Moldova history
The country of Moldova has an extraordinary and fascinating national history. The land that now comprises Moldova has been the property of Russia, the Ottoman Empire, and Romanian powers. While Moldova is currently an independent state, the story of its independence and cultural heritage dates back thousands of years. Moldova’s journey to being a sovereign state was indeed long, but with the turn of the 19th century, as the Russian Empire controlled the territory, independence seemed like an impossible idea.
19th century
The lands of Bessarabia, what is now Moldova, were annexed to the Russian Empire after the Russo-Turkish War in 1812. Bessarabia (Russian Moldova) was governed by tsar appointed officials as well as officials elected by regional nobility for the first half of the 19th century. In 1859, the Moldavian Principality and the Wallachia Principality united together to form the Romanian United Principalities, a vassal state to the Ottoman Empire.
After the second Russo-Turkish War in 1877 and 1878, the Principalities became a protectorate of the Russian Empire. Public education was asserted in Russian and Romanian due to the Russian archbishops and the church being the primary caretakers of the educational system. Russian authorities allowed for several groups to colonize within the Bessarabian area. German, Polish and Jewish people settled within the area.
Quick fact!
The name Moldova, which was founded in 1359, comes from the Moldova River.
1905 – 1945
The Principalities remained under Russian control until the Russian Revolution of 1905. The chaos of the Russian Revolution allowed for a Council of elected officials in Bessarabia to announce the formation of the Moldavian Democratic Republic in 1917. Romanian troops assisted Moldova in maintaining the peace as deserters from the Russian Army had entered the territory.
As World War I raged throughout Europe, a union was being formed between the Romanians and Moldova. Although the union was recognized by France, Britain and Italy, the Russian government stated that they had claimed the area as the Bessarabian Soviet Socialist Republic. The territory remained under Romanian control for the next twenty-two years, while the Russian government considered the area to be Soviet land occupied by foreign forces.
In 1924 the Soviet Union declared the region to be the Moldovan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic , which was later changed to the Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic in 1940. Moldova was invaded by Romanian Axis forces in 1941. The Red Army finally captured the land of Moldova back in 1944, after several years of oppression and death.
Quick fact!
Moldova has a long history of winemaking, going back 5,000 years, with many families using their own recipes and strands of grapes.
1946 – present
Moldova continued to operate under Soviet rule until 1991. This period included many riots, protests, and uprisings against the Supreme Soviet (Moldova’s parliament) as well as against Soviet control and oppressions. Years of infighting within the country and imposed states of emergency finally led to the declaration of independence in August of 1991 after the fall of the Soviet Union. The newly formed Republic of Moldova was officially recognized by the United Nations in 1992.
The economic situation in Moldova was extremely harsh between 1992 and 2001, with the majority of the population living below the poverty line. The economic turn around of 2001 has allowed for Moldova’s economy to see brighter days. However the people of Moldova are still struggling with the corruptions and failings of the government. Protests and riots are sadly still very common against the Moldovan government, however the people remain hopeful that the corruption will soon end.
Moldovan language and culture
Culture of Moldova
The Republic of Moldova is a small Eastern European country located in the north-east of Romania and bordered by Ukraine in the north, east and south. It became an independent state following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 and adopted a new constitution three years later.
Music
As Moldova used to be part of Romania until 1940, both countries’ culture and music have a similar background, especially in folk music. Even though the Soviet Union altered the lyrics of ancient ballads to discourage people from appreciating Moldovans’ and Romanians’ shared history, some of these ballads are still important to Moldova’s folk culture.
Festivals and traditions
If you’re traveling to Moldova in October, you simply have to attend the Wine Day in Chișinău. Keep in mind that Moldova is the home of some of the best wines in the entire world – you may want to treat yourself with a few glasses, and maybe grab a bottle or two as a souvenir.
The spring festival (Mărțișor) hosts a variety of music events, with artists from all over the globe to suit everyone’s taste in music. It takes place during the first ten days of March, totaling over 40 concerts. The Victory Day, held on May 9th, celebrates the victory of the Soviet Union against Germany in the Second World War.
Cuisine
Moldova’s fertile soil and agriculture encourage the harvesting of clean, organic foods, subsequently used in the preparation of national dishes and traditional foods. The Moldovan cuisine is influenced by a variety of foreign elements – Russian, Ukrainian, Turkish, Greek and Uzbekistani.
There are many restaurants in the capital that serve incredibly delicious foods, especially national dishes (mămăligă – a sort of cornmeal porridge that accompanies stews; sarma – cabbage rolls stuffed with meat; ciorbă – chicken soup with meat; brined cheese and mutton stew).
Languages of Moldova
The official language of Moldova is Romanian and the national language is Moldovan. Romanian and Moldovan are considered to be almost identical by most linguists.
Due to having a significant Russian and Ukrainian population, their respective languages are widely spoken in Moldova.
Basic Moldovan (Romanian) words and phrases
Hello – Salut
Goodbye - La revedere
Please – Vă rog
Thank you – Mulţumesc
Yes – Da
No – Nu
My name is… – Numele meu e…
I don’t speak Romanian – Nu vorbesc româneşte
Moldova weather
Warm summers and mild(ish) winters are characteristic of Moldova’s ‘Moderate Continental Climate’. This picturesque eastern European country is located close to the Black Sea which influences its weather to some degree. Each season is distinct and has something to offer visitors, though most tourists relish the hot days Moldova experiences during summer.
Spring in Moldova
Spring is a good time to visit Moldova, for the pleasant weather and emergence of fruit, flowers and wildlife. The country becomes a bustling hive of activity and it’s a great place for outdoor activities. Along with sunny skies, expect hardly any rain and average highs of 12°C to 22°C from April to May. Bring a mix of lightweight and medium weight clothing for warm days and cooler evenings.
Summer in Moldova
The peak tourist season in Moldova is during the summer months, when temperatures are in the mid 20s°C; July is the hottest month. Heatwaves can occur on occasion; 41.5°C is the highest temperature ever recorded in Moldova! Generally the weather is comfortably warm so pack appropriate clothing. Heavy showers can also punctuate this time of year so some form of rain protection is needed.
Autumn in Moldova
If you’re travelling in the shoulder season, blazing autumn colour will be the reward for your efforts – along with jazz and wine festivals. The weather is still mostly good with average highs of 20°C in September and 15°C in October. October is the driest month of the year, another good reason for autumn travel. Warm clothing for the evening is advisable.
Winter in Moldova
You’ll feel when winter starts closing in. Blasts of chilly air from Siberia mark the start of the colder months, with a plunge towards the single digits in December. The lowest temperature ever recorded in Moldova was −35.5°C but this is very rare. Generally temperatures hover around sub-zero until the end of February. Thermals and heavyweight clothing are recommended.
Average temperatures in Chisinau and Balti
Average rainfall in Chisinau and Balti
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