Texas Library Association Texas Library Association 20112011 Annual Conference Annual Conference

The territory of Romania is characterised by an aproximately equal repartition of the three existing forms of relief:

- 35% mountains (more precisely The Carpathians, also known as the Alps from Transylvania)-35% hills and plateaus-30% plains

Demographics dates:

21, 680 ,974 inhabitants Romanians – 89.5% Hungarians - 6.6% Gypsies (rromi) – 1.1%

91% are romanian language speakers 86.7% are orthodoxes christians

Throughout the periods of time, the present teritory of Romania hasn’t had a peaceful history, being plundered by numerous migrating peoples. Romania became a sovereign state in 1859 and got its independence in 1878.

A little history...

The roots of our nation are latin, the result of joining of Dacians (the inhabitants of old Dacia) and Romans.

The “ancerstors” of Romanian people

After the World War II, the history of Romania became famous especially due to the infractions of the ex- comunist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, who was to be eliminated from gouverning in December 1989, due to a huge street revolt.

At January, 1st, 2007 Romania adhered to the European Union.

You can admire famous sculptures such as Gate of the Kiss, The endless column and Table of Silence, made by our internationally renowned Romanian sculptor, CONSTANTIN BRANCUSI (1876-1957) – the artist of the XXth century, who wish to sculpture the light.

Often regarded as the most Often regarded as the most famous and influential Romanian famous and influential Romanian poet, poet, MMIHAI EMINESCUIHAI EMINESCU ((1850-1850-18891889)) had a heavy word in our had a heavy word in our culture. He is also considered the culture. He is also considered the ““godfather of the modern godfather of the modern Romanian languageRomanian language””..

GEORGE ENESCU GEORGE ENESCU (1881-1955) - (1881-1955) - the musician that composed the the musician that composed the Romanian Rapsody Romanian Rapsody that you are that you are listening now and which is the listening now and which is the Romanian equivalent of the Romanian equivalent of the Blue Blue RapsodyRapsody by George Gershwin. by George Gershwin.

On the list of the Nobel Prize winners there are three On the list of the Nobel Prize winners there are three personalities of Romanian origin: personalities of Romanian origin: Herta Muller Herta Muller (writer), (writer), Ellie Ellie Wiesel Wiesel (writer and journalist) and (writer and journalist) and George E. Palade George E. Palade (doctor).(doctor).

ROMANIAROMANIAa country witha country with

picturesque monasteriespicturesque monasteriesandand

authentic customsauthentic customs

The Romanian Orthodoxe monasteries and churches pervade the entire Romania.

The most important painted monasteries that are part of the UNESCO World Heritage are Moldovita, Sucevita and Voronet from Bucovina and the most impressive ones, are, by far, the wooden churches from Maramures. Fresco with the unique blue of Voroneţ

Suceviţa

Moldoviţa

Barsana Monastery – Maramures

DDifferent moments of the year, the religious holidays – ifferent moments of the year, the religious holidays – Christmas and Easter – are celebrated with an Christmas and Easter – are celebrated with an extraordinary joy through festivals and parties. extraordinary joy through festivals and parties.

ChristmasCarols

Easter eggs

Romanianceramicsaucers

Perhaps nothing can better illustrate the spirit of a people than its ancient traditions and customs. The western traveller will be surprised to discover in Romania a place full of legends, myths and traditions kept throughout centuries.

Romanians gates and traditional rugs

The CThe CALUSHARIALUSHARI

represent the represent the

participants to the participants to the

dance of Calush, a dance of Calush, a

traditional Romanian traditional Romanian

dance, present from dance, present from

ancient times in ancient times in

Moldavia and Moldavia and

Transylvania, but Transylvania, but

which is still danced which is still danced

today only in today only in

Muntenia and Oltenia.Muntenia and Oltenia.

Romanians like to eat, and they eat a lot with a great diversity. Romanians like to eat, and they eat a lot with a great diversity. One of the most common meals is the One of the most common meals is the mămăligamămăliga, a cornmeal , a cornmeal mush that has become very appreciated in recent timesmush that has become very appreciated in recent times and and sarmalesarmale..

Wine is the main drink Wine is the main drink and has a tradition of and has a tradition of over two millennia. over two millennia.

Pork is the main meat used in Romanian cuisine, especially in winter periods.

One of the most representative places from Romania is the One of the most representative places from Romania is the Danube Delta, well known for its fauna and flora and for the Danube Delta, well known for its fauna and flora and for the fact that it’s the second largest river delta in Europe, after the fact that it’s the second largest river delta in Europe, after the Volga Delta, and it’s the best preserved on the continent.Volga Delta, and it’s the best preserved on the continent.

Amazing landscapes...

Danube Delta, a special turistical place

Sturgeon on the Danube near the Iron Gates

ROMANIA ROMANIA

a country of wonderful a country of wonderful placesplaces withwith

palaces, castles, palaces, castles, monuments of artmonuments of art

Bran Castle, Dracula’s Castle

Peles Castle, Sinaia, residence of the Romanian kings

Transylvania

SighişoaraSighişoara - - Medieval Festival

Bucureşti – Bucureşti – Palace of the Parliament, the second largest building in the world

Iaşi – Iaşi – Palace of CulturePalace of Culture

We can proudly say that We can proudly say that Romania is like Heaven on EarthRomania is like Heaven on Earth,,

and we hope you’ll get to and we hope you’ll get to know and visit as many wonderful know and visit as many wonderful places in our country as you can.places in our country as you can.

The Romanian public libraries are looking forward to offering you supplementary

information!