The Journal of Ethnology and Culturology
ISSN 1857-2049 eISSN 2537-6152 The Journal of Ethnology and Culturology is the scientific journal published by the Institute of Cultural Heritage. The Journal is accredited by the ANACEC in the “A” Category and is indexed in Scopus.
The Transition from Wooden Gates to Metal Gates in the Codrii Orheiului Area
This article analyzes the evolution of household gates in the ethnographic area of the Codrii Orheiului, a region located in central part of the Republic of Moldova. The study highlights the close relationship between the natural environment, local building materials, and vernacular architecture, emphasizing the transformations that occurred in the second half of the 20th century. Initially, gates had simple forms, made of woven twigs, serving a practical function in delimiting the household. With the development of local crafts, these were replaced by massive wooden gates made of oak or other hardwood species, assembled in a “Z”– type structural frame for greater strength. At the same time, the use of stone-especially Sarmatian limestone from the Nistru and Răut river areas-led to the appearance of carved gate pillars and stone fences. Villages such as Brănești, Morovaia, and Furceni became important centers of stone craftsmanship, and local artisans contributed to the formation of a distinct regional style. The wood – stone combination became emblematic of the architectural identity of the area. Gradually, metal gates almost completely replaced the traditional wooden models, becoming a symbol of rural modernization. Nevertheless, the traditional wood–stone combination remains a defining expression of vernacular architecture in the Codrii Orheiului, illustrating the balance between functionality, aesthetics, and adaptation to the hilly landscape.
Copyright (c) 2026 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Aromanians in Serbia – Between Cultural Identity, Humor, and Balkan Ethnological Models
This study examines the ethnological and culturological dimensions of the contemporary cultural identity of the Aromanians in Serbia, with particular attention to humor as a form of collective self-representation within the Balkan cultural context. The study is based on the analysis of various texts – from oral anecdotes and theatrical plays to humorous newspaper columns – featuring emblematic characters such as kir Janja, kir Dima, and kir Sima. The aim of the analysis is to identify ethnological patterns, such as thriftiness, resourcefulness, gallantry, and social irony, which function as cultural markers in these narratives. The study argues that Aromanians employ ethnicallycoded humor not only for entertainment, but also as a tool for intergenerational transmission of values and negotiation of their position within a multicultural Balkan environment. This approach also highlights the need to include intangible cultural practices in contemporary ethnological and cultural studies, especially within minority communities that use humor as a means of dialogue with the dominant culture, and as a form of cultural resistance, reinterpretation, and affirmation of historical memory.
Tragic chapters in the history of the Gagauz people at “Ivdel’lag” (the June 1941 deportation)
This article examines the fate of 62 heads of households who were arrested on June 12-13, 1941, in settlements of the Moldavian SSR with a significant Gagauz population during the first mass deportation. The arrests targeted entire families based on reports filed against the head of the household, on charges of counterrevolutionary activity. Among those repressed were village heads, civil servants, merchants, and landowners. Serious procedural violations occurred during the preparation of investigative files by the district bodies of the NKGB of the Moldavian SSR. After arrest, the men were separated from their families, who were sent to a special settlement in Kazakhstan, while the heads of the families were transported by convoy to the Ivdel’lag in the Sverdlovsk region. In the camp, arrest warrants were issued, interrogations were conducted, and charges were brought, often with changes to their classification. Most were convicted under Article 58 of the RSFSR Criminal Code or designated as “socially dangerous elements” under Article 35 of the RSFSR Criminal Code, with sentences of 5-10 years of imprisonment. An analysis of archival materials shows that most of those arrested died in 1941–1942 as a result of harsh conditions of detention. Only eight people survived; the fate of five is unknown. Almost all prisoners of the Ivdel’lag were rehabilitated in 1989.
