Between February 24 and March 1st, 2011, in the Central Market from Piatra Neamt will take place a Traditional Food Products and Martisor Fair. The celebration of martisor is an old Romanian tradition that lasts for more than 2000 years.
Although there are many stories that talk about the significance of martisor, this messenger of spring, made from two strings – one white and one red – is usually worn at the beginning of spring for health, good luck and protection. That is why, every year, at the beginning of March, …

Each year on February 24, we celebrate our own traditional holiday dedicated to love: Dragobete. The Orthodox Church celebrates in this day The Finding of St Joan’s Head, a religious holiday also known as “spring head” in our tradition.
Dragobete first appears at our ancestors: Daci. In their beliefs, Dragobete was a matchmaker and a godfather for the animals. Romanians carried on this tradition and transformed this myth in a love story: those that meet in this day will be loved all year long.
Dragobete was the son of Dochia and was …

Neamt County is guarded by tall mountains with strong pine trees. The smooth hills are surrounding Roman and pointy mountains are placed around Piatra Neamt. It seems that everything that nature has to offer is here: the mountains, the rapid flowing creeks, the smooth surface of lakes and the beauty of the hills.
Bicaz town, located along River Bistrita valley, and Targu Neamt town, where you can visit the medieval fortress of ruler Stephen the Great, have plenty of stories to tell about the history, culture and beauty of these places.
Over …

The traditional mask-dances from the night of New Year’s Eve represent the celebration of “all madness” in the night when a “new order is installed and when life is reborn”. For centuries traditions like “Capra” (The Goat), “Ursul” (The Bear) or “Calutii” (The Small Horses) are highly appreciated by people that witness these dances. Around these “animals” there are bands that wear masks representing humans in all their diversity. You’ll see masks representing elders, old ugly women, devils, goats and so on. These characters are called either “Uratii”, which means …

In the last day of every year, traditions and customs from Neamt County are an eco over time of our primordial traditions and customs. Here are two traditions that are still alive and that take place in the day before the new year.
“Plugusorul”  (The Little Plow) (performed on December 31)
The tradition of “Plugusor” continues in Neamt County under different forms, depending of the ethnographic area. Although there are different names for this custom, like “Plugusor” (Little Plow), “Urat”, “Uratura de Sfantul Vasile” (St Vasile Wishing), “Buhai” (The Bull – because …

Neamt County is a mountain area where Christmas traditions are transmitted from one generation to another. Although the lifestyle from present days creates contradictions even in the most remote villages, traditions and customs are kept alive, especially those referring to winter season. Christmas and New Year’s Eve traditions represent a true touristic attraction that tourists can experiment at one of the traditional pensions from Neamt.
The traditional houses from this area have a tall roof and a covered porch and are full of warm and hospitality. These traditional houses, decorated with …