The Moldovans who live in Canada celebrate New Year’s Eve two times – once, through Skype, with relatives from Moldova and again, at midnight, the local time. In most of the cases, New Year’s is celebrated in communities of Moldovans. More details about the night between years were provided to IPN by Sorina Oala and Lidia Oprea, two young women who settled in Canada with their families.
“Given the difference of seven hours in the time zones, when in Moldova it is midnight, in Canada it is daytime yet and the Moldovans clink glasses two times. Usually, the Moldovans come together, rent a restaurant, usually a Russian one, and celebrate New Year’s there,” said Lidia Oprea.
For the Canadians, New Year’s Eve is less important than Christmas. It is a family holiday. “There is a rule for everyone – the program “Goodbye to the year” is watched. The next day the people ask each other if they saw the program. Many of the inhabitants of the province Québec, where I live, spend New Year’s in Cuba or in Florida and this is something normal there where winter lasts for six months,” said Sorina Oala, who settled in Canada three years ago.
The young women said the difference between Moldova and Canada resides in the fact that New Year’s in Canada ends the series of winter holidays, while in Moldova it makes the start only. “The type of food is another difference. The Moldovans prepare a lot of types of food, while in Canada they usually order food at the restaurant,” stated Sorina.
The Moldovans celebrate New Year’s mainly at home. They also prepare traditional Moldovan dishes. “On holidays we find time to cook more traditional food and delight our families. We would borrow the ‘roasted turkey’ from the Canadians as it is a tasty food that is prepared easily,” said Sorina.
The young women wished the Moldovans everywhere health, happiness, courage and power to overcome the political and economic crisis in Moldova and urged them to stop complaining and grumbling.
