Colindă facts for kids
A colindă (say: co-LIN-duh) is a traditional Christmas carol from Romania and the Republic of Moldova. These special songs are sung during the Christmas season. The plural forms are colinde or colinduri.
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The History of Colinde
Even though colinde are about the birth of Jesus, some parts of these traditions are very old. They might come from ancient Roman festivals like Saturnalia. They also have roots in older celebrations of the winter solstice. This is the shortest day of the year. People used to celebrate the land becoming fertile again.
Where Colinde Are Sung
Colinde are sung all over Romania, including the region of Moldova. The way they are sung can be a little different in each area. This includes how many people sing together. It also changes how the melodies sound and what the words are.
Why Colinde Are Important
Colinde are a very important part of Romanian culture. They are like other traditional songs and stories. They helped keep the Orthodox faith strong in Romania. Many colinde talk about the Mother of God and her son, Jesus Christ.
How Colinde Are Performed
In traditional Romanian villages, people start getting ready for colinde weeks before Christmas. Young people, usually boys, form groups. They choose a leader and practice singing together. These groups are called cete de colindători. The number of singers in a group can be different in various regions.
Visiting Houses
Starting on Christmas Eve, these groups visit different houses. In some villages, they first go to the mayor's house. Then they might visit the teacher's house. In other places, there is no special order. Families welcome the singers into their homes. They give them small gifts. These gifts often include nuts, dried fruits, and special bread called colaci.
Famous Colinde
Some well-known colinde with religious themes include:
- "Astăzi s-a născut Hristos" (Today Christ was born)
- "Moș Crăciun cu plete dalbe" (Santa Claus with white tresses)
- "O, ce veste minunată!" (Oh, what wonderful news!)
See also
- Koleda, a similar Slavic Christmas tradition
- "Shchedryk" (song), a Ukrainian New Year carol
