A Look At Romania And Romanians

President Traian Basescu said Romania would not allow a "new Iron Curtain" to descend between Romania and Moldova, where almost four out of five Moldovans are of Romanian descent.

Romania will speed up citizenship applications for Moldovans, the president has pledged _ after recent violent anti-government demonstrations in the former Soviet republic.

He told Romanian lawmakers on Wednesday he would fast track citizenship for Moldovans who have at least one Romanian grandparent. Moldova was part of Romania until 1940, when it was annexed to the Soviet Union. Some 120,000 of Moldova's 4.1 million people already have Romanian citizenship and another 650,000 or so are waiting to obtain it, officials say.

Moldovan Communist lawmaker Vladimir Turcan reacted angrily Thursday, saying the country could pass a law banning Moldovans from having more than one citizenship "to protect the state."

Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin accused Romania last week of trying to overthrow the government by supporting anti-communist protesters. He expelled Romania's ambassador and introduced visas for Romanians.

The protesters, mainly young people favoring closer EU ties, accused the Communists of rigging their victory in April 5 elections. They stormed the parliament and the president's office, leading to a crackdown in which 90 people were injured and 200 arrested. Some 75,000 people in Moldova's pro-Russian separatist region of Trans-Dniester are believed to have Russian citizenship. The region is not recognized internationally.

Moldovans need visas for Romania since it joined the EU. Basescu's offer to Moldovans repeated a pledge he made after Romania joined the European Union in 2007.

Romania will NOT bow down to communists again, it happened once and it wont be happening again. Moldovans are considered by most Romanians to be Romanian anyway and we will fight for their right to freedom from crooked and corrupt government.

Leaping from the shadows into the dimly-lit square in front of Bucharest's principal railway station, the matchstick-thin silhouette of a boy waves his arms frantically at passing cars.

Thirteen year old George Vasile is just one of Romania's many street children - abandoned, neglected, without food, shelter or adequate clothing.

George is far from home - a town 500 kilometres away. His only asset is the empty car space he pays "rent" for, to bigger boys. It's only a temporary possession until a motorist parks there..... perhaps tossing him a coin...perhaps not.

The Iele ("Yehleh")

Clear characteristics are hard to assign to these fairies of the wind, but all Romanian's know their powers!

Most of the times they are described as virgin fairies ('zane' in Romanian), with great seduction power over men, with magic skills, attributes similar to the Ancient Greek Nymphs, Naiads, Dryads, etc.

The Iele live in the sky, in the forests, in caves, on isolated mountain cliffs, in marshes, often bathing in the springs, or at crossroads. From this point of view, the Iele are similar with the Ancient Greek Hecate, a three headed goddess of Thracian origin, which guards the crossroads.

They mostly appear at night, under the moonlight, as dancing Horas, in seclusive areas like glades, the tops of certain trees (maples, walnut trees), ponds, river sides, crossroads or abandoned fireplaces, dancing naked, with their breast almost covered by their disheveled hair, with bells to their ankles, and carrying candles. In almost all of these instances, the Iele appear acorporal.

Rarely, they are dressed in chain mail coats. The effect of their specific dance, the Hora, has similar characteristics with the dances of the Bacchants. The place where they had danced would after remain carbonized, with the grass incapable of growing on the trodden ground, and with the leafs of the surrounding trees scorched. Later, when grass would finally grow, it would have a red or dark-green color, the animals would not eat it, but instead mushrooms would thrive on it. The Iele don’t live a solitary life.

They gather in groups in the air, they can fly with or without wings; they can travel with incredible speeds, either on their own, or with chariots made of fire.

The Iele appear sometimes with bodies, other times only as immaterial spirits. They are young and beautiful, voluptuous, immortals, their frenzy causing delirium to the watchers, with bad tempers, but not being necessarily evil.

They come in a group of unknown numbers, either in a group of seven, and sometimes in groups of three. This version is mostly found in Oltenia, were these three Iele are considered the daughters of Alexander the Great, and are called Catrina, Zalina and Marina.