The construction and interior layout of earthen dwellings in rural settlements along the upper Reut River (Florești District)
In some rural settlements along the upper course of the Reut River, one can still find people living in earthen dwellings – semi-subterranean structures known locally as bașcă or bășcuță. Such dwellings are a rarity in our country and, at the same time, have not been sufficiently studied or utilized. Although some dugouts are still inhabited, others are in a state of significant disrepair, and some have disappeared over time. To analyze the construction and interior layout of dugouts, we will use the settlements of Domuljeni, Țira, and Roșietici in the Florești district as examples. Throughout 2025, we conducted several field studies in these villages and were able to speak with people living in such dwellings. Thus, we were able to observe how these people have adapted to this type of housing, despite the modest living conditions characterized by limited space and the absence of essential amenities such as a bathroom. Nevertheless, the small size of the dugouts allows residents to save a significant amount of money, especially during the cold season, as less firewood is required to heat such dwellings. In addition, these structures provide natural thermal comfort: they stay cool in the summer and retain heat in the winter. Recently, this type of dwelling has attracted international media attention, including from Agence France-Presse, thereby contributing to the global promotion of these unique house.
Bread in Romanian Funerary Customs of the Prut– Dniester Region: Forms, Functions and Symbolic Significance
The article analyses the profound meanings of death and burial rituals in Romanian tradition, where death is perceived not as an end, but as a passage to another world. This moment represents a sacred threshold, marked by customs and ritual practices designed to ensure the soul’s integration into the spiritual plane and maintain the connection with the sacred. Such rites of passage, present in all human cultures, have played an essential role in organising the relationship between humans and the universe. In Romanian culture, these traditions have been preserved over time, supported by deeply rooted beliefs. A central role is played by bread, a symbol of life and sacrifice, offered to God for the soul of the deceased. It represents both earthly existence and the body of the departed. Wheat, the material from which bread is made, symbolises resurrection and eternal life in Christian tradition, suggesting rebirth through an analogy with the natural cycle of germination. Funerary rituals are accompanied by symbolic and magicoreligious practices intended to ensure the soul’s smooth passage to the afterlife. Overall, these customs reflect a deeply spiritual conception of death, in which symbols and rituals contribute to maintaining the connection between life and eternity.
Funeral monuments carved in stone from the villages of the ethnographic area of Codrii Orheiului
This article analyzes a number of stone funerary monuments in the villages of the ethnographic region of Codrii Orheiului. The aim of the study is to examine the typology of crosses and tombstones, as well as the decorative motifs and inscriptions reflecting the beliefs and worldview of the local inhabitants. In addition, the authors seek to trace the evolution of these monuments over time, taking into account the influence of folk traditions and religious norms. Within the framework of the research problem, the authors consider it important to assess the cultural heritage of the region and to emphasize the importance of its preservation for future generations. Within the traditions of the ethnographic region of Codrii Orheiului, the gravestone cross is regarded not only as a religious symbol, but also as an expression of identity and artistry. These monuments combine pre-Christian and Christian symbols, preserving the continuity of local traditions. Thus, the gravestone cross fulfills a dual function: a spiritual one, through the theological message it conveys, and a memorial one, by preserving the name and memory of the deceased. Field research has shown that many gravestone crosses have survived to the present day. This situation suggests that, owing to their particular emotional significance, gravestone crosses continue to be carefully maintained and preserved by the descendants of the deceased.
The Trickster Paradox in Yiddish Set Expressions of Jews of the Republic of Moldova as Elaboration of Phenomenological Theodicy (the Aspect of Noetic Intention in Actualizing/Safeguarding ICH)
The article examines two Yiddish set expressions (both of which are paradoxically risorial) in the context of the third one, “Do it, and I will help you,” which we define as a “dialogical” one. In fact, it exists as a confiding and encouraging remark from God inviting man to take some shared harmonizing activities. This article is one of the experiences of fulfilling noetic intention in actualizing/ safeguarding Yiddish set expressions as ICH (by means of revealing their existential meanings). For this purpose, we have introduced a number of notions (within the framework of the noetic system of concepts developed by us), including phenomenological theodicy. As we have revealed, by using any of these two set expressions (which can also function as spells and protective charms), man implicitly performs a special paradoxically risorial noetic act defined by us as the “trickster paradox.” It is based on a particular – trickster noetic – behavioral pattern which phenomenologically practices ethicizing harmonization of the Universe by joint efforts of God and man. At the same time, phenomenological theodicy also takes place as a necessary intermediate stage.
