ISSN 1857-2049 eISSN 2537-6152 Ethnology and Culturology Journal 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 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.
On the living conditions and adaptation of Bulgarians and Gagauz from the Moldavian SSR in Siberia: historical and ethnological aspects
The article examines the problems of socio-cultural adaptation of Bulgarians and Gagauz from the Moldavian SSR, who were deported to Siberia as a result of the mass deportation carried out by the Soviet authorities in July 1949. Based on regulatory acts and narrative sources, the author examines the housing and living conditions of the migrants at their new place of settlement, as well as their economic activities. Particular attention is paid to the influence of the special commandant regime on socialization processes, the psychological state of the deportees, and the mechanisms of preserving ethnic identity in the conditions of a foreign ethnic and foreign language environment. The main conclusions are that the hardships of relocation, poor material conditions in the new place of residence, and the unusually harsh climate negatively affected the lives of the southerners. The difficult socio-economic situation of Bulgarians and Gagauz in their new settlements was exacerbated by discriminatory measures imposed by the authorities, including restrictions on freedom of movement. The survival strategy of Bulgarians and Gagauz was based primarily on their strong work ethic and ethnic solidarity within their settlements. The study showed that the forced nature of the resettlement and living under the special settlement regime led to feelings of marginalization and inferiority among the deportees, which, in turn, points to the phenomenon of “deportation trauma”.
The abuse on the domain of the Raciula skete, 1798–1959
The Raciula Monastery is a monastic community in Calarasi, geographically located in Codrii Orheiului, and situated in the valley of the Ichel river. When founded, this monastic institution was at a time and a skete for men, therefore in 1810, because of the reduced number of monachs, it was transformed in a skete for women. At the beginning of its activity, this monastic institution was owned by the titulars of the Niscani estate with a part of the land. It was donated to the Raciula skete a significant part of the forest, arable land and an orchard. More than that, those who donated the land, became and founders of the church heritage, which at first was built from beams and shingle. Along of time, this heritage received and other donations thanks to it the church could provide for the monachs and develop economically further. But even if the heritage prospered thanks to the obtained field, at the same time it has encountered many challenges due to the fact that their owner rights of the land has been violated. At times, the neighbors or other badly intended people, were sneaking into the heritage and took a lot of goods or even arable land. We are aware that the elders of the monastery rationally managed the wealth, multiplying it, but there are and some of deviations from the rule. These aspects and the negative impact that it had upon the monachal community, we are presenting in this study.
The Agrarian Ritual of Caloianul in Covurlui Land: Identity Dimensions and Local Cultural Meanings
This article explores the agrarian ritual known as Caloian, practiced in the Covurlui region (corresponding to present-day Galați County, Romania), focusing on its identity-forming function within the framework of local traditional culture. Based on field research, ethnographic sources, and comparative analysis, the study outlines the symbolic and social particularities of this archaic custom, which aims to invoke rain and ensure soil fertility. The ritual involves shaping an anthropomorphic clay figurine, Caloian, which is ritually buried and mourned by the women of the community in a complex ritual framework that blends pre-Christian myths with Christian elements. The paper highlights the syncretic character of the ritual and its role in strengthening communal cohesion, transmitting cultural values, and preserving collective memory. The Caloian, in the form specific to the Covurlui region, reflects a sacred relationship with nature and an archaic perception of the cyclical nature of life. Additionally, the article analyzes the marginalization of this tradition in the context of rural modernization and its implications for local cultural identity. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of the dynamics of intangible heritage and its relevance in shaping contemporary Romanian identity discourse.
Ethnological and architectural aspects of traditional gates and fences in the Codru Orhei region
This article sheds light on some ethnological and architectural features of traditional gates and fences in the Codrii Orheiului region. In this region, there are numerous decorative elements in peasant houses and courtyards that are not found in other parts of Moldova. We note that stone flowers, house pillars and columns, massive gate and fence pillars, stone inlays stand out with their bright colors applied to a white or bluish background, beautifully decorated stone verandas, chimneys with floral motifs. In these settlements, traditional gates and fences have become a symbol of local, regional and even national cultural heritage. The gate represents the primary sign of entry into the farm, symbolizing the first passage into the sacred space of the family, located behind the courtyard. Together with the house fence, the gates create a real protective belt, and from the very beginning of their appearance they had to perform a triple functionality: utilitarian, aesthetic and magical-symbolic. Having ancient meanings and motives (zoomorphic, anthropomorphic, everyday, cultural, artistic, natural, and cosmic), these structures were and are created by specialized builders or folk craftsmen, emphasizing in their image with architectural motives their single component, with the house and the entire farm, thereby forming a multifaceted folk rural architecture.