They are not generally considered evil genies: they resort to revenge only when they are provoked, offended, seen while they dance, when people step on the trodden ground left behind by their dance, sleep under a tree which the Iele consider as their property, drink from the springs or wells used by them. Terrible punishes are inflicted upon the ones who refuse their invitation to dance, or the ones who mimic their movements. The one who randomly hears their songs, becomes instantly mute. A main characteristic is their beautiful voices which are used to spell their listeners, just like the Mermaids from ancient Greek mythology. Invisible to humans, there are however certain moments when they can be seen by mortals, like during night, when they dance. When this happens, they abduct the victim, punishing the “guilty” one with magical spells, after they previously caused him to fall into sleep with the sounds and the vertigo of the frenetic Hora, which they dance around their victim. The ones abducted, and which had the unfortunate inspiration to learn the songs of the Iele, disappear forever without a trace.

The Iele are also believed to be agents of revenge, of God or of the Devil, having the right to avenge in the name of their “employers.

When they were called upon to act, they hounded their victims into the middle of their dance, until they died in a furor of madness or torment. In this hypostasis, the Iele are similar to the Ancient Greek Erinyes and the Roman Furies.

In the "Description Moldaviae" (1726), Dimitrie Cantemir describes the Iele as ‘’Nymphs of the air, inloved especially with young men’’. The origin of these beliefs is unknown. The name iele, is the Romanian popular word for "them" (feminine). Their real names are secret and inaccessible, and are commonly replaced with symbols based on their characteristics. There names based on epithets are: Iele, Dinse, Dragaice, Vilve, Iezme, Irodite, Rusalii, Nagode, Vântoase, Domnite, Maiestre, Frumoase, Musate, Fetele Codrului, Imparatesele Vazduhului, Zânioare, Sfinte de noapte, Soimane, Dânse, Mândre, Izme, Fecioare, Maiestre, Albe, Hale, etc. But there are also personal names which appear: Ana, Bugiana, Dumernica, Foiofia, Lacargia, Magdalina, Ruxanda, Tiranda, Trandafira, Rudeana, Ruja, Trandafira, Pascuta, Cosânzeana, Orgisceana, Lemnica, Rosia, Todosia, Sandalina, Ruxanda, Margalina, Savatina, Rujalina, etc. These names must not be used randomly, as they may be the base for dangerous enchantments. It is believed that every witch knows nine of these pseudonyms, from which she makes combinations, and who are the bases for spells.

To please the Iele, the people had dedicated to them festival days: the Rusaliile, the Stratul, the Sfredelul or Bulciul Rusaliilor, the nine days after the Easter, the Marina, the Foca, etc.

Whoever doesn’t respect these holidays, will suffer the revenge of the Iele: men and women who work during these days would be lifted in spinning vertigos, people and cattle would suffer mysterious deaths or become paralyzed and crippled, hail would fall, flooding would happen, the trees would wither, the houses would catch fire.

But the people also invented cures against the Iele, either preventive: garlic and mugwort wore around the waist, in their bosom, or hanged to their hats, the hanging the skull of a horse in a pole in front of the house, either exorcistic customs. In this category, the most important cure is the dance of Căluşari. This customs was the subject of episode of the popular TV series, The X-Files (see The X-Files (season 2))

The same common Indo-European mythology base is also suggested by the close resemblance with the Nordic Elves, youthful feminine humanoid spirits of great beauty living in forests and other natural places, underground, or in wells and springs, having as sacred tree the same maple tree, and with magical powers, having the ability to cast spells with their circle dances. The elves too leave a kind of circle were they had danced the älvdanser (elf dances) or älvringar (elf circles). Typically, this circle also consisted of a ring of small mushrooms. Arguably, Iele are the Romanian equivalent of the fays of other cultures, like of the nymphs of Greek and Roman mythology, of the vili from Slavic mythology, and of the Irish sídhe.

I read in the newspapers about road accidents killing whole families due to negligence by the drivers of lorries, one such case happened here in the UK recently where a mother, father and their four children were killed instantly when a Portugese lorry driver ploughed into the back of their car. The lorry driver was far too busy using his laptop to care about this family.