The Bulgarians of Bessarabia in the 1940s: factors of the demographic process, birth rate and mortality
The article examines the mechanisms of transformation in the demographic development of the Bulgarian population of Bessarabia in the 1940s under the influence of repression, forced displacement, and the famine of 1946–1947. It analyses the interaction between endogenous demographic factors of population reproduction and external circumstances related to socio-economic transformations during the 1940s. Birth rate as a historicaldemographic process is explored through four main analytical dimensions: the crude birth rate, variability of fertility indicators, age at first birth, and seasonality of births. Mortality represents a key indicator of the overall condition of society and its developmental processes. Together with the birth rate, mortality plays a fundamental role in shaping natural population change. This conceptual approach provides a solid basis for both retrospective and prospective studies of mortality. The study concludes that the transformation of fertility and mortality factors delineates two stages of the demographic transition. The first stage began in the last quarter of the nineteenth century, when high mortality declined as part of a broader process that included falling fertility rates. The second stage was driven by the intervention of the exogenous famine factor of 1946–1947 in the mechanisms of natural mortality, leading to a substantial transformation of its structure.
Wells in the Context of Environmental, Sanitary, and Ethnocultural Perspectives
Climate change in recent decades, marked by global warming, has increasingly highlighted the vital role of water resources for human survival. Wells has served as a source of drinking water from ancient times to the present day. In essence, the design and structure of the well have remained unchanged over the centuries and millennia, with only its technical components – related to extracting water from the depths – having been modernized. Human life depends on water consumption, and this water must be of high quality and comply with sanitary and environmental standards established by specialized agencies in this field. In folk traditions associated with wells, strict rules are observed regarding maintaining cleanliness, annual well cleaning, as well as strict requirements for protecting the well area from any contamination caused by nature or humans. In cases where animals or birds accidentally fell into a well, people resorted to cleaning it with the direct involvement of a well-digger. If, for various reasons, a person fell into a well and died, the well was filled in after the body was removed, and it ceased to be a source of water. The purity of the water in the well was directly linked to the physical purity of the well-master, to the righteousness of his thoughts and deeds, and to his strong faith, piety, and devotion.
The Carnival as an Andean Ritual System: Music, Dance, and Reciprocity in Achoma (Colca Valley, Peru)
This article examines Achoma’s festive cycle in Peru’s Colca Valley, tracing the carnival sequence from tinkachi to kacharpari through organizational-economic, musical, performative, and culinary dimensions. Using participant observation across the full cycle, interviews with local knowledge bearers, and triangulation with community audiovisual records, the study addresses gaps on festive sponsorship, local leadership, and women’s roles. Findings show that the cabecillas’ mayordomía sustains the celebration by mobilizing ayni-based reciprocity and prestige to secure musicians, food, and chicha. The traditional ensemble of lawatas, tarola, and bombo structures pukllay and drives contrapunteo between Hanansaya and Urinsaya. Female troupes lead the public performance and enact collective agency. Overall, the carnival operates as a ritual system that reproduces reciprocity, leadership, and gendered participation while negotiating heritage-making processes that reshape meaning and intergenerational continuity.
