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New Year’s Bear Mask

TITLE: New Year’s Bear Mask
TYPE: hood mask
GENERAL REGION: Europe
COUNTRY: Romania
ETHNICITY: Romanian-Moldovan
DESCRIPTION: Urs (Bear) Mask
CATALOG ID: EURO001
MAKER: Unknown maker in Neamt
CEREMONY: New Year’s Eve Celebration
AGE: 1980s
MAIN MATERIAL: sheep leather and wool
OTHER MATERIALS: wood; metal hardware; metal crucifix; cotton cloth; cotton tassels

The urs, or bear dance, is performed in parts of rural Romania on New Year’s Eve, usually in the form of a group dance to the beat of drums and flutes. The dancers roar, chant or sing as they proceed through the village.  The ritual dates back to pre-Christian times and is intended to drive away winter spirits and purify the village. This mask was danced in Neamt for approximately 15 years.

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Romania 1969 – 55 bani

REGION: Europe
COUNTRY: Romania
YEAR PRINTED: 1969
VALUE: 55 bani

This stamp, issued by the Romanian government in 1969, is one of a set of four celebrating folk masquerading traditions with paintings of traditional masks. The mask depicted here probably represents an old man, or Batran, used in the winter festivals to drive away the cold weather.

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Romania 1969 – 50 bani

REGION: Europe
COUNTRY: Romania
YEAR PRINTED: 1969
VALUE: 50 bani

This stamp, issued by the Romanian government in 1969, is one of a set of four celebrating folk masquerading traditions with paintings of traditional masks.

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Romania 1969 – 1.75 leu

REGION: Europe
COUNTRY: Romania
YEAR PRINTED: 1969
VALUE: 1.75 leu

This stamp, issued by the Romanian government in 1969, is one of a set of four celebrating folk masquerading traditions with paintings of traditional masks. The mask depicted here seems to represent a cat and is of unknown use.

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Romania 1969 – 1.55 leu

REGION: Europe
COUNTRY: Romania
YEAR PRINTED: 1969
VALUE: 1.55 leu

This stamp, issued by the Romanian government in 1969, is one of a set of four celebrating folk masquerading traditions with paintings of traditional masks. The mask depicted here probably represents an old man, or Batran, used in the winter festivals to drive away the cold weather.

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Romania 1996 – 960 leu

REGION: Europe
COUNTRY: Romania
YEAR PRINTED: 1996
VALUE: 960 leu

This stamp, issued by the Romanian government in 1996, is one of a set of four celebrating folk masquerading traditions. The mask depicted on this stamp is used in winter festivals in Moldova, technically a separate country to the east of Romania but sharing a common heritage, ethnicity, and language.

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Romania 1996 – 1650 leu

REGION: Europe
COUNTRY: Romania
YEAR PRINTED: 1996
VALUE: 1650 leu

This stamp, issued by the Romanian government in 1996, is one of a set of four celebrating folk masquerading traditions. The mask depicted on this stamp is used in winter festivals in Moldova, technically a separate country to the east of Romania but sharing a common heritage, ethnicity, and language.

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Romania 1996 – 500 leu

REGION: Europe
COUNTRY: Romania
YEAR PRINTED: 1996
VALUE: 500 leu

This stamp, issued by the Romanian government in 1996, is one of a set of four celebrating folk masquerading traditions. The mask depicted on this stamp is used in winter festivals in Moldova, technically a separate country to the east of Romania but sharing a common heritage, ethnicity, and language.

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Romania 1996 – 250 leu

REGION: Europe
COUNTRY: Romania
YEAR PRINTED: 1996
VALUE: 250 leu

This stamp, issued by the Romanian government in 1996, is one of a set of four celebrating folk masquerading traditions. The mask depicted on this stamp is used in winter festivals in Maramures, a town on the northern border of Romania.

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Capra Bătrânul Mask

TITLE: Capra Bătrânul Mask
TYPE: hood mask
GENERAL REGION: Europe
COUNTRY: Romania
ETHNICITY: Romanian-Moldovan
DESCRIPTION: Bătrânul (Old Man) Mask
CATALOG ID: EURO004
MAKER: Unknown
CEREMONY: Capra (Goat Dance)
AGE: 1980s
MAIN MATERIAL: wool
OTHER MATERIALS: dyed cotton cloth; goat leather and hair; cotton batting; dyed cotton tassels; stitching; plastic buttons

The capra, or goat dance, is performed in parts of rural Romania on New Year’s Eve as part of a caroling tradition. In pre-Christian times, the ritual was probably intended to drive away winter spirits and purify the village. In the dance, masqueraders in bătrânul (old man) masks and costumes and large bells dance to the music of traditional pipes with either a living goat or a masquerader dressed as one.

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