Culture & Traditions

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

Located at the historical crossroads of three Romanian provinces—Muntenia, Transylvania, and Moldavia—Buzău stands out as a distinct cultural space whose local traditions have been shaped by diverse ethnographic and historical influences. Traditional folk attire, holiday customs, ancestral songs, and age-old crafts are just some of the elements defining the cultural identity of Buzău. In addition, numerous prominent figures—writers, artists, scientists—have left their mark on the region’s cultural heritage, turning the county into a genuine center of spirituality and creativity.

TRADITIONAL COSTUME AND FOLK CUSTOMS

Traditional Costume
Buzău’s traditional attire, from a typological standpoint, belongs to the Carpathian area, with origins that can be traced back to the clothing of the Dacian people. It has remained largely intact, especially in the mountain villages (Gura Teghii, Chiojdu, Cătina, Calvini) and along the Râmnic Valley (Podgoria, Pardoși, Puiești). Key distinctive elements include:

  • Blouses with “altiță” (intricate embroidery at the shoulders), featuring geometric or floral patterns;
  • The “fota” or “catrința” (for women) and “cioareci” (for men), woven wool garments adorned with local motifs;
  • Traditional footwear such as “opinci” (leather peasant shoes) and leather boots.

Today, the folk costume is typically worn at major holidays and folklore festivals and can also be admired in ethnographic museum collections (e.g., Casa Vergu-Mănăilă in Buzău).

Photo: Casa Vergu Mănăilă – CJ-Buzău

 

Folklore and Customs
Buzău is renowned for its ancient songs, preserved in forms close to the originals—poetically described by Alecu Russo as the “archive of these lands.” In both mountain and lowland villages, you will still find:

  • Christmas caroling by groups of children and young people carrying a star, ringing bells, and wearing festive costumes;
  • New Year’s Eve games (e.g., “Baba și Uncheașul” in Mânzălești), meant to ward off bad luck and bring prosperity;
  • Traditional dances and “doine” (lyrical folk songs)—the local folklore repertoire being passed down through generations by folk performers and artistic communities.

Another unique experience is Drăgaica, an ancient traditional fair mentioned in historical records, combining commercial aspects with region-specific folklore.

Traditional Arts and Crafts

  • Popular Crafts
    In the Chiojdu area, artisans produce carved wooden objects and pottery, while at Colți (AlunisArt), the pottery tradition continues. Additionally, in Lopătari, local craftspeople make musical instruments (flutes, bagpipes) using age-old methods passed down from generation to generation.
  • Textile Arts
    Hand embroidery and carpet weaving are commonly practiced in Muntenia and Moldavia; however, in Buzău, one can see distinctive Dacian-inspired motifs on folk costumes.
  • Traditional Painting Styles
    Icon painting on glass and religious mural art persist today through the painting school at the Bishopric of Buzău, following the classical examples of Gheorghe Tattarescu and Nicolae Teodorescu.

Folklore and Stories

  • Legends and Myths
    The Buzău region abounds in legends about outlaws and hidden treasures. Among the most famous is the legend of the outlaw Gheorghe Doja, as well as tales of curses from Bozioru.
  • Folk Tales
    Some of the oldest narratives passed down orally revolve around Prince Vintilă Vodă and his fortress; these stories still resonate in mountain villages today.
  • Oral Traditions
    Christmas carols and New Year’s wishes (urăturile), still faithfully preserved, serve as a form of passing on local history and ancestral beliefs.
  • Epics and Ballads
    Outlaws and their heroic deeds feature in ballads and epic songs, performed mainly in the mountain villages.

Music and Dance

  • Folk Music
    Doine, songs of longing, and traditional Buzău ballads are often performed with flute and cobza accompaniment, instruments beloved in this area.
  • Traditional Instruments
    The bagpipe, bucium (alphorn), flute, and caval are handmade, typically using plum or elder wood. Many of these instrument-making workshops are found in mountain villages.
  • Ritual Dances
    “Călușarii” dancing, various festival dances held at outdoor celebrations, and the village hora remain vibrant elements of Buzău’s choreographic identity.

Festivals and Celebrations

  • Seasonal Festivals
    The Drăgaica Fair in Buzău, one of the oldest summer fairs in the country, attracts both locals and visitors.
  • Religious Holidays
    Easter customs, such as egg painting, and Christmas caroling bring rural communities together around the churches. On St. Andrew’s Day, the tradition of warding off evil spirits is still observed.
  • Local Fairs and Carnivals
    Besides traditional-style festivals, Buzău also hosts more modern events, such as the Top T rock festival (one of the country’s longest-running) and the “Săptămâna Teatrului Tânăr” (“Young Theatre Week”) festival.

Culinary Traditions

  • Regional Cuisines
    Pleșcoi sausages, mutton pastrami, and the local “brânză de burduf” cheese from the mountain areas are famous nationwide.
  • Traditional Recipes
    Lovage soup, vine leaf rolls (sarmale), and pumpkin pie are especially common during holidays and in the cold season.
  • Food Preservation Methods
    Among the oldest methods, one can find brining using natural salt from Mânzălești and traditional smoking techniques, adding a distinctive flavor to Buzău’s foods.
  • Festive Dishes
    Cozonac (sweet bread), ceremonial loaves, and aspic (piftie) are holiday favorites, gracing the tables at Christmas and Easter.
  • Traditional Beverages
    Plum brandy (“țuica”) and wines from the vineyards on Dealul Istrița are the pride of the county, while elderflower cordial (socată) is a refreshing summer beverage.
    Further details are available in the “slow food” section.