Overcoming perceptions distorted by propaganda and denigration regarding the culture of Bessarabia from 1918–1940
Recent a văzut lumina tiparului monografia „Renașterea culturii Basarabiei în contextul României întregite (1918–1940)”, elaborată de dr. în istorie, conf. univ. Larisa Noroc (Universitatea Pedagogică de Stat „Ion Creangă” din Chișinău). Redactor științific: Valentina Ursu. Ediția a 2-a. Chișinău: Lexon-Prim, 2025. 256 p. Monografia este dedicată unui subiect deosebit de actual. Moștenirea culturală din perioada interbelică continuă să trezească un viu interes în societatea moldovenească contemporană și controverse în interpretarea evenimentelor și faptelor. Ea solicită o analiză critică a vieții sociale, în ansamblu, dar și o prezentare pertinentă a rolului politicii culturale a guvernului român, oferind o perspectivă documentată și critică asupra realităților sociale din acea perioadă. Prin reconstituirea riguroasă a experiențelor concrete din anii 1918–1940, este posibilă construirea unei memorii colective fundamentate pe date factologice și documentare, depășind astfel interpretările eronate de propaganda sovietică ale întregii perioade de aflare a Basarabiei în componența României, dar și unele percepții contemporane ale ideologilor comuniști.
Academic biographical sheet of Valdemar Kalininni
Nume complet: Valdemar (Voldemars) Kalinin Data nașterii: 30 mai 1946 Locul nașterii: Vitebsk, Belarus (fosta URSS) Părinți: mama: Yevdokiya Kalinina tatăl: Ilya (Ilyas) Kalinin Naționalitate: belarusă Etnie: rom (grup baltic) Reședință ulterioară: Londra, Regatul Unit
În vara anului trecut, înscriindu-mă la Cursurile Internaționale de Limbă Romani, ediția a III-a, care au avut loc la Școala gimnazială „Mihai Eminescu” din Costinești (România) în perioada 14-24 iulie 2025, am avut ocazia să mă conving personal că învățarea unei limbi noi poate fi atractivă la orice vârstă, că predarea limbii romani în țara vecină reprezintă una dintre programele necesare ale procesului educațional în domeniul respectării drepturilor minorităților etnice. De la începutul secolului XXI, datorită eforturilor intelectualelor locali (cum îl vedem pe Gheorghe Sarău, în primul rând), Ministerul Educației din România a început să pregătească și să editeze manuale de limbă romani și matematică. În aceste manuale se utilizează o normă supradialectală medie, bazată pe dialectele vlăhești
Apron from Covurlui County and “Zadie” from the Năsăud Region as Evidence of Transhumance and Cultural Exchange
The article examines transhumance as a socio-economic and cultural phenomenon, emphasizing its important role in shaping Romanian identity. Practiced as a seasonal migration of herds between mountains and plains, transhumance created a network of pastoral routes that later became important trade and cultural pathways. These routes facilitated intensive cultural exchange between communities, strengthening social and economic ties. The study highlights the impact of transhumance on traditional clothing in Covurlui County, particularly on the apron (pestelcă), in comparison with the apron (zadie) from the Năsăud region. The analysis reveals structural similarities between these elements, as well as significant differences in color palette, ornamentation, and embroidery techniques, determined by regional specificity, aesthetic preferences, and the availability of materials. Transhumance, viewed as a vector of cultural transfer, fosters the exchange of textile motifs, techniques, and decorative patterns across different communities, contributing to the formation of a unified Romanian cultural heritage. Although the apron (pestelcă) of Covurlui County, compared to the zadie of the Năsăud region, has a more limited distribution and a less pronounced identity value, it reflects local adaptation and demonstrates the preservation of archaic forms alongside the synthesis of external influences.
School Education in the Bulgarian Colonies of Bessarabia in the Second Half of the 19 Century: the Legal and Regulatory Framework
The article focuses on an in-depth analysis of the legal and regulatory framework that underpinned the reform of the educational system in the Bulgarian colonies of Southern Bessarabia in the second half of the nineteenth century. Particular attention is paid to the process of transferring educational institutions from the authority of the Ministry of State Domains to the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Public Education, a shift that marked a turning point in the development of education within the Bulgarian diaspora. The main legal instruments were the Regulations on Primary Public Schools of 1864 and 1874, which introduced new standards in terms of administration, financing, and the content of the educational process. In the article also are examine in detail the mechanisms of control exercised over schools, including the introduction of an inspection system and the strengthening of supervision by eparchial authorities. The author emphasizes that educational reforms in the Bulgarian colonies reflected the general imperial strategy of Russification. At the same time, the educational regulations created, to a certain extent, a favorable legal framework for the introduction of the Bulgarian language as a subject of study in certain educational institutions, such as the Central School in Comrat.
