Wednesday, January 24, 2024

January 24’24: Union of the Romanian Principalities

 An old page of Romanian history: The Little Union of the Romanian Principalities
January 24, 1859 – January 24, 2024. 165 years ago, the Union of the Romanian Principalities (also known as: “The Little Union of the Romanian Principalities”, or “The Little Union Day”, or “The Day of The Unification of the Romanian Principalities”) took place, under the leadership of Alexandru Ioan Cuza.
To honor this significant page of Romanian history, each year, on January 24th, in Bucharest (the capital city of Romania) and in most of the big cities of the country, many military parades and ceremonies are organized by the officials, festive wreaths are deposited at the monuments of the national heroes, and lots of people unite in the traditional dance, called “Unity Hora” (Romanian: “Hora Unirii”).
For many Romanians around the world, this is also a day of national pride, when most of them recall and honor the significance of their ethnic roots.
On January 24’24: To all our Romanian friends, near & far, from our hearts to yours: HAPPY UNIFICATION DAY!
La mulți ani tuturor românilor de pretutindeni cu ocazia Zilei Unirii Principatelor Române!
24 ianuarie 1859 este data la care a avut loc Unirea Țării Românești cu Moldova sub conducerea lui Alexandru Ioan Cuza
„În fiecare an, la 24 ianuarie, România aniversează un moment crucial al istoriei naționale – Unirea Principatelor Române, act ce a marcat decisiv procesul de unificare națională și modernizare a societății românești, posibil prin voința neabătută și solidaritatea la nivel național, în ciuda contextului politic complex de la acel moment, mai ales la nivel internațional.
Unirea Moldovei cu Muntenia şi revendicarea libertăţii şi egalităţii în drepturi a naţiunii române din Transilvania şi Banat, obiective formulate de revoluţionarii de la 1848, au reprezentat programul politic esenţial al românilor din a doua jumătate a secolului al XIX-lea.”
● As a quick refresher, for your reference, here is a concise historic briefing:
January 24th, also known as the Little Unification (Romanian: "Mica Unire") celebrates the political union of these 2 principalities, which is considered the foundation of modern Romania. The United Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia, also known as "The Romanian United Principalities", was the official name of the Romania following the 1859 election of Alexandru Ioan Cuza as the ruling prince (Romania: "domnitor") of both territories.
Years later, on December 1st, 1918, the Great Union happened (Romanian: "Marea Unire"), when the 3 Romanian Principalities (Wallachia, Moldavia & Transylvania) became one country, one voice, called "Romania", and December 1st became Romania's National Day.
● Several highlights featuring this historic moment:
      Revisiting few historic songs, in different interpretations:Unity Hora” (Romanian: “Hora Unirii”, interpretată de Maria TănaseIon Roată către Divan” 
      A brief documentary in Romanian language “Unirea Principatelor Române - citate” 
      A brief documentary, in English language Historical Talk: The Unification of the Romanian Principalities and its International Dimension
● A short video clip I’ve put together a while ago for this occasion: January 24
● My previous greetings on the same theme: The LITTLE UNION Day – 202320222021
NOTEDear readers, please be advised that on this website each of the previous postings, pertaining to the recurrent annual themes, portray a different perspective of the subject/s presented (same theme/s, but a different outlook without duplication due to the cultural richness of the specific topic/s discussed)