Constructive-decorative plasticity of the entrance gates in the rustic household
Traditional artistic creation is one of the most impressive material forms from the past of our nation. Evolving over time, it has formed some traditions, customs and practices, including in the field of rustic constructions. The most impressive forms in the plasticity of Moldovan vernacular architecture are the gates. These material pieces, in the process of its development, have favored the creation of gates typology and their constructive-decorative elements. The problem addressed is focused on the description of the small forms at the entrance to the rustic yard. The structural organization of large and small gates, the details that compose them and the elements of emblellishment, have determined both the plasticity of these samples and their symbolism. The fence completes the sociofamilial ambiance of the residents, the gate marking the place of passage from the outside space to the inside. This architectural element indicates the threshold of delimitation of the village community space from the domestic one. The shape, decoration and ornamentation of the gates encompass a fairly vast and complex semantics that determines the symbolic significance of these entrances. Finally, we can state that this constructive system, which is part of the Romanian cultural heritage, presents one of the most perfect forms of popular creation within the architecture of the rustic household.
Some specific features of the household and residential complex of lipovans of Cunicea village (based on field research)
The study of the household and residential complex of the village of Cunicea revealed that the architectural appearance of the village, its external space, although it bears noticeable features of integration of Moldovan folk culture, is characterized by its original constructive elements (stone vaulted cellars under the house, podtashek, ganki, etc.). The interior space also bears its own characteristics reflecting the Russian ethnic specificity, where the importance of such symbolic centres of attraction as ovens grubka and icons (home iconostasis), which are the embodiment of the ‘ethnic expressiveness’ of the lipovans of the village of Cunicea, stands out. The fragility of materials (adobe technology) of the materials (adobe technique) used for construction in Cunicea did not allow to keep intact the main part of dwelling houses older than a hundred years, the remaining residential buildings were subjected to thorough restoration, which reduced the original traditional attributes. At the same time, the research has shown that despite the aggressive influence of urbanization processes, the lipovans of the Republic of Moldova in Cunicea at the present day continue to use the principles of traditional construction, reconstructing the originality of the former lipovan manor house.
household and residential complex of the village of Cunicea
Field Ethnographic Research Experience: the Memorial Easter of the Roma Community from the Town of Soroca
The article presents the results of field ethnographic research conducted among the Roma community in the town of Soroca on the day of the “Easter of the Blessed” (The Memorial Easter). The author notes the importance of previous studies by fellow ethnologists who have examined the funeral and memorial rites of ethnic groups in the Republic of Moldova (V. Stepanov, D. Nicoglo, I. Miglev, T. Zaicovschi, C. Cotoman et al.). The key conditions for a successful expedition are defined: participant observation, interviews, photo and video documentation, field notes and diaries, and observance of appropriate dress and etiquette. The article outlines the sequence of events and memorial practices that took place at St. Theodore Stratilates Cemetery, located on what is locally known as Gypsy Mountain in Soroca, on the day of the “Easter of the Blessed”. Structurally, the celebration of the “Easter of the Blessed” is conventionally divided into two stages. The first includes the preparation of dishes and offerings (“pomana”). On the eve, people paint eggs, bake Easter cakes, prepare stuffed cabbage rolls with turkey filling, and purchase tableware, towels, and other necessary items for gifts. The second stage takes place at the cemetery and includes both offerings and other ritual acts at the graves: participation in the church service, setting up tables near the tombstones, lighting candles, distributing offerings. The field experience provides insight into the specific features of memorial rituals in the Roma community of the Republic of Moldova and emphasizes the importance of this living tradition.