Family Names Derived from the Terminology of Crafts Associated with Leather Processing
Traditional crafts constituted indispensable occupations in premodern society for both rural and urban communities. Activities related to leather processing held a central position due to the practical value of the products obtained and their role in everyday life. The names of professions in this field functioned not only as technical terms but also as markers of social identity, becoming stable reference points within the system of nominal identification. The study analyzes surnames derived from occupational names such as blănar, cizmar, cojocar, tăbăcar, and other semantically related formations. Initially descriptive bynames, these appellatives were transmitted hereditarily and subsequently became established as stable patronymics. The analysis includes data on the current frequency of these anthroponyms, outlining their vitality and distribution in contemporary anthroponymy. The research adopts an interdisciplinary approach at the intersection of anthroponymy, social history, and cultural anthropology. In this way, the study contributes both to the understanding of Romanian anthroponymy and to the reconstruction of certain aspects of everyday life and labor organization in traditional communities, highlighting the relationship between language, society, and culture.
Jozefina Cușnir and the reinterpretation of the Chișinău pogrom
Monografia The Truth about the 1903 Pogrom („Adevărul despre pogromul din 1903”. Chișinău: Epigraf, 2025 (trans. R. Lvov)) se impune ca una dintre cele mai consistente și novatoare contribuții la înțelegerea pogromului de la Chișinău din 1903, un eveniment care a marcat profund atât istoria orașului, cât și traiectoria etică a umanității în secolul al XX-lea. Lucrarea propune o reinterpretare riguroasă și profund asumată a faptelor, eliberată de clișeele istoriografice și de narațiunile convenabile, consolidate de-a lungul timpului în discursul public.
The Water Wells of Puhoi Village (Ialoveni District) in the Context of Local Tangible and Intangible Cultural Heritage (Ethnocultural Aspects)
In the Romanian area, since ancient times, people have harnessed water resources, making them accessible and convenient for daily life by digging wells and developing water sources and springs. In every settlement, well-diggers carried out their work, having mastered this craft by passing down the necessary knowledge and skills from father to son. This is precisely the situation we witnessed in the village of Puhoi, in the Ialoveni district, where the memory of the well-diggers of years past lives on thanks to the wells that continue to provide residents with the water necessary for daily life. The construction and maintenance of a well is a collective effort known as a “claca”, in which neighbors, relatives, and all those who wished to contribute to this mutual aid effort participate. During the construction or cleaning of a well, people created an atmosphere of celebration, joy, and social harmony. It was also a way to socialize, exchange experiences, and educate the youth in the spirit of mutual aid and the preservation of traditions. The residents of the village of Puhoi respected local traditions in the construction and maintenance of wells, while allowing for some influence from the customs of neighboring villages. The blessing of the wells by a priest was also of great importance; this tradition has been carefully preserved to this day.
The synchronism of cultural values as an expression of visual language – an eminently patrimonial virtue
The article investigates the phenomenon of the synchronism of cultural values through the lens of visual language, using the Orheiul Vechi site as a case study for the confluence between local tradition and European transcultural flows. The research objective consists in analyzing how vernacular architecture in the villages of Butuceni and Branesti conserves intergenerational messages, operating as a cultural palimpsest and a laboratory for the formation of professional identity for future architects. Methodologically, the approach is based on an analyticaldescriptive perspective, evaluating the mechanisms of sociocultural integration of archetypal symbols. The analysis highlights defining morphological units, such as the lotus motif on the porch pillars and the anthropomorphic gate pillars – elements that prove an organic synthesis between stylistic innovation and the national identity matrix. Furthermore, the study details how solar symbols and the ”Tree of Life” are plastically transcribed in stone, reflecting an authentic local cosmogony. Special attention is paid to the chromatic dimension, where the binary between the ultramarine blue from Butuceni and the diversified polychromy from Branesti becomes a semantic indicator of ethnocultural stratifications. This article emphasizes the critical dissonance between the imperative of modern comfort and the necessity of preserving authenticity.
