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Theculture ofMoldova is unique and influenced by theRomanian origins of its majority population, as well as theSlavic and minorityGagauz populations.[1] The traditional Latin origins of Romanian culture reach back to the 2nd century, the period ofRoman colonization inDacia.
During the centuries following the Roman withdrawal in 271, the population of the region was influenced by contact with theByzantine Empire,Slavic peoples,Hungarian people, and later by theOttoman Turks. Slavic migration into the region began in the 6th century and continued gradually through the early 19th century.[2] A heavy Polish influence occurred from the 14th through 16th centuries, when thePrincipality of Moldova was connected to Poland by a trade route and was briefly a vassal of theKingdom of Poland.[3] Since the 18th century, several waves of Poles emigrated to the land which constitutes the majority of modernMoldova. Beginning in the 19th century, a strongWestern European (particularly French) influence came to be evident in literature and the arts. The resulting melting pot has produced a rich cultural tradition. Although foreign contact was an inevitable consequence of the region'sgeographical location, their influence only served to enhance a vital and resilient popular culture. Despite the many foreign influences on Moldovan culture, the country's traditional Romanian roots remain strong.[4]
The population of what once was thePrincipality of Moldavia (1359–1859) had come to identify itself widely as "Moldovan" by the 14th century, but continued to maintain close cultural links with other Romanian groups. After 1812, the eastern Moldovans, those inhabitingBessarabia andTransnistria, were also influenced bySlavic culture during the periods of 1812–1917, and during 1940–1989 they were influenced by Russia.
The geographical area that is now modern Moldova was formed under the conditions of contacts with theEast Slavic population, and later under the rule of theOttoman Empire. In 1812, the territory of modern Moldova was liberated from Ottoman rule and incorporated into theBessarabian province of theRussian Empire, which had a great influence on the development of the culture of the region. After theOctober Revolution in 1918,Romania annexed the nation for 22 years, and the Moldavian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was formed on the left bank of the Dniester, as a result of which culture developed under a stronger Russian influence under Soviet administrative control, as well as by ethnic Russian or Russian-speaking immigration.
By 1918, Bessarabia was one of the least developed, and least educated European regions of theRussian Empire. Although Soviet authorities promoted education, the region's cultural ties withRomania were slowly eroded due to administrative policies. With many ethnic Romanian intellectuals, eitherfleeing, being killed after 1940, or being deported both during and afterWorld War II, Bessarabia's cultural and educational situation changed drastically and became moreRussified.
After the 1960s, Soviet authorities developed urban cultural and scientific institutions that were subsequently filled with Russians, and diverse ethnic groups from across the Soviet Union. Much of the urban culture came from Moscow, while the primarily rural ethnic Romanian population was allowed to express itself infolklore andfolk art.
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Although thefolk arts flourished, similarities with Romanian culture were hidden. Music and dance, particularly encouraged by Soviet authorities, were made into a showcase, but were subtly changed to hide their Romanian origins. For example, the nationalfolk costume, in which the traditional Romanianmoccasin (opinca) was replaced by theRussian boot.
Moldova's traditionalfolk culture is very rich. The ancient folkballads, such as "Mioriţa" and "Meşterul Manole", play a central role in this traditional culture. Folk traditions, includingceramics andweaving, continue to be practiced in rural areas. The folk culture tradition is promoted at the national level and is represented by, among other groups, the folk choir,Doina.
The first books, religious texts, of the Principality of Moldavia appeared in the mid-17th century. Prominent figures in Moldavia's cultural development includeDosoftei,Grigore Ureche,Miron Costin, metropolitan of KievPetru Movilă, scholarsNicolae Milescu-Spãtaru,Dimitrie Cantemir (1673–1723), andIon Neculce,Gavriil Bănulescu-Bodoni,Alexandru Donici,Constantin Stamati,Costache Negruzzi, historian andphilologistBogdan P. Hasdeu (1836–1907), authorIon Creangă (1837–1889), and poetMihai Eminescu (1850–1889).
Varlaam published the first books. Dosoftei founded numerous schools and published a lot. Cantemir wrote the first thorough geographical, ethnographical, and economic description of Moldavia inDescriptio Moldaviae (Berlin, c. 1714).
Modern writers includeVladimir Beşleagă,Nicolae Dabija,Ion Druţă,Victor Teleucă,Victor Ciobanu andGrigore Vieru. In 1991, a total of 520 books were published in Moldova, of which 402 were inRomanian, 108 in Russian, eight inGagauz, and two inBulgarian.
In the early 1990s, Moldova had twelve professional theaters. All performed in Romanian, except the A.P. Chekhov Russian Drama Theater inChişinău, and the Russian Drama and Comedy Theater inTiraspol, both of which performed solely in Russian, and the Licurici Republic Puppet Theater, in Chişinău, which performed in both Romanian and Russian. Members of ethnic minorities manage a number of folklore groups and amateur theaters throughout the country.
Moldovan cuisine consists mainly of traditional European foods, such as beef, pork,potatoes,cabbage, cheese, and a variety of cereal grains. Popular alcoholic beverages aredivin (Moldovanbrandy), beer, and local wine.
Very popular dishes includemanti (a type of dumpling filled with meat and vegetables, which is wrapped in a dough wrapper, and served with a spicysour cream),ciorbă (a sour soup consisting of meat and vegetables, served withsauerkraut,polenta, or rice),pelmeni (another type of dumpling, filled with meat and onions, but sometimesmushrooms,turnips, and sauerkraut are added),borscht (made withbeets, tomatoes, and other vegetables to form a stew), andsarma (a dish made withstuffed cabbage rolls, accompanied by sauerkraut andmămăligă).
Other common foods in Moldova include grilled meats, other grains,dairy products, andmămăligă (a type of polenta made withcornmeal, and mashed into aporridge).
