George Ceara

George Ceara (also Ceară;^[1][2] 18 October 1880/1881 – 4 April 1939; Aromanian: Ioryi Ceara^[3]) was an Aromanian poet, prose writer and schoolteacher. He was born in Xirolivado [el] in the Ottoman Empire, now in Greece, and was raised in a transhumant lifestyle. After graduating from the Romanian High School of Bitola, he entered the University of Bucharest in Romania, though circumstances did not allow him to graduate.

Ceara was afterwards appointed teacher at Romanian schools in Ossiani, Kriva Palanka and Veria in his native region, later also teaching at Cavarna in Romania. He fought during a period of his lifetime as an armatole and was the director of the magazine Flambura ("The Banner"). His figure stands out above all as a writer, having written poetry but also prose in both Aromanian and Romanian. He focused on folklore and life motifs such as longing, and his poems, all written to be sung, are based in Aromanian folk songs and lyrics. His poem Ñi pitricu mușeata-ñi dor ("My Dear Sent Me Longing") greatly surpassed Ceara in popularity.