National Day in 2024

When is Great Union Day?

This public holiday is always celebrated on December 1st. In Romanian, it is known as 'Ziua Marii Uniri' and may also be known as Unification Day or 1918 Union Day.

It is the National day of Romania and celebrates the Union of Transylvania with Romania in 1918.

History of Great Union Day

Romania had declared its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1877, with the country comprised of the principalities of Moldova and Wallachia.

Following the end of World War I, during the reign of King Ferdinand I, Romania almost doubled in size when Transylvania and the provinces of Bessarabia and Bukovina unified with Romania.

The declaration of unification happened in Alba Iulia on December 1st 1918. The declaration was read by Vasile Goldis, a Romanian academician and politician, during a public event that was attended by over 100,000 Romanians.

During World War II, Romania lost Basarabia (present-day Moldova) and Bucovina in 1940, with both regions being annexed by the Soviet Republic.

Romania's national day has moved around a few times over the years. Before 1918, the national day was observed on May 10th which marked both Carol I's entrance into Romania in 1866 and his subsequent declaration of Independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1877. During the period of communist rule from 1944, the national day became August 23rd which marked the overthrow of the fascist government in 1944. Following the end of communist rule in 1990, December 1st was made the national day.

How is Great Union Day celebrated?

Great Union Day is marked by a large military parade in the capital, Bucharest. Speeches will be made in Bucharest and Alba Iulia, where the declaration of the union was first read out. Elsewhere, local events will remember the Romanians who lost their lives in World War I.

To commemorate the centenary of Great Union Day, 4807 people gathered to recreate the silhouette of Romania in Alba Iulia on September 29th 2018, making it the largest human image of a country/ continent ever as ratified by Guinness World Records.

A recent study has revealed that the National Day is not the Romanians' favourite national holiday. Most urban Romanians like January 1st - New Year's Day best (36%), while the National Day occupies the second position (30%). Women's Day is the favourite holiday of 13% of Romanians, and Children's Day of 12% of them.

The Flag of Romania

Romain's flag is a blue, yellow, and red tricolour flag. The flag’s colours can be traced back to the Ottoman principalities of Moldavia and Walachia that joined to form Romania in 1858. Both principalities flew flags derived from ancient banners–Moldavia’s flag was blue and featured an ox head, while Walachia’s was yellow with an eagle. Walachia also used a naval ensign that featured all three of the colours flown throughout the country today. The first version of the modern Romanian flag appeared in 1848 and the nation officially adopted the current design in 1989. 

La multi ani! Happy Great Union Day, Romania!