On October 31 each year, Halloween is a celebrated occasion in some parts of Romania, including the region of Transylvania. It is a time when special Halloween-themed tours and shows are popular.
Is Halloween a Public Holiday?
Halloween is not a public holiday. Businesses have normal opening hours.
What Do People Do?
Over the years, countless numbers of fearless tourists travel to Transylvania to celebrate Halloween with costume parties, story-telling, and actors playing out Dracula inspired scenes. While some Romanians observe Halloween on October 31, St Andrew’s Night (November 30) is when the garlic is brought out as a form of protection against ghosts – a traditional superstitious act of fun that is still practiced today.
Public Life
Halloween is an observance and not a public holiday in Romania.
Background
Halloween is a special occasion in places like the Gothic fairy-tale castle Bran, near Brasov in Transylvania. Bran is often associated with 15th century Prince Vlad Tepes (1431–1476), the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula. It is difficult to know if the prince ruled over Bran Castle but it can be asserted that he was taken to Bran Castle and locked inside for about two months.
Symbols
Costume parties that are held during Halloween often feature outfits – including ghosts and vampires like the fabled Dracula – to represent the scary superstitions and beliefs that have spooked many people over time.
While we diligently research and update our holiday dates, some of the information in the table above may be preliminary. If you find an error, please let us know.