Aromanians in Romania

Aromanians in Romania
Aromanian: Armãnji/rrãmãnji tu Rumãnii
Romanian: Aromânii din România
Total population
26,500 (2006 estimate)[1]
Regions with significant populations
Northern Dobruja (Constanța and Tulcea counties)
Languages
Aromanian (native), Romanian
Religion
Predominantly Eastern Orthodoxy
Related ethnic groups
Aromanians
Part of a series on
Aromanians
Geographical distribution
Major settlements
Culture
Language and identity
Religion
History
Related groups

The Aromanians in Romania (Aromanian: armãnji or rrãmãnji; Romanian: aromâni or machedoni) are a non-recognized ethnic minority in Romania that numbered around 26,500 people in 2006.[1] Legally, Romania regards the Aromanians and other groups such as the Megleno-Romanians and the Istro-Romanians as part of the Romanian nation. This is according to a promulgated legislation according to which Romania supports the rights of all those who "assume a Romanian cultural identity, people of Romanian origin and persons that belong to the Romanian linguistic and cultural vein, Romanians who live outside Romania, regardless how they are called".[2] Such is also the stance of the Romanian Academy.[3]

However, some Aromanians have protested against this and have demanded to be recognized as an ethnic minority within Romania.[4] One of the main demands of this community has been to learn their language and culture in Romanian schools.[5] Another has been the creation of a church for the Aromanians functioning in the Aromanian language.[6] In 2020, the Minister of National Education of Romania Monica Anisie announced that the subject "Aromanian culture and civilization" would be introduced in schools as an optional one.[7] Nevertheless, the request of some Aromanians to be declared as an ethnic minority has caused controversy in Romania.[6]

Additionally, in 2021, a proposal to approve the Aromanian National Day as a holiday in the country, to be celebrated every 23 May, was rejected by the Parliament of Romania.[8] Earlier that year, another observance, the Balkan Romanianness Day, was officially adopted to commemorate the establishment of the Ullah millet in the Ottoman Empire on 1905. This day is meant for the Aromanians but also for the Megleno-Romanians and the Istro-Romanians, which are simply considered ethnic Romanians living south of the Danube.[9] The Balkan Romanianness Day is officially celebrated every 10 May.[10]

Some notable Aromanians or people of Aromanian descent in Romania are the professional footballer Gheorghe Hagi[11][12] and the professional tennis player Simona Halep.[13]

  1. ^ a b Gatej, Iuliana (8 December 2006). "Aromânii vor statut minoritar". Cotidianul (in Romanian). Archived from the original on 9 March 2012.
  2. ^ "Lege pentru modificarea art. 1 alin. (1) din Legea nr. 299/2007 privind sprijinul acordat românilor de pretutindeni" (PDF) (in Romanian). Chamber of Deputies. 2013. pp. 1–3.
  3. ^ Nicolae, Andrei (13 May 2021). "Academia Română reiterează FERM: Aromânii sunt români. Se urmărește separarea românilor sud-dunăreni de poporul român". ActiveNews (in Romanian).
  4. ^ Bârgăoanu-Vasiliu, Alina (28 February 2011). "Scandal în jurul identității aromânilor: minoritate națională vs. parte a poporului român". HotNews (in Romanian).
  5. ^ "Aromânii din România își serbează Ziua Națională". Ziare.com (in Romanian). 23 May 2008.
  6. ^ a b Pavel, Andreea (27 October 2020). "Biserica aromânilor și propaganda Sputnik despre "statul aromân": De la românii vechi la deputatul minorităților și milionul de euro". Info Sud-Est (in Romanian).
  7. ^ Pavel, Andreea (28 November 2020). ""Cultura și civilizația aromână" va deveni curs opțional în școli, anunță ministrul Monica Anisie/ O parte a comunității militează și pentru declararea aromânilor drept minoritate etnică". G4 Media (in Romanian).
  8. ^ Florian, Marius (27 September 2021). "DOCUMENT SEPARATIȘTII aromâni, LOVIȚI în Parlament: S-a RESPINS propunerea de consacrare a zilei de 23 mai ca sărbătoare a "comunității"". Tomis News (in Romanian).
  9. ^ Vușcan, Cătălin (13 May 2021). "Ziua Românității Balcanice a fost adoptată de Camera Deputaților. Frații noștri din sud vor fi sărbătoriți, anual, pe 10 mai. Bust la Corcea, Albania, pentru Părintele-martir Haralambie Balamace, ucis de greci cu baionetele pentru că a slujit în română". ActiveNews (in Romanian).
  10. ^ "Promulgat de Iohannis: Se instituie Ziua Românității Balcanice pe 10 mai". Tomis News (in Romanian). 7 June 2021. Archived from the original on 7 August 2022.
  11. ^ Ghering, Silviu (23 May 2020). "23 mai este ziua Simonei Halep și a lui Gică Hagi. Și a tuturor aromânilor din lume. Ce machedoni mai avem în sportul românesc". Fanatik.ro (in Romanian).
  12. ^ "Din galeria personalităților aromâne din România: Gheorghe Hagi". Forza România (in Romanian). 29 January 2018.
  13. ^ Melnic, Cristina (17 February 2014). "Simona Halep – aromânca de care este mândră România întreagă". Femei din sport (in Romanian).