Regional/Cultural Day
Ziua Unirii
This day commemorates the 1859 union of Moldova and Wallachia under Alexandru Ioan Cuza, which created modern Romania. In Moldova, the day has gained significance as a symbol of the shared Romanian identity between the two states. The blue-yellow-red Romanian flag is displayed alongside the Moldovan flag, and cultural events celebrate the shared language and history. The day is observed with readings of Mihai Eminescu's poetry, concerts of Romanian folk music, and lectures on the history of the union. It is a day of identity, and the question of what it means to be Moldovan is debated with passion.