Traditional Ukrainians’ funeral rites of different regions in the plane of semiotic codes
The article presents the results of research of the agentive, actional, and realemic codes of semiotics within the traditional Ukrainian funeral rites. Due to their taboo nature and mystical character, these rites most fully preserve archetypal semantics, which reflects the deep sources of the associated sector of the national conceptual worldview. The selection of the Lviv, Sumy, Cherkasy, Kherson, Luhansk regions for analysis was determined by their geographical location and established cultural and ethnographic zoning – Eastern, Central, Western, Southern Ukraine. On the basis of the analysis of the semiotic representation of the elements of funeral rites in different regions of Ukraine, the degree of integrity within the national cultural context and the collective thinking style of Ukrainians from different regions was clarified. The methods of content analysis, comparative analysis, synthesis, and induction served as scientific tools for achieving the defined goal. Based on the analysis of empirical material, it was concluded that the structure of the most archaic funeral rite in all regions of Ukraine is typologically homogeneous. Integrity prevails both in content and form – the verbalization of ritual phenomena, realities and persons, which excludes speculation regarding the “differences” between eastern and western Ukrainians.
Integrating culturological dimensions in Romanian language courses in Serbia: an intercultural perspective
This study explores the integration of ethnological and culturological elements in Romanian language education in Serbia from an intercultural perspective, highlighting the common disjunction between language teaching and cultural contextualization. The research investigates 38 Romanian language textbooks utilized in 12 countries, identifying a corpus of 1160 cultural elements. A mixed-method investigative approach combines Byram’s Intercultural Communicative Competence (ICC) framework with Cultural Discourse Analysis (CuDA). Cultural elements are examined across five ICC dimensions and classified into several discourse types: descriptive, intercultural, neutral, normative, and stereotypical. The findings show a strong prevalence of descriptive and normative discourse, especially in topics like gastronomy, geography, and history, whereas intercultural dimensions remain underrepresented. The study underscores the necessity for more reflective, student-centered, and multimedia-based activities to promote intercultural competence and awareness. It calls for a more balanced and purposeful integration of culture in Romanian language teaching, particularly in multilingual and multicultural settings like Serbia, where minority language education plays a vital societal and educational role.
Refugees’ problem in Bessarabia after The World War I (background, data, assistance)
The article discusses the refugee problem generated by the changes after the IWW, proving that in the interwar period, both Bessarabia, which was part of Royal Romania, and Chisinau, became the place of transit or hosting of numerous groups of refugees who initially came from the Russian Empire, later from the USSR. According to the ethnic criterion, archival documents reveal the existence of Jewish, Russian, Ukrainian, Romanian, Armenian refugees, etc. during the exodus. The way of entry into Romania through Bessarabia for the majority was illicit, some saving themselves individually or in groups by fraudulently crossing the Dniester. The Dniester line, which represented the Soviet-Romanian border, the most extensive but also not officially recognized by Moscow, was assaulted by those who were trying to save themselves, the number of refugees being estimated at 100,000 people. Until the solidarity and mobilization of the League of Nations, the refugee crisis in the interwar period that the Romanian state faced generated the coagulation on the ethnic principle, in order to assist and help the refugees, especially in Chișinău, of a series of organizations and committees. Perceived in most cases as subversive elements, the refugees became a real burden for the Romanian authorities, filling practically all the streets in Chișinău.
The “World” Beyond the World: Conceptualization of the Uncreated in Archaic and Traditional Romanian Imagination
This paper aims to explore the ways of representing the so-called “uncreated”, i.e. the state before the creation of the world, associated in philosophy with the concept of nothingness or primordial chaos, in archaic and traditional Romanian culture. Based on the views of M. Eliade, O. Papadima and E. Bernea, who emphasized the concrete-figurative nature of archaic thinking, this study aims to find out whether there are coherent ideas about the “world before the world” in the Romanian folklore tradition and how they are realized in folk beliefs and texts (cosmogonic legends, fairy tales, carols, etc.). The theoretical basis of the study is the conceptual metaphor, as it is developed within the framework of cognitive linguistics of the American school, with an emphasis on ontological metaphors of the “container” type. The analysis shows that Romanian folklore texts widely feature metaphors of the world as a fluid substance, the world “pouring through a hole”, as a giant vessel filled with dark or solid waters, as a resting place for God (bed, throne, island), and as a seed or a ball of thread. These seemingly simple images form an internally consistent and expressive system of ideas about uncreated reality within the framework of the traditional worldview.