“Multilingual education” and the Romanian language in ATU Gagauzia, 2022–2025: some lessons and conclusions
This article analyzes the results of a multilingual education pilot program implemented in ATU Gagauzia from 2022 to 2025. It demonstrates that, despite the successes achieved in recent years, significant challenges remain. Clear evidence of this is provided by data on the results of the Romanian language exams taken by 9th-grade graduates in ATU Gagauzia during the 2024–2025 school year. According to this data, for the subject “Romanian Language and Literature”, the average exam score was 6.19 points in allolingual schools and 6.05 in schools with Romanian as the language of instruction. As we can see, in schools with Romanian as the language of instruction, this figure is even slightly lower than in allolingual schools. Most importantly, this is a very low score – the lower limit of the “satisfactory” grade. And it should be emphasized that in this case, we are dealing with the results of graduates who grew up and received their education during the multilingual education experiment that has been in effect in ATU Gagauzia since 2015. There are, obviously, objective reasons for such results. As our analysis shows, they relate to both the micro-level (and are explained by differences in the quality of education across various educational institutions) and the macro-level – stemming from the overall situation in the region and even in the Republic of Moldova. These problems are, in all likelihood, clearly underestimated and even overlooked. And if attempts are made to force the development of multilingual education, we believe they will only grow and intensify.
The Art of Egg Decoration in the Republic of Moldova: Intangible Cultural Heritage, Education, and Cross-Border Cooperation
The art of egg decoration represents a fundamental pillar of the intangible cultural heritage of the Republic of Moldova, being a centuries-old practice that combines spirituality with technical mastery. This tradition, based on the use of beeswax and successive coloring, transmits fundamental concepts such as fertility, regeneration, and cosmic harmony through geometric, vegetal, and solar motifs. The year 2024 marked an important historical moment with the inscription of this art on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, in a cross-border file that highlights its character as ”heritage without borders”, shared by Moldova, Romania, and Ukraine. Education plays a vital role in the survival of the craft, from official forms integrated into the school curricula to practical workshops organized by specialized institutions both at home and abroad. Although it faces contemporary challenges such as youth migration and excessive commercialization, identified solutions aim at digitalization through tutorials and virtual exhibitions, alongside the consolidation of cross-border partnerships. Thus, egg decoration remains a vehicle for cultural identity and social cohesion, adapting to new realities through intergenerational dialogue and international cooperation.
Blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) in the culture, language and traditions of the Albanians in the Balkans
The role of many plants, including Blueberries (Vaccinium myrtillus L.), in the food culture, traditions, and folk medicine of the peoples of the Western Balkans is exceptionally significant. This article discusses wild blueberries harvested in certain mountainous areas of Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and other countries in the region with Albanian population. The research question is to determine the status of blueberries in the food paradigm and social hierarchies of local communities, primarily in the Albanian-Slavic borderlands. The study has based on long-term fieldwork in the Balkans (1990–2026) and data from specialized archives. The authors analyze the use of blueberries in food, folk medicine, labor force allocation, and hospitality. Blueberries are primarily consumed raw; less commonly, in certain areas with Albanian populations they are used to make sweet desserts and alcoholic beverages, and are widely valued as an important remedy for various ailments. In recent years, with the growth of international and domestic tourism, blueberries have become a key ingredient in the production of cheeses, fermented milk drinks, and other beverages, driven by the growing global health megatrend and demand for organic products.
