In the Chicago area, there is a unique program in a day school in the United States, namely the Romanian as a heritage language program. The Romanian children at this school (43 in number) have 4 hours of Romanian language each week.
Since 2017, when this program was added to the school’s foreign language program at the initiative of His Eminence Archbishop and Metropolitan Nicolae, the Romanian students at this school have been preparing a beautiful program dedicated to the National Day of Romania every year. Yesterday, December 2, 2024, in the presence of His Eminence Nicolae, the entire school and the community around the school, we saw a sit-down meal (șezătoare), with many of the traditional elements: the spinning wheel, sewing, dances, music and traditional songs.
The celebration began with the presentation of the Christian origin of our people, starting from the painting titled "Saint Andrew Preaching to the Dacians" which can be seen at the Cathedral of Saint Andrew in Patras, Greece, right on the right wall next to the Saint's tomb.
With the mention of the Latin origin of our people, the children sang Gaudeamus Igitur, continuing with Ciuleandra, the soul dance of the Romanian nation. The melody După pui de moroșan, for which the children had the musical instruments specific to the Maramureș area, was performed with great authenticity and joy. An appreciated moment was also the skit Castravetele (the cucumber) after Ion Luca Caragiale, as was the moment of the confrontation between Bayazid the Sultan and Mircea the Old from the Third Letter by Mihai Eminescu.
Another traditional dance was Jiana, from the Sibiu area, danced very beautifully. The dancers' costumes were also from the Sibiu area, which were presented on stage and sewn especially for this occasion, showing the beauty of the traditional Romanian costume. Other well-known traditional songs and folk dances were also performed, one being a dance from Bihor, with the specificity of the cetera (violin with horn).
The girls from the older classes brought back in a short sequence "The Dress of the Girls of Căpâlna" a dance that has long since crossed the borders of the country and whose age remains unknown, its transmission to this day being done through "family training", from generation to generation.
The work done for this celebration, including the special decoration in the colors of the national flag and the traditional elements on display, brought many appreciations. The children with their talent impressed everyone present and made us feel proud of them and grateful to God.
Prof. Alina Vance
