"A PIECE OF EUROPEAN TREASURE": The Legend of Romanian Tricolour

Short Romania's History

Romanians have lived for 2 mileniums in 3 diferent lands/countries, but they were unified through the ortodox faith, which has created an unique language and also an unitary tradition, and after all an unitary state.

The 3 Historical Romanian Provinces: Transilvania, Moldova and Wallachia

The Great Union of Michael the Brave 1600

The Great Union Of Moldavia and Valachia Alexandru Ioan Cuza – 1859, January 24th

December 1st - Romanias National Day

Romania, nowadays

Saint Andrew – The Patron of Romanians

St. Andrew

On November 30th Romanians celebrate Saint Andrew (Andrei) – who is considered the protector of Romania. Saint Andrew is known as the one who Christianized our ancestors. In the evening of St. Andrew’s Day all the family members put some grain seeds to germinate.

St. Andrew's green grains

The plants which grow the most beautiful and tall it is said will give its owner a good and a healthy year. The Day of November 30th is also know as the Wolf’s Day. Wolves gain more power, and people should protect their animals and homes with garlic. The night of November 30th is a special night. The witches pick the magic plants for their future spells.

The legend of Romanian Flag

Liberty = sky blue
Justice = field yellow
Fraternity = blood red

1. Merger Legend

After 1860, a legend arose stating that the national tricolor had been formed by merging the colours of the Moldavian and Wallachian flags, probably out of a desire to reconcile all parties to the fact that the Wallachian revolutionary flag of 1848 had been chosen for all of Romania.

This legend was also convenient with respect to the colours attributed to the two principalities’ flags at the time (red and blue for Moldavia and blue and yellow for Wallachia).

Constantin Lecca - Moldavians and Muntenians become brothers

Another painting of Lecca shows the assassination of Michael the Brave in 1601. Also depicted is the united standard of the three provinces, with yellow on top (Wallachia), red in the middle (Moldavia) and blue below (Transylvania).

2. The Story of Romanian Tricolour

In 1821, when the revolutionary leader Tudor Vladimirescu called all the brave warriors to fight for freedom, a man, named Dragomir joined them.

Tudor Vladimirescu

He had 3 daughters, who gave him 3 handkerchiefs: one yellow, one blue and one white. The white one was from the younger daughter, and Dragomir kept this one close to his heart. One day, Dragomir was severely injured in the battle. The white handkerchief became red because of his blood. He died, and his colleagues found his 3 handkerchiefs: one red, one yellow, and one blue. Those brave warriors took the 3 handkerchiefs and put them like a flag on a stick - in the honour of Dragomir. They fought for the Independence and for the Union of Romanians under the three colours of the flag - which became the Romanian National Flag.