Gagauz Food Traditions: Historiography of the Problem
This article presents a historiographical analysis of scholarly publications dedicated to the food traditions of the Gagauz people. These works are systematized according to a chronological principle and divided into three groups: studies from the second half of the 19th century to the first half of the 20th century, publications from the second half of the 20th century, and works from the last decade of the 20th to the early 21st century. The authors conclude that the essays and articles published between the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century were largely fragmentary, with the exception of the essays by V. Moshkov. The most thorough attention to this topic appears at the end of the 20th century (M. Marunevich). A number of studies attempt to identify specific elements of archaic food types, explore the origins of traditional dishes, and examine their ritual use (M. Marunevich, S. Kuroglou, D. Nicoglo). Research from the early 21st century is marked by a comprehensive approach and represents interdisciplinary studies based on rich factual material collected by the authors in Gagauz villages of the Republic of Moldova. The historiographical analysis reveals the presence of two methodological approaches: the historicalethnographic perspective on traditional food (D. Nicoglo) and the ethnolinguistic approach (E. Sorochanu). In the articles and monograph by E. Sorochanu, the semantics, symbolism, and terminology of bread and flour-based products are studied for the first time in Gagauz studies.
The Bulgarians of Bessarabia in the 1940s: factors of the demographic process. Population size and age-sex structure
The article examines the demographic transformation mechanisms among the Bessarabian Bulgarians in the 1940s under the influence of repression, resettlement, and the 1946–1947 famine. It analyses the interaction between endogenous demographic reproduction factors and external socio-economic transformations in the 1940s. These processes resulted in changes in the age-sex structure of the population, revealing the coexistence of two parallel models of population reproduction – the stationary and the progressive. Some village communities within the “progressive” model retained the key characteristics of an extensive development path. In other settlements, had it not been for the forced relocations and the famine of 1945–1948, the transition from the progressive to the stationary demographic model could have been considered complete by the mid-20th century. The author concludes that the tragic events of the 1946–1947 famine emerged as one of the most powerful exogenous factors in the demographic transformation of Bulgarian society. The famine’s impact was reflected in an almost sixfold increase in overall mortality compared to the preceding period. The most vulnerable groups were children and the elderly. The social turbulence of the 1940s resulted in demographic losses equivalent to approximately one-sixth of the Bessarabian Bulgarian community.
The Presence of Bulgarians in the Curchi Monastery
This article explores the historical presence and significant contributions of Bulgarians to the Curchi Monastery, an important spiritual and cultural center in Bessarabia, established in the late 18th century. The monastery served not only as a place of worship but also as a central hub for cultural and educational exchange among various ethnic communities. The article documents the involvement of Bulgarian monks such as Nichifor and Irinarh in 1817, focusing on their origins and roles within the monastic community. It also analyzes the close spiritual ties between the Curchi Monastery and Bulgarian religious institutions, such as the Axion Estinos and Zograf monasteries, highlighting their deep interconnections and mutual influences. The article further examines economic interactions, such as the sale of church items to Marco Zagori, a Bulgarian from Chişinău, in 1822. These items played an important role in establishing religious practices in Bulgarian and Gagauz settlements like Copceac. Additionally, it discusses the educational influence of Bulgarians on the monastery, particularly through figures like Fiodor Ceachir, who contributed to the development of the monastery’s school, founded in 1872. This school played a key role in educating children from diverse backgrounds, including those of Bulgarian descent.
The daily and cultural life of Balchik captured by the newspaper Coasta de Argint (Silver Coast) (1928–1929)
Coasta de Argint (Silver Coast) review was published under the aegis of the Free University ”Coasta de Argint” (Silver Coast) of Balchik between 1928 and 1929, under the direction of Octavian Moșescu. It had only 12 issues but in its pages, in its short appearance, it was a true source of information about the most important social, economic, cultural or leisure events of the local community. Here several literary personalities of the time practiced their scientific talent, but also local personalities who, through their sustained activity, changed the face of Balchik and insistently promoted it in the Romanian community, attracted like a magnet by the exoticism, charm and special beauty of the places. The extremely ancient history of this settlement has been demonstrated by countless archaeological discoveries, part of which is housed in the museum established in 1935, the only museum institution in southern Dobrogea that operated in a specially built building. Special attention was paid by the officials of the time to economic, tourist, educational and cultural development, the progress of the Romanian community, as well as the other ethnic groups of Balchik being an end in itself. The development of the area and its unreal beauty attracted a continuous increase in the number of tourists, but also in those who built homes or temporarily settled there, painters being a special category who contributed greatly to the promotion of Balchik, along with Queen Maria, a great admirer of the place.
