independence in 1991 and became known as the Republic of Moldova.
Civil War
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The new country was not without its troubles. Soon after independence, two groups
within Moldova began moving for independence of their own. Ethnic Russians living in
the Trans-Dniester region along the border with Ukraine and ethnic Gagauzi (a
Christian Turkish people) in the south felt like they no longer belonged in the new state.
They feared their identity would be lost in a new nation, separate from Russia, and
worried Moldova would reunite with Romania, with whom they as minorities did not feel
a shared connection. Eventually, the region of Gagauzia was given autonomy (self-control) within Moldova.
Trans-Dniester went on to declare independence, but the Moldovan government
refused to recognize it and give up the territory. Civil war broke out in Trans-Dniester in
1992, and Russian troops joined the fighting on behalf of the ethnic Russians living in
the region before helping to establish a cease-fire. The government signed an
agreement with Russia on the gradual removal of Russian troops and worked to give
the two regions greater control over their own affairs, but tensions between Moldova's
different ethnic groups still remain.
Games and Sports
Soccer is the most popular sport in Moldova. People of all ages enjoy playing it and
watching it. Children play soccer on school teams and compete in matches against
other schools. Basketball, tennis, rugby, volleyball, and track are also popular. The
national sport of Moldova is a traditional form of wrestling called Trînta. Swimming is a
big favorite among kids. In the summer, they get together in big groups and go to a lake
in the afternoons. They often take blankets and picnic baskets with them. Their parents
usually join them on the weekends. In the winter, kids love skiing, ice-skating,
snowboarding, and sledding. Families who can't afford to buy skis sometimes make
them themselves. Kids enjoy racing their sleds down the hill and having snowball fights
in the evening. In the countryside, kids sometimes play a game where they place a ball on top of a
tower of cans and use a stick to see how far they can hit the ball. Băsmăluţa is a game
similar to Duck Duck Goose. The player who is "it" walks around a ring of players sitting
or squatting on the ground. The player who is "it" drops a handkerchief behind one of
the other players and then tries to run around the ring before the chosen player realizes
the handkerchief is behind them and before he or she can catch the first player.
Teenagers enjoy playing card games, including bilot, which they play in teams of two
with a deck of 32 cards.
Holidays
New Year's Day is the biggest holiday of the year in Moldova. Families prepare by
cleaning and decorating their homes, putting Christmas tree lights around the windows.
On New Year's Eve, Moldovans prepare a traditional feast to share with friends and
family. People set off fireworks at midnight, although some people celebrate Russian
New Year at 11 p.m., when it is midnight in Moscow, Russia. Then they get to repeat
the celebration one hour later when it is midnight in Moldova. To ring in the New Year,
people say La multi ani (Happy New Year). Teenagers often go on to parties with their
friends after midnight, and children go to their own parties to see Mos Craciun (Santa
Claus) and his granddaughter Alba-ca-Zapada (the Snow Maiden, or Snow White).
They also go from home to home, reciting poems and singing songs. Neighbors often
give the kids candy or a little bit of money in exchange for their good wishes. People
celebrate all night long and believe that on this night you should not be alone but with
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family and friends. Easter is one of the most important religious holidays. Some people go to a special
all-night church ceremony followed by a feast at dawn. Others go to church in the
morning and bring beautifully painted eggs and bread with a candle in the center.
Priests sprinkle holy water on the food and light the candles. Then families gather at
home to eat. Lamb is the traditional Easter food. Kids enjoy playing a traditional Easter
game of hitting eggs against each other. The child with the egg that does not break is
the winner. One week after Easter, Moldovans celebrate Remembrance Day, when they go to visit
the graves of their loved ones who have died. They place clothes, dishes, sweets,
decorated eggs, and other items on the grave, and then they share the items with the
other people in the cemetery. Every grave has at least a bottle of wine, and people sit,
eat and drink together, and remember their family members.
Every spring on the first day of March, Moldovans celebrate Martsishor. On this day,
young girls and women receive flowers and martsishors (red and white string tied to a
decoration) from their male friends, brothers, and fathers. These martsishors represent
happiness and peace. An old Moldovan legend says that in a fight with the Winter
Witch, who didn't want to give up her place, the beautiful lady Spring cut her finger and
a few drops of her blood fell on the snow. When the snow melted, a snowdrop grew in
its place, and Spring defeated Winter. On Christmas Eve, Christians get together to sing carols and children carry large stars.
Families eat traditional meals of pork called friptura and crăciunel (braided bread in the
shape of a dove) and exchange presents.
Food
Moldovan food includes dishes from the many cultures that had a hand in its formation, including Romanian, Russian,
Ukrainian, and Bulgarian foods. Moldovans love sour cream with their hot dishes and use lots of garlic, onions, and
herbs such as dill and parsley in their cooking. In the countryside, most families keep gardens, where they grow fresh
herbs, vegetables, and fruit. Breakfasts are usually light and include a pastry or some bread with cheese or jam, with coffee or tea to drink. In the
countryside, some Moldovans eat a larger breakfast of terci (hot porridge), potatoes, bread, and sheep cheese. Lunch
is the main meal of the day, usually made up of meat, potatoes, and other vegetables with bread. Kids in elementary
school usually have an afternoon snack of juice and a sweet roll. Soup is a favorite dish, especially borş (cabbage and red beet soup). Other traditional meals include mămăligă
(cornmeal mush similar to pudding) with brȃnză (cow, sheep, or goat cheese), mititei (grilled meatballs), and fried
onions with sour cream. Mămăligă was traditionally cooked in a cast iron kettle over an open fire and then served to
farm workers. Some popular side dishes are grape leaves stuffed with rice and pork or chicken and a summer salad
made of tomatoes, cucumbers, pepper, onion, and sunflower seeds. Plăcinte (flaky stuffed pastry) and baklava (pastry
made with almonds and drizzled in honey) are favorite desserts.
