The Moldovans who settled in the United States lost a part of the Moldovan New Year’s Eve traditions, but the traditional food is not absent from the holiday table. Many of them meet with friends and amuse themselves until morning. Lucia Dreglea, who has lived in the U.S. for two years, related to IPN how the New Year is met there.

“Most of the Moldovans in the U.S. whom I know celebrate New Year’s Eve as they did it in Moldova. Though many of the traditions are no longer observed here, the Moldovan dishes are present on the feast tables,” said Lucia.

There is yet an evident difference in the way the Moldovans and the Americans celebrate. “The people in the U.S. celebrate New Year’s in the family. Compared with Moldova, they have fewer traditions. They do not go singing those specific New Year poems and songs, as they do in Moldova. The Americans meet with the friends, clink together by a glass of champagne at midnight and that’s all,” stated Lucia.

The young woman said the traditions make the deference. “The people in the United States celebrate New Year’s as a birthday. If there wasn’t a decorated fir tree in the house, there would be no difference” said Lucia, noting that the Moldovans in the U.S. prepare traditional Moldovan food if they find the necessary ingredients, such as pancakes, salads and pies.

“The Christmas, New Year’s and Easter are the only holidays when we can feel as if we are in Moldova. The Americans use to order food and do not cook at home.”

Lucia wished the Moldovans everywhere a happy New Year with nice accomplishments, alongside the dear people. “Let the joys and nice thoughts of the present be nice memories of the future. An exceptional new Year!” she said.