Moldova in quest of a lingua comuna: to the problem statement
The article presents the preliminary results of the first stage of the research project “Russian-speaking population of the Republic of Moldova and the Romanian language”. By “Russian-speaking” population we mean the ethnic minorities of the country, primarily: Russians, Ukrainians, Bulgarians, Gagauz. The first step of the project concentrates on the Bulaestian Ukrainians (the village of Bulaesti (Romanian: Bulăești) is located in the Orhei district; largescale studies of the Bulaestian Ukrainians have been conducted for almost twenty years, the results of which were summarized in a monograph published last year). Nowadays in Bulaesti village people under 40 years old, and especially under 30, can usually either communicate in Romanian or, at worst, understand Romanian speech. That is, they are trilingual to some extent. Despite the noted increase in knowledge of the Romanian language among the Ukrainians of Bulaesti, in general, however, their involvement in Romanian culture has hardly increased. No one in the village watches films or TV in Romanian, or reads books or media. To what extent Bulaesti reflects the Russianspeaking population of the country as a whole requires a special study. But if it accurately reflects the main trend, it turns out that the Russian-speaking and Romanian-speaking populations of the Republic of Moldova, formally communicating quite closely, are increasingly diverging into “parallel worlds” at a deeper level. This is aggravated by the fact that an increasing number of Romanian-speaking youth have little or no knowledge of Russian.
Coffee in the alimentary culture and traditions of the Albanians in the Balkans
The Balkan Peninsula is rightfully considered to be the region with one of the highest rates of coffee consumption per capita. Coffee (Coffeae Semen L.), which became widespread in the region during the Ottoman rule, has become an integral part of traditional cuisine, the institution of hospitality, ritual practices and the daily life of residents of various zones. This study examines the culture of coffee consumption, as well as its role in national etiquette, food ideology and folk medicine among the Albanian population in the Western Balkans (with the deliberate use of a large thesaurus of field materials collected by the author during expeditions from 1990 to 2024 in Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Greece and southern Montenegro). The study is also based on data from specialized ethnographic and linguistic archives and draws on information from the works of anthropologists who studied the region. The author analyzes the use of coffee for food purposes, rituals, folk medicine, and the reflection of ideas about the beloved drink in folklore and written tradition. Coffee primarily serves as a raw material for the preparation of a drink that plays an almost sacred role in communication; it is rarely consumed raw for desserts and alcoholic mixes. The persistence of narratives about the meaning of coffee for different purposes among Albanians allows us to draw certain isoglosses, isopragmas and isodoxes that mark the boundaries in the traditions and idioms of the peoples and ethnic groups of the Balkan Peninsula.
The well in the Romanian value system: findings based on the descriptions of XIXth century foreign travelers (historiographical and ethnocultural aspects)
While passing through or staying for a longer period in Moldova and Muntenia, foreign travelers of the 19th century left behind historically and ethnoculturally significant works for their descendants. When carrying out various diplomatic, religious, scientific, traveling and research missions, H. F. Desprez, Ü. Sándor, W. von Kotzebue, L. I. Pfeiffer, J. D. F. Neigebaur, J. H. A. Ubicini, R. Walsh, and N. K. Giers described numerous aspects of the cultural landscape and everyday life marked by secular traditions. An integral part of the cultural landscape of the principalities were wells, which were found in large numbers on the sides of roads, at the crossroads of trade routes, in villages and cities. For foreign travelers, the well symbolized the hospitality of the locals, offering travelers a place to rest where they could quench their thirst. The price of well water sometimes exceeded the price of wine, and during fires in cities, well water offered people the salvation they desired, saving their lives and wealth. In traditional Romanian beliefs, the well’s watershed symbolized the trials that people went through. Traditionally, Romanians kept their wells in good condition, thus ”to the greater praise of the country”.
Галин Георгиев. „Традиции, памет, идентичност на българите в Украйна и Молдова. динамика на културата в диаспора” (София: проф. Мариин Дринов, 2022. 571 с.)
