Independence Day in Moldova
On August 27th each year, Moldova celebrates its independence from the Soviet Union. This holiday, known appropriately as Moldovan Independence Day, is a public holiday that’s referred to as “Ziua Independenței” in Romanian and celebrates the day in 1991 when it declared its independence from the Soviet Union.
Moldova (National holiday)This is a holiday that’s celebrated with much enthusiasm and with a variety of different activities all across the country. Activities include parades, concerts, food, and of course, fireworks. It’s also a day off for the general population and a day on which non-essential government offices, schools, and businesses are closed.
The History of Independence Day in Moldova
The history of Moldova goes back centuries, so it’s impossible for us to start at the very beginning of its history and still keep this holiday manageable, so we’ll start with the country becoming a principality in 1359. This is when Bogdan took control of it from the Hungarians. It would then come under the control of the Ottoman Empire as a vassal state in the 16th century.
When the Russo-Turkish War ended and the Treaty of Bucharest was agreed upon in 1812, the eastern half of Moldova was ceded to the Russian Empire. The region was named Bessarabia. After WWI, the Russian Empire collapsed and this country would then unite with Romania.
When Romania was carved up between Stalin’s USSR and Hitler’s Germany, the country was then ceded to the Soviet Union. It remained a part of the USSR up until and through the 1980s as a movement for independence began to form. After a Soviet coup attempted to remove President Gorbachev but failed, Moldova declared its independence as a sovereign state on August 27, 1991.
Observing Independence Day in Moldova
This holiday is observed with open-air concerts, parades, and plenty of fun activities. The president of Moldova also addresses the country, as do many other politicians and civic leaders. And of course, there’s plenty of food and fireworks for the public to enjoy on this momentous day.
Moldova (National holiday)