So when I saw this half wit doing his little dance on Youtube, I thought it might be a good idea to post it here. I know a lot of Romanians read this blog, so if you know this guy, then tell the police. They are hunting for him since he posted this HIMSELF on Youtube. They will catch up with him I'm sure, but I hope it is before he kills someone.

Spread the word about this to anyone and everyone, maybe eventually it will get this guy OFF the roads.

The club STEAUA is no longer a Romanian brand any more, but a respected name in the world’s football hall of fame for more than a couple of decades. Steaua is arguably regarded worldwide as the representative club team of Romania.

FC STEAUA BUCURESTI was founded following to a decree signed off by Mihail Lascar on the 7th of June 1947, on behalf of the National Ministry of Defense of Romania. In the summer of 1946, a few generals and high officers of the Romanian Army were seriously considering starting up a military club and an Army’s football team. A few months later, in the spring of 1947, their endeavors led to the formation of the so called ’Sports Association of the Romanian Army’.

The first leader of the football team was also its skipper, Stefan Septville and the newly emerged team had its first ever training camp. Despite the fact the new team had to take a play off for promoting to the second Division, it was brought up to the top Division, as a replacement for the team Carmen, which was excluded form the top football of Romania. The first coach of the team in its first season in the top Division was Coloman Braun-Bogdan.

Soon the team was named CCA and won its first ever domestic title in Romania in 1951, under the helmet of Gheorghe Popescu, one of its honorary founding members.
Between 1951 and 1961, CCA won 5 more domestic titles, till its name was changed to STEAUA, in the summer of 1961.

What did STEAUA bring as an innovation to Romanian football?

Steaua has always promoted the skillful, free flowing and spectacular football, played at an amazing pace, which brought the nickname ’The Speedsters’ for the mid 80’s team . That STEAUA team became the first ever Eastern European club to win the highest trophy of the European Football, the ’Cup of the European Championships’ (or UEFA Champions League as it is known today).

In the 1990’s, our club’s team won the domestic championship of Romania for 6 times and represented the country 3 times in a row in the UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE competition.

(In dark contrast to our Bucharest archrivals, Dinamo,) Our club has always fought tooth and nail against the so called ’Cooperativa’, an association of clubs which allegedly fixed games towards the mutual benefit of all the parties involved and brought a poor reputation to Romanian soccer in Europe, especially after the communism was abolished in our country (December 1989).

All together, STEAUA BUCURESTI trophy cabinet is by far the richest in the country, as our team won 23 domestic titles, 20 National Cups and 5 Romania’s Supercups.

The Europeans Champions’ Cup- the big hit of STEAUA in 1986

On the 7th of May STEAUA very deservedly wrote its major piece of history. A year before, when our football needed mostly, a brand new team was born, destined to become a year later the Queen of the European Football: STEAUA BUCURESTI.

In the summer of 1985, coaches Emeric Ienei and Anghel Iordanescu made up a team, with a few young players, a few experienced ones, but all hungry for glory. That team made history for both our club and Romania. All of us should know this line-up by heart like a sweet piece of poetry: Duckadam, Iovan, Bumbescu, Belodedici, Barbulescu, T. Stoica, Boloni, Balint, Majearu, Lacatus, Piturca, Stangaciu, Weissenbacher, Balan, Pistol, M. Radu.

"Who are these Romanians’"

The sixteen players from above started the most successful yet campaign for the club on the 16th of September 1986, in the country of Prince Hamplet, denmark, again Vejle Bold Klub (including the former Barcelona player, Alan Simonsen). Our team put up a decent away performance and the game ended up with a hopeful 1-1 draw, M. Radu II being responsible for our goal that night.

A couple of weeks later, on our home ground, our team trashed the Danes, 4-1 and went through. This was the first maturity test for our rising ’star’ team.

Next came the champions of Hungary, Honved Budapest. The away game, on the 23rd of October 1985, was our team’s first defeat of the campaign, 0-1, despite a very attacking display from our players. Justice was done a couple of weeks later, when ’The Speedsters’ beat the Hungarian champions 4-1, much to the delight of a capacity crowd in Steaua stadium.

