The Romanian calendar is the Gregorian, adopted in 1919. However, the traditional Romanian calendar has its own names for the months. In modern Romania and Moldova, the Gregorian calendar exclusively used for business and government transactions and predominates in popular use as well. Nevertheless, the traditional names of the months do appear in some contexts, for instance on ecclesiastical calendars produced by the Romanian Orthodox Church.
History
Romania adopted the Gregorian calendar on 1 April 1919, which became 14 April 1919. In 2019, the National Bank of Romania released a commemorative coin of 10 silver lei to celebrate the centenary of Romania’s adoption of the calendar.
Traditional month names
All the traditional names of the months are of Latin origin, which indicates that their use predates the Slavic contact around the 8th century. Six months have their names derived from characteristics of the months. Five are derived from the Latin names now used in the Gregorian calendar (and earlier in the Julian calendar). However, each of these has a folk etymology and an additional meaning. The last month, December, derives its name from that of Saint Andrew.
| Month | usual Romanian name | traditional Romanian name | derivation of traditional Romanian name |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | ianuarie | gerar | derived from januarius, folk etymology connects it to ger – “bitter cold”; as winter reaches its depth during this month. |
| February | februarie | făurar | derived from februarius; folk etymology connects it with a făuri – “to create”; hence, făurar could also mean “ironsmith”, who shapes objects to be used in spring, and “creator”, referring to the cold that generates new shapes |
| March | martie | mărțișor | mărțișor – derived from martius, with diminutive -ișor, hence “little March” |
| April | aprilie | prier | derived from aprilis; folk etymology connects it with a prii – “to have a good omen”, because it was considered a good month to continue agricultural works begun in March, and for flocks of sheep to form |
| May | mai | florar | floare – “flower”; a month of abundant vegetation. Compare with Floréal in the French Republican Calendar. |
| June | iunie | cireșar | cireș – “cherry tree”, whose fruit ripens now |
| July | iulie | cuptor | cuptor – “oven”; often the hottest month, and also when wheat is ready for harvest |
| August | august | gustar | derived from augustus; folk etymology connects it with a gusta – “to taste”, as fruit now starts to become ready for picking |
| September | septembrie | răpciune1; viniceriu2 | 1weather-related, referring to the incipient cold; 2vin – “wine”, as September is the wine-producing month. Compare with Vendémiaire in the French Republican Calendar. |
| October | octombrie | brumărel | brumă – “hoarfrost”; brumărel means “little hoarfrost”, as this is just beginning to appear in October |
| November | noiembrie | brumar | brumă – “hoarfrost”, in full swing this month; cf. French Republican Calendar month Brumaire |
| December | decembrie | undrea | from Îndrea (< Andreas); Saint Andrew’s feast day, November 30, ushers in this month |