Life around the Hearth: Artistic Perspectives
This study highlights the central role of the hearth as a symbolic, identity-bearing, and affective core in modern and contemporary rural-inspired painting from the Republic of Moldova, demonstrating how this element of the traditional interior transcends its utilitarian function to become an archetype of memory, continuity, and belonging. The study traces the evolution of the hearth motif from the poetic realism of Igor Vieru and the modernist symbolism of Mihai Grecu, and the naive art of Iurie Platon, to the complex stylistic trajectory of Gheorghe Oprea. Through the geometrization and abstraction of forms, the layering of color planes, and the expressive use of color, Gheorghe Oprea reconfigures the hearth and traditional interiors into an original visual language, where identitary symbols and collective memory are introspectively and contemporarily reinterpreted. In his work, the hearth successively emerges as a space of childhood and maternal protection, an energetic and metaphysical center, and a veritable “axis mundi” of the interior and collective memory. Thus emerges a clear and aesthetically remarkable evolution in the way the hearth motif is represented and reinterpreted, revealing the artistic perspective of life around the hearth.
The afterlife of sacred space: casa mare in contemporary rural Moldova (case of Puhoi village)
Within the framework of field research carried out during ethnographic expeditions to Puhoi village, Ialoveni district in 2026, new data were collected on the traditional practices of the village inhabitants. The focus of our study was a specific space within the traditional rural dwelling – casa mare. Based on the examination of houses, interviews with local residents, and an additional questionnaire survey, an attempt was made to compare the collected data with the characteristics and functions of casa mare known from ethnographic sources. According to the literature, casa mare stood in symbolic opposition to everyday living space: people did not sleep or work there, and meals were taken there only on special festive occasions. The data collected from local residents confirmed that certain aspects of the sacred character of casa mare are still preserved in memory, especially among older people. The questionnaire survey conducted among two age groups of villagers – senior school students and adults – revealed pronounced age differences in the perception of this cultural object. While young people tend to perceive casa mare as an obsolete tradition, a storage space for unused objects, among adults the dominant perception remains its ritual function, despite the fact that in material terms it has almost disappeared from contemporary houses. A tendency is also visible toward the individualization of casa mare as a place of family memory.
“Vow crosses” in Gorj county (Romania): symbolism and interpretation
“Vow crosses”, considered according to tradition as the resting place of the souls of the deceased or the “house of the soul”, are a unique custom in Romania, specific to some localities in Gorj County, such as Hurezani, Licurici, Aninoasa, Vladimir, Jupânești, Stejari and others. They are presented as crosses painted in various colors, representing religious figures, in rare cases with short verses, hanging in trees, at fountains, in the courtyard of churches, at gates, but most of them on the side of roads, their placement being made 40 days after death. Both the commemorative and vow crosses are made for the forgiveness of those who have departed from the living, an ancestral tradition whose origins are unknown, but which is respected with holiness after death. The symbolism of the forgiveness of the departed to heaven is abundantly represented by the vow corss which, on the one hand, sacralizes the space by its presence, on the other hand, constitutes a means of forgiveness, of relief of the soul of the deceased, because salvation is obtained through the cross. It can also be seen as a binder between the desire of the deceased to have such a cross made for him and between the duty to fulfill the promise by those who remain alive. Keeping a vow means fulfilling a promise made not only to the deceased, but also to God, the only one who can forgive sins.
Sugar Dolls in the Cultures of the Old (and New) World: Addressing the Issue of Tradition Migration
The author examines a curious yet severely under‑researched phenomenon: edible sugar dolls, an element of traditional festive culture that has been present in the Mediterranean region of the Old World since the Middle Ages (in Italy (Sicily), Tunisia, Egypt, Spain, and Malta)), and was later transferred to Mexico during the Conquest. The author hypothesizes that sugar dolls across these regions are interconnected and trace back to a single, common ancient root. The aim of this study is to test this hypothesis – not only to examine each of the local centres where this phenomenon exists, but also to attempt to trace the origins of the sugar doll‑making tradition, its migration, and its evolution within both the Old and New Worlds. As the research demonstrates, medieval culture and its specific derivatives served as a foundational prerequisite for the emergence of sugar dolls. Their further and final development – particularly their anthropomorphization – resulted from later processes, including conquests and population migrations. Thus, the author considers sugar dolls to be the outcome of a synthesis between primary and secondary introductions of traditions, followed by their subsequent, uniquely localized evolution and transformation in each specific context.