Монография болгарского этнолога Галина Георгиева – одна из немногих современных работ, посвященных разностороннему и одновременно системному этнографическому исследованию традиционной культуры болгар в Молдове и Украине. В фундаментальном исследовании представлен богатый фактологический материал в виде текстов и фотоматериалов, собранных автором и его коллегами в экспедициях на протяжении более чем 20-ти лет в селах Украины, Молдовы, Приазовья и в других местах поселения болгар на территории бывшего Советского Союза.
Sergiu Suvac. „Brănești, un sat din Codrii Orheiului: pagini din istoria localitățiI” (Chișinău: Editura Princeps, 2025. 216 Pp)
Culegerea de studii „Probleme sensibile și controversate ale societății contemporane” cuprinde materialele Conferinței științifice naționale cu participare internațională, organizată la 25-26 octombrie 2024, de Catedra de Istorie și Științe Sociale a Facultății de Filologie și Istorie, Școala Doctorală „Istorie. Patrimoniu cultural. Modernitate” din cadrul UPS „Ion Creangă” din Chișinău. Lucrarea recent a văzut lumina tiparului și îi are ca coordonatori pe dr., conf. univ. Valentina Ursu și dr., conf. univ. Larisa Noroc
„Probleme sensibile și controversate ale societății contemporane” (Chișinău: [S. N.], (CEP UPSC), 2025. 550 P.)
Culegerea de studii „Probleme sensibile și controversate ale societății contemporane” cuprinde materialele Conferinței științifice naționale cu participare internațională, organizată la 25-26 octombrie 2024, de Catedra de Istorie și Științe Sociale a Facultății de Filologie și Istorie, Școala Doctorală „Istorie. Patrimoniu cultural. Modernitate” din cadrul UPS „Ion Creangă” din Chișinău. Lucrarea recent a văzut lumina tiparului și îi are ca coordonatori pe dr., conf. univ. Valentina Ursu și dr., conf. univ. Larisa Noroc.
Life in an earth shelter: a look at the rural reality in Rogojeni, Șoldănești District
In a few localities in Republic of Moldova, shacks have been preserved – a type of traditional semi-buried dwelling, specific to old rural communities. The village of Rogojeni, located about 111 km from Chisinau, in the Soldanesti district, still preserves several of these constructions today, which illustrate the ingenuity and adaptation of people to environmental conditions. Although living conditions are precarious due to the limited space, the lack of a bathroom, a sewage system and drinking water, some elderly people still continue to live in these shacks today, refusing to complain, accepting everyday life as it is, without letting difficulties overshadow their lives. Following discussions with locals, we learned that the shacks that have been preserved are frequently visited by people from different corners of the country, but also from abroad. Young people are also showing a particular interest in these buildings, who are fascinated by the way of life in the old days. Given that today not many such buildings can be found, there is even a well-equipped museum in the town of Rogojeni, which includes a hut built in the 18th century, once inhabited by the Țara family. Thus, their preservation is not only essential for preserving the traditions and cultural identity of the region, but also represents an important factor in the development of rural tourism and in promoting authentic historical values.
Pysanky from Hutsulshchyna and Pokuttia: ethnological aspects and artistic specificity
Ukrainian pysanky and the practice of pysanka-making prove to be a relevant subject of contemporary ethnological and art critical inquiry, particularly with regard to the local specificities of these artifacts. Therefore, this study emphasizes regional dimensions and artistic features of pysanky from Hutsulshchyna and Pokuttia dating from the late 19th c. to the first third of the 20th c. (including chronology of production, local terminology, functions within calendar and family rituals, ornamentation, principal compositional schemes, and motifs). The paper is based upon the collection of the Museum of Ethnography and Crafts at the Ethnology Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (hereafter MEC). The collection of pysanky at MEC is the largest in Ukraine, comprising approximately 13,000 items from numerous historical and ethnographic regions, among which Hutsulshchyna and Pokuttia particularly seem outstanding. The creators of pysanky were predominantly women and girls, and less frequently men. Beyond their ritual, protective, and decorative functions, pysanky also served as a means of preserving and recalling distinctive (“unusual”) ornamentation patterns.
