TheAromanians in Romania (Aromanian:armãnji orrrãmãnji;Romanian:aromâni ormachedoni) are a non-recognizedethnic minority inRomania that numbered around 26,500 people in 2006.[1] Legally, Romania regards theAromanians and other groups such as theMegleno-Romanians and theIstro-Romanians as part of the Romaniannation. This is according to apromulgatedlegislation according to which Romania supports the rights of all those who "assume a Romanian cultural identity, people of Romanian origin and persons that belong to the Romanian linguistic and cultural vein, Romanians who live outside Romania, regardless how they are called".[2] Such is also the stance of theRomanian Academy.[3]
However, some Aromanians have protested against this and have demanded to be recognized as an ethnic minority within Romania.[4] One of the main demands of this community has been to learntheir language andculture in Romanian schools.[5] Another has been the creation of achurch for the Aromanians functioning in the Aromanian language.[6] In 2020, theMinister of National Education of RomaniaMonica Anisie announced that the subject "Aromanian culture and civilization" would be introduced in schools as an optional one.[7] Nevertheless, the request of some Aromanians to be declared as an ethnic minority has caused controversy in Romania.[6]
Additionally, in 2021, a proposal to approve theAromanian National Day as a holiday in the country, to be celebrated every 23 May, was rejected by theParliament of Romania.[8] Earlier that year, another observance, the Balkan Romanianness Day, was officially adopted to commemorate the establishment of theUllah millet in theOttoman Empire on 1905. This day is meant for the Aromanians but also for the Megleno-Romanians and the Istro-Romanians, which are simply considered ethnicRomanians living south of theDanube.[9] The Balkan Romanianness Day is officially celebrated every 10 May.[10]