Queen Marie of Romania: Literature, Art, and Lived Space as Tools for Promoting the Cultural Image of a State
This study offers an analysis at the intersection of literary imagology, cultural studies, and cultural diplomacy, examining how the works and activities of Queen Marie of Romania functioned as forms of identity representation and as means of favorably promoting her country’s cultural image. It explores the mechanisms through which her creations – literary, artistic, interior design, furniture, clothing, and photography – shaped perceptions and generated sympathy capital in the West, in line with the concept of soft power formulated by Joseph S. Nye Jr. Queen Marie’s personal charm and cultural influence translated into international prestige for Romania. For example, by integrating elements of traditional Romanian costume into the royal wardrobe, creating a distinctive personal style – the “Queen Marie style”, she became a genuine ambassador of local traditions. Her style can be analyzed not only as an aesthetic expression but also within the context of cultural diplomacy and identity communication. Through painting, writing, fashion, and décor, Queen Marie promoted a refined image of her country, shaping positive perceptions abroad. Her activity in this field remains relevant and can serve as a model for internationally recognized figures who wish to promote the cultural image of the Republic of Moldova.
The riverain diptych as a geophotographic horizon of Moldova
Véronique Popinet’s photographic approach as well as Christian Daudel’s textual approach (Véronique Popinet. Prut și Nistru, râuri care leagă maluri. D’un fleuve moldave à l’autre. Chisinau, Cartier, 2024, p. 170, french translation Ion Guțu) reveal to us the vision of the Other upon the horizon of the present and past of the two rivers and embankments of Prut and Dniester outlining a country – Republic of Moldova.
Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
School Education in the Bulgarian Colonies of Bessarabia in the 1840s: Regulatory and Legal Framework
The article analyzes the regulatory and legal basis of school education in the Bulgarian colonies of Bessarabia during the 1840s. Based on the “Instructions on the Main Rules for Rural Schools in Colonies” issued in 1842, it examines the specific organization of the educational process, the role of local communities in school administration, and the use of the mutual instruction method (Lancaster method). Although schools were established by imperial authorities, their operation largely depended on the involvement of the colonial administration. Teachers were selected by the community, and their moral authority and pedagogical skills were essential. The applied methods aimed to form a locally educated elite capable of contributing to the administrative and economic development of the colonies. Education was free, accessible to all children, and combined literacy with moral and religious formation. The involvement of the Orthodox Church and the use of local languages to attract parents are also emphasized. The article concludes that this educational model contributed to the integration of foreign colonists into the empire while preserving local identity. However, limitations remained, such as lack of access to secondary and higher education and the dominance of the Russian language.
The Cycle of Life in Bessarabia (1930s): Between Tradition and Modernization
This article aims to analyze the profound changes that Bessarabians went through during the interwar period, in the context of Romania’s accelerated modernization. It examines how the life cycle – birth, marriage and death – was marked by both local traditions and new regulations introduced by the modern state, offering a diachronic perspective on the development of rites of passage in this province. Drawing on Petre Andrei’s sociological reflections on family solidarity and on the research of Moldovan folklorist Gheorghe Madan, the article analyses how ancient customs intersected with new civil, religious and health norms. It also examines the tensions between religious and civil authorities in the governance of key moments in an individual’s life, highlighting how modernization led to a redistribution of social roles within a traditional community. A comparative analysis of official documents, folklore sources and statistical data reveals not only institutional changes but also people’s everyday adaptations, capturing the dynamics of time between tradition and modernity.