Schools
Adult Literacy: 98.5%
School starts at age six or seven in Moldova. Most students go on to finish high school twelve years later, but they
have to pass an exam at the end of ninth grade in order to be able to go on to high school. Public education is free, but
students are responsible for buying their own textbooks, school supplies, and uniforms. Typical subjects include math,
Romanian, Russian, biology, geography, and Romanian and Russian literature and history. Some kids also take
classes in sewing and woodworking. Kids have a lot of homework at night.
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For first through fourth grades, school starts at 8 a.m. and ends at 12:30 p.m. Some kids stay after class to get
homework help from their teacher. These after-school classes end around 5 p.m., and most kids attend them since
their parents are still at work. For fifth grade and up, there are morning classes and afternoon classes. Each class lasts
45 minutes, with a 15-minute break in between. Students have five or six classes a day. Some children wake up at 6
a.m. in order to get to school on time. There is free public transportation for kids, but most prefer to walk to school with
their neighbors and friends.
Life as a Kid
Young children usually stay home with their moms until they turn two years old, when
they go to full-day nurseries. Once they start school, kids are very busy doing
homework and helping their parents. Kids in the villages have many chores to do and
not much time to play. Weekends are the only time when they can get together with
their friends and cousins to play. Most families in the countryside have a farm, and the
kids are very involved in taking care of the animals and working the land. Boys in the
villages start working by their fathers' sides not long before they reach the age of six.
Girls, both in the village and in the city, are expected to help their mothers inside the
house with things such as cooking, cleaning the house, and folding laundry. During
summer break, most city kids go to stay with their grandparents in the village. During
this time, they meet with their friends who they haven't seen in a long time and make
new friends. Some favorite snacks that kids in the village enjoy are bread covered with a layer of
tomato paste and some salt, bread dipped in sunflower oil mixed with salt, and bread
with butter and honey. In contrast, kids in the city enjoy store-bought cookies and sweet
breads. No matter where they live, kids in Moldova start thinking at a very young age
about what job they want to have in the future. The majority dream about becoming
teachers or doctors.
Government
Capital: Chisinau
Head of State: Pres. Nicolae Timofti
Head of Government: PM Iurie Leancă
Moldova has a president and a prime minister. The president is chosen by members of
Parliament (the lawmaking body) and is the head of the military, while the prime
minister runs the government and is appointed by the president and approved by a
majority in Parliament. There are 101 members in the Moldovan parliament. Each
member is elected by the people to serve a four-year term. Moldova is divided into 32
raions (districts), 3 municipalities, 1 autonomous (self-controlled) territorial unit
(Gagauzia), and 1 territorial unit (Trans-Dniester). While Gagauzi follows Moldovan
laws, Trans-Dniester declared itself independent. Moldova does not recognize
Trans-Dniester's independence, but Russia supports the territory. The voting age is 18.
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Money and Economy
Currency: Moldovan leu
Moldova is one of the poorest countries in Europe. Because of its plentiful rich soil, the
country's economy is based almost entirely on farming, and one-third of the workforce
works in farming. A smaller percentage of people work in food processing, producing
wine, sunflower seeds, tobacco, grains, berries, beets, and dairy products. Most of
these are sold to other countries. Moldovan wine is well-known around the world, and
many families have their own wine recipes. Some grape vines have been passed down
through families for generations. Many Moldovans move to other countries in Europe to
find jobs and then send their money back home to help support their families. This
money makes up an important part of Moldova's economy.
Getting Around
Public transportation is popular and well-developed in most Moldovan cities. People
can catch a bus, trolley, taxi, or minivan to get where they're going. Buses and trains
regularly travel between cities. In the countryside, some Moldovans still travel by căruţă
(horse-drawn cart). Most other Moldovans own cars. But gas can be expensive, and
many roads are in need of repair, so a lot of people prefer to walk from place to place,
even if it takes longer to get to their destination. Sometimes people use bikes, but the
many hills make cycling difficult.
Hramul
Every city and village in Moldova has one day set aside a year to celebrate Hramul, a holiday for the individual cities
themselves. Every family in that village or city cleans their house and prepares lots of food, waiting for family and
friends who do not live in the same village or city to visit and eat with them. On this day, people eat all day long and
guests come and go till very late in the evening. Celebrations and feasts in the villages are always held in the casa
mare (big room), which is always the most beautiful room in a Moldovan house. At the end of the day, families and their
guests go into town to dance. One of the traditional Moldovan dances is called Basmaluta. In this dance, people hold hands and form a large circle. A
person in the middle holds a handkerchief. At a certain moment during the dance, the person in the middle has to
choose someone from the circle to dance with. If a girl is in the middle, she has to choose a boy, and if a boy is in the
middle, then he has to choose a girl. They dance in the middle of the circle, and the people that form the circle dance
around. The person that was chosen then has to stay in the middle, and the dance continues until the music stops. The
people left in the middle of the circle when the music stops are expected to sing a song or do something to entertain
the rest.
Learn More
Contact the Embassy of the Moldova, 2101 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008; phone (202) 667-1130; web site
www.sua.mfa.md.
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