Living tradition · Romanian traditions
The bear at the turning of the year
Living tradition · winter performances in Moldova
The exhibit
Bear costumes, drums and energetic movement transform winter streets into a performance space at the turn of the year.
The bear enters with an entourage and a rhythm. In communities of Romania’s Moldova region, winter customs include costumed performers who dance and enact a changing sequence of scenes. Materials and arrangements vary locally: the National Heritage Institute records different forms of bear masks and costumes, showing how a recognizable figure can have many community versions.