Romania is in the South-Eastern part of Central Europe. It borders Bulgaria, Hungary, Ukraine, and the Black Sea. Romania has cold, snowy winters and warm summer showers. The capital is Bucharest located in Southern Romania. Bucharest is an iconic commercial center representative of Romania’s rich history.
History
Nicolae Ceausescu propaganda poster.
Around 100 AD Romans occupied 3 principalities in Romania (Wallachia, Moldavia and Transylvania). By 1541 Austria-Hungary ruled Transylvania; Wallachia and Moldavia succumbed to Ottoman suzerainty. In 1862 the three principalities won their independence.
In World War I Romania joined the Allied Powers. In World War II Romania stated neutrality, but was pressured into joining the Axis powers.
In 1989 during the Romanian Revolution communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu was overthrown and executed.
Population
Romanian heritage festival.
Over 21 million people live in Romania. Of those people about 83 percent are Romanian, six percent are Hungarian, three percent are Roma. Ukrainian and German people make up less than one percent of Romanians.
Politics
Romanian Flag.
Romania has a republic government with its capital in Bucharest. In Romania citizenship is granted if one parent is a citizen of Romania. Unlike the United States, Romania does not grant citizenship by birth.
Religion
The major religion is Eastern Orthodox (about 82 percent of the population). Other religions include Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Islam.
The Coat of Arms of the Romanian Patriarchy. Motto: Feed My Sheep.
Education
Saint Sava National College High School in Bucharest.
Romania has three different levels of education.
Kindergarten (optional) is ages three to six.
Elementary school is mandatory and lasts eight years. The first four years are called primary school. During the last four years – gymnasium – classes are reshaped based on performance.
After elementary school, students must test into high school – much like admission tests into U.S. colleges.
Language
The official language is Romanian, although Hungarian is second among native languages spoken. About 85 percent of Romanians speak Romanian, while about six percent speak Hungarian. English is the second most spoken language in Romania. About 30 percent of Romanians speak English.