The next round STEAUA seemed to take a more approachable Finnish champion team, Kuusysi Lahti. The first game, played on our stadium on the 5th of March 1986, on a muddy pitch, ended up with a disappointing goalless draw and a warning about the strength and abilities of our opponents. In the away game, played on the Lahti stadium, with the prominent statue of the legendary athlete Paavo Nurmi watching from above, STEAUA won 1-0 and made the semifinals of the competition.

At this level now, we could not hope for an easy draw at all. When the strong clubs of Europe saw that STEAUA went already so far up in the contest, they raised their eye browses and asked themselves:’ Who are these mighty Romanians’’ The draw was made and the next name out of the hat for STEUA was the Belgian champions, Anderlecht of Brussells.

On the 2nd of April 1986, on the ’Constant van den Stock’ arena, a lucky 1-0 scoreline, through a 75th minute goal of Enzo Scifo, really flattered the home side. In spite of the final score, STEAUA played a game to be proud of.

On the next day, the headlines of ’Les Sports’ daily newspaper were:’ We have warned you, Anderlecht. You should have not overlooked the Romanian champions. Even though they do not have much history in Europe at the moment, as other dark horses like Bayern Munich and others, STEAUA played a very smart game on the Astrid park arena: they were able to impose their short passes game pattern, closed all the lanes to their box, played the game at their own pace, with a smile on their face, no panic and no complexes at all in front of their more illustrious opponents. Even the local crowd was delighted with their performance’.

The second game of the aggregate encounter really made its way into the golden book of our club history. On the 16th of April, in front of a boisterous 30000 capacity crowd, a dream came true: 3-0 to STEAUA and they booked a place in the Champions Cup final.

Sevilla 1986 ’ a landmark for our Club and for the Romanian football

Now STEAUA were regarded as the hot team of the European football, following their amazing run in this campaign. Only the simple act of presence, alongside FC Barcelona, for the most prestigious European Cup final in Seville, was above the wildest dreams of any Romanian fan.

7th of May 1986, stadium "Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan" in Seville, FC Barcelona- STEAUA Bucharest in the European Champions Cup final.

70000 fanatics of the richest club in the world at that time were ready for a ’fiesta’. None of them were even thinking their Spanish favorites will miss the chance in front of the king of Spain, Juan Carlos and his royal family. Sincerely, not even ourselves, glued on our TV sets in Romania, were expecting for too much, let alone to win the trophy. We just wanted STEAUA to put up a decent performance and go down in glory.

It was only our players and coaching staff who believed in their chance and played the game of their lives. They just confided in themselves, played and won, mere and simple. After a 0-0 in the normal time (we all thought that the scoreline might have been the same even if the game was played for the rest of the night), two halves of 15 minutes extra time followed and then the penalty shoot-out which STEAUA duly won, 2-0, goals from Balint and Lacatus.

After that game, STEAUA made its way into the history of the European football, just as its wonderful actors involved in the play. STEAUA also become the first European team from behind ’The Iron Curtain’ to win the ultimate European Clubs trophy.

Sevilla 1986 is still the landmark of our Romanian football, everything is reported to it even now. STEAUA win against Barcelona was also the dawning of a new generation of players, who starred for the ’Golden Generation’ of the Romanian national team.

The 7th of May 1986 will be the day to remember for all our STEAUA fans, the time when our golden boys produced the supreme satisfaction (we can hardly imagine to reproduce that now or in the near future) of winning the European Champions Cup.

At the moment Steaua Bucharest is Romania’s most famous football club team.

For something thoroughly modern stay in the Rembrandt, Bucharest’s edgiest boutique bolthole – all clean lines, wooden panelling and balconies with beautiful views over this crudely urban landscape.

This room in the above picture is just gorgeous and puts you in the mood for anything ;) At a cost of maybe £120 per night it is reasonable given the luxury you get.

Caru’ cu bere (literally The Beer Wagon) is a famous Bavarian style restaurant placed in the very heart of Bucharest, built in 1879 and renovated in 1992.

One hundred years ago the Caru’ cu Bere was where the old aristocracy of Bucharest gathered. Famous men of letters, playwrights, poets and actors met here.

This sparkling environment was later recreated and so the restaurant has preserved its atmosphere and reputation over the years.