1st December Romania National Day

Romania historical regions

On 1st December 1918, the Romanian historical regions of Transylvania, Banat, Crisana and Maramures, which were under Hungarian occupation, united with the rest of the country Romania which proclaimed its independence in 1878. The south-east Romanian historical region of Dobrogea had become again part of our country in 1878. While the north historical region of Bucovina was annex of Austria, and the region of Basarabia was annnex of Russia in 1812.

the end of the First World War ( 1914 – 1918 ); The conditions which favoured the accomplishment of the Great Union of Romania in 1918 were: the end of the First World War ( 1914 – 1918 ); the collapse of the Russian and Austro-Hungarian Empires; Peoples‘ self-determination;

The collapse of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire

The historical region of Basarabia united with Romania ( 27 March / 9 April 1918 ); On 22nd April 1918, king Ferdinand of Romania signed the Union Act of Basarabia with Romania, Basarabia was the first territory whose Romanian majority population decided to unite with the Old Kingdom of Romania;

The Metropolitan Palace, Cernauti The historical region of Bucovina united with Romania between 15 and 28 November 1918 and the Union Act was signed at Cernauti, at the Metropolitan Palace. The Union Act was then brought to Iasi, where the Romanian government and King Ferdinand‘s royal court were at that time. The Metropolitan Palace, Cernauti

The historical region of Transylvania united with Romania on 1st December 1918; The union process started on 18th November; The Austrian-Hungarian Empire was in crisis and the Romanian people from Transylvania and the rest of the country were so determined that they gathered at Alba Iulia, the place where on 1st November 1577 Mihai The Brave united the Romanian regions of that time; On Sunday, 1st December 1918, people all over the country gathered and sang ”Desteapta-te române”, our present national hymn; religious services took place in the two churches in Alba Iulia.

The delegation from Arad

The delegation from Bistriţa

The delegation from Braşov

The delegation from Bucureşti

The delegation from Sibiu

The Unification Act of Romania from Alba Iulia, 1st December 1918

From the Unification Act Full national freedom for all the people; Religious autonomy; Equal right to vote for both men and women over 21 years old; Freedom of press; Radical agrarian reform; The resolution ended with the words: ”We want an unique Romania for the Romanian people”

The Great National Meeting from Alba Iulia

The reading of the Union Act

On 27th December 1918, king Ferdinand I received the Union Act in the Throne Room from the Royal Palace. KING FERDINAND I

The sovereigns of the Great Romania

Today we celebrate our National Day with a great military parade under the Triumph Arch in Bucharest, our capital

The colours of the Romanian flag

On our National Day our students: Sing the national hymn; Watch presentations with the historical significance of the 1st December day; Watch historical films; Take part to artistic programs: songs, historical poems, plays, traditional dances; Draw and craft colages and badges; Present the traditional costumes; Take part to the military parade in the Revolution Square and lay wraths on monuments Visit the military unit in Botosani Dance the union hora (a traditional dance in circle with people hand in hand)