Clothing and Costumes (Bisoca Heritage)

  • Traditional Attire
    Buzău’s folk costume stands out through blouses embroidered by hand and woven catrințe, worn mainly during festivals and celebrations.
  • Regional Textiles
    Wool and linen fabrics with floral and geometric patterns can be found in embroideries made by the area’s popular artisans.
  • Ceremonial Clothing
    During traditional weddings and folk dances, the festive garments are richly decorated, illustrating participants’ social status and local customs.
  • Accessories and Jewelry
    Metal belt buckles (paftale), glass beads, and zgărdane necklaces complete the traditional Buzău attire, especially in rural communities.

Architecture and Heritage Sites

  • Traditional Building Styles
    In the mountain areas, wooden houses with porches and shingle roofs remain typical, standing the test of time.
  • Sacred Architecture
    Wooden churches, such as the one in Poiana Mărului, and Ciolanu Monastery are key landmarks in the region’s spiritual life.

 

  • Photo: Manastirea Poiana Marului – Radu Iftinoiu

 

  • Historical Landmarks
    Among the most valuable are the archaeological sites in the Buzău Mountains and the rock-cut settlements, bearing traces of ancient monastic dwellings.
  • Urban Design Traditions
    In Buzău and its surroundings, you can admire historic buildings with Brâncovenesc influences, as well as the “House with Coats of Arms” in Chiojdu, an example of local 18th–19th-century architecture.

 

Photo: Casa cu Blazoane – Uniunea Arhitectilor

Religious and Spiritual Practices

  • Rituals and Ceremonies
    Epiphany processions (Bobotează) and the painting of Easter eggs reflect the community’s profound connection to the Orthodox religious calendar.
  • Sacred Symbols and Artifacts
    Wooden and glass icons, stone crosses, and antimíns (liturgical cloths) constitute part of Buzău’s rich spiritual heritage.
  • Pilgrimages and Spiritual Journeys
    Ciolanu Monastery and the rock-hewn churches at Nucu attract many pilgrims and tourists, drawn both by their religious significance and their unique architecture.
  • Traditional Belief Systems
    On St. Andrew’s Day, certain customs for driving away evil spirits persist in some villages, while beliefs in ghosts (strigoi) and spells remain alive in many oral stories.

CULTURAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND REMARKABLE PERSONALITIES

Publications, Literature, and the Arts

  • Mitrofan and the printing house at the Bishopric of Buzău (1691), under the patronage of Constantin Brâncoveanu, which produced the first Romanian-language religious books.
  • Vasile Cârlova (1819–1831), the first major poet from Buzău, considered an early pioneer of Romanian Romanticism.
  • Vasile Voiculescu (1884–1963), a physician and writer born in the Buzău area, known for his Shakespeare-inspired sonnets and fantastic short stories; he initially studied in Buzău.
  • Ion Luca Caragiale briefly lived in Buzău (1894–1895), running a restaurant near the train station; his memory lingers in local lore.
  • George Ciprian, a playwright from Buzău, is now the spiritual patron of the “George Ciprian” Theatre (inaugurated in 1996).
  • Mihaela Runceanu and Laurențiu Cazan stand out in Buzău’s modern music scene.

Visual Artists and Musicians

  • Gheorghe Tattarescu (an icon painter trained in Buzău), nephew of Nicolae Teodorescu.
  • Ion Andreescu served as a teacher in the city (1872–1878) and was part of the pantheon of great Romanian painters.
  • Nicolae Leonard, nicknamed the “prince of Romanian operetta,” spent his childhood in Buzău before becoming famous nationwide.

Scientists

  • George Emil Palade (born 1912), Nobel Prize laureate in Physiology or Medicine, was a graduate of the “B.P. Hasdeu” High School in Buzău.
  • Other notable figures include academics and scientists with origins in Buzău (Radu Vlădescu, Traian Săvulescu, among others).

CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS: MUSEUMS, THEATERS, LIBRARIES

Museums and Museum Collections

Theater and Events

  • “George Ciprian” Theatre (Buzău): opened in 1996, it hosts festivals (e.g., “Gala noilor generații – Capul de Regizor”) and plays focusing on emerging talent.
  • Local Music Tradition stands out through the Top T rock festival (dating back to 1983, albeit with interruptions), which persevered even during the communist era to promote Romanian rock bands.

Libraries
Buzău County boasts over 200 libraries (county, municipal/town, communal, school, and specialized). The most significant public library in the city continues the tradition of the old “Carol I” Public Library (1893), while noteworthy documentary collections also exist in high schools such as “B.P. Hasdeu.”

HOLIDAYS, GASTRONOMY, AND LOCAL STORIES

Traditional Holidays

  • Christmas and New Year’s: caroling, traditional New Year’s games, and customs (e.g., Drăgaica) create a festive atmosphere in both rural and urban areas.
  • Easter: egg-painting, special food (cozonac and lamb dishes), and religious services define this solemn yet joyful holiday.

Local Foods and Delicacies

  • Pleșcoi sausages and plum brandy (țuica de prune) are nationally renowned products intimately linked with Buzău County.
  • Pickled vegetables, cheeses, and floral jams (acacia, elderflower) round out the region’s culinary repertoire.
  • In some villages, ancient recipes have survived, such as pickled green plums and desserts featuring wild berries.

Stories and Legends
This area teems with legends of outlaws, boyars (landowners), hidden treasures, and medieval fortresses. Local storytellers (often called “povestitori”) recount tales of Tatar invasions, battles with the Turks, or hidden mountain hermitages. Visitors intrigued by oral traditions will find a rich trove of myths and firsthand accounts still passed down by word of mouth.