The International Roma Day was marked on April 8 in Chisinau with a parade that started in the Great National Assembly Square. Romany people dressed in national costumes marched and rode horses to the rhythms of music played by fiddlers, Info-Prim Neo reports. “It is a holiday of the Roma. It is our national day and we are proud to celebrate it. This day is dedicated to dance, music and joy,” said Rada, a young woman taking part in the parade. “The Roma can be identified by three criteria – the language, traditions and the costumes. Throughout the day we sing songs, dance and enjoy ourselves. This is the most important holiday of the Romany people,” said Valeriu Caldararu, head of the Association “Opre a Ceacimos” (“The Roma’s Rights”), and a member of the Roma’s Voice Coalition. From Chisinau’s central square, the column headed for the Interethnic Relations Bureau, where there will be held activities dedicated to the International Roma Day. The International Roma Day has been celebrated in Moldova for 20 years.