Easter of the Blessed in the Traditional Roma Community of Otaci city (Ocnița District)
This article examines the traditions of celebrating the Easter of the Blessed in Otaci, a town in the northern part of the Republic of Moldova. Based on ethnographic fieldwork conducted between April 29 and May 2, 2025, the author presents findings from observations made on the day of the celebration. Both common characteristics of the holiday and specific features that distinguish it, for example, from the celebration in Soroca, were identified. A survey of informants revealed the religious worldview of the town’s Roma community and highlighted differences between Orthodox and Protestant approaches to celebrating the Easter of the Blessed. The Roma of Otaci maintain deeply rooted memorial traditions: even after converting to Protestantism, they continue to observe the holiday in their own way, they pray, tend to graves, and honor the memory of their ancestors, although visiting cemeteries on this holiday is generally not customary. The fieldwork also resulted in the recording of a biblical legend that, for the informants, carries special sacred significance and represents a behavioral model. The legend recounts how an ordinary chicken egg turned red in the hands of Mary Magdalene, who came before the King to announce the Resurrection of Christ. The article pays particular attention to the custom of giving pomane (ritual alms), which, according to the historiographical sources cited, is interpreted in various ways.
Traditional women's clothing of the Old Believers of the Republic of Moldova: recent historical discourse and the present situation (based on field research)
Among the Old Believers – including the Chasovennye, the Semeyskie, and others – the traditional women's costume has been preserved to this day, regardless of the region in which they live. It is notable for its diversity, with particularly significant variations in the design of headdresses. The article presents the results of a multiyear study conducted by the author in several villages and towns of the Republic of Moldova, and it presents the main features of the women's costume, examines the issue of its preservation, and explores the contexts of its use today. According to informants, in rural areas – and in some villages even as late as the 1980s – the traditional women's costume among the Old Believers continued to be worn in everyday life. After that, the scope of its use began to diminish. Today, this costume is mainly worn during prayers, as well as at weddings and funerals. In everyday life, the most persistent elements proved to be the belt, the kichka, and the headscarf. Informants link the rapid changes to the beginning of the new millennium, indicating demographic factors among the main causes.
The blacksmithing craft practiced by Gypsies (Roma) in the East Carpathian area: ethnographic field research in the traditional community of Roma “chokenari” from the city of Otaci
During the irreversible transition from the “industrial to the digital age”, safeguarding the craft of blacksmithing becomes a pressing mission for ethnographic research. Blacksmithing, a necessary profession (“in the past”) in any peasant household in the East-Carpathian region, unfortunately, has currently become an unprofitable profession, practiced in a lessened and fragmented manner (“for the support of the family”). In order to document the current activity of the “last living remnants of blacksmithing”, within this study were processed the materials accumulated during the ethnographic field research in the city of Otaci (April 28 – May 02, 2025), identifying the blacksmithing tools, the raw materials used and the products made by four blacksmiths from the traditional community of Roma “chokenari”. At the same time the cultural and socio-economic factors that determined the preferential settlement in the city of Otaci, in the second half of the 20th century, of the most numerous Roma community in the Republic of Moldova were revealed. Based on newly identified historical-ethnographic sources, this study was expanded with another 20 new elements concerning the cultural significance of the Trinitarian expression “blacksmithing (craft) – blacksmiths (craftsmen) – gypsies (Roma people)”.
Ethos, ethnos and ontic – axis mundi of Mihail Sadoveanu’s work
For Sadoveanu, folk creation represents the heart of every civilization. The writer argues with discernment in favor of the idea of integrating folk culture and ancient representations into genuine literary works. The rhapsodist, the maker of ancestral values, is, in the author’s conception, identical with the solomonar, the magician, the healer, the astrologer, the treasure seeker, and even the well digger – occupations considered mythical and sacred. Hence the strong thread of sacrality that runs through his work. Sadoveanu’s humanity creates the impression of timelessness, being introduced into mysterious realms, into the world of living shadows, as in the case of the semi-legendary characters from The Land Beyond the Mist. From the perspective of folk philosophy, and through ethical and aesthetic modes of expression, the writer is a fundamental visionary creator of national literature and of universal poetic art, which defines him in a totalizing way. Sadoveanu’s artistic universe is shaped from folkloric traditions and from old popular books of wisdom, and it is brought to life with the artistry of a genius creator. His epic world has folk origins and represents a symbiosis of myth, legend, and balladic spirit – an osmosis between the everyday and the eternal, between the profane and the sacred. The blending, the “fusion” of the real and the mythical, the projection of concrete facts into a fabulous framework – all this gives his work a constant sense of both present and past.