romania revealed

A multiethnic democracy?

Around 100 Csango people, members of a Hungarian ethnographic group living mostly in Moldavia, Romania, swore their oaths of allegiance to become Hungarian citizens in the Buda castle on Tuesday, as part of the celebrations commemorating the 163rd anniversary of the 1848-49 revolution and war of independence from Habsburg rule.

First district Mayor Tamas Gabor Nagy, of the ruling Fidesz-Christian Democratic alliance, said this was a historic moment for the Csango Hungarians. By taking up Hungarian citizenship, their century-long exclusion comes to an end, he added.

After the nearly 100 Csango people took their oaths, a Csango cultural festival started in the castle quarter.

[Source.]

Small renderings old and new about the latest Romanianisms.

An old Cyrillic inscription displays reverence for Basarb dynasty ruling in Wallachia.

A little essay on the Cioran Centennial (I'll reserve a post for this next week).

In 2008, the first foreign language edition of the New York Times Book Review was launched in Romania. Of course, Americans who did not know about Romania's vibrant literary scene were surprised. In a condescending way. I wonder how effectively the Review is competing with the amazing Cultural Observer, which I would like to see on the newsstands in the USA. 

The decline in Romanian billionaires.

Why didn't we hear more about Romania winning the 2010 World Cup in handball? Is ping pong next on the table?

Questions over property rights in the Danube Delta.

[Photo credit goes to abejorro's flickerstream for depicting the Czech village of Svata Helena in Romania.]