Romania and Ukraine, United by Song and Tradition: A Project to Preserve Romanian Heritage in Northern Bukovina

A Project to Preserve Romanian Heritage in Northern Bukovina

The public organization “Valea Siretului” from the Chernivtsi region, with financial support from the Department for Romanians Abroad, is implementing, from August to October 2026, the project “Gathered from the World and Given Back to the World!”.

The initiative aims to document, preserve and promote Romania’s folk heritage in Northern Bukovina and is dedicated to the 45th anniversary of the “Izvoraș” Model Ethnofolkloric Ensemble from the village of Ropcea.

“Izvoraș” – 45 Years of Tradition and Continuity

In September 2026, the “Izvoraș” ensemble, coordinated by Victoria Costinean, president of the “Valea Siretului” organization, will mark 45 years of artistic activity.

The ensemble was founded during a period when promoting Romanian culture in Northern Bukovina involved numerous challenges. Since the communist era, the children of Ropcea, together with the ensemble’s founder and director, teacher and singer Victoria Costinean, have contributed to preserving and passing on Romanian songs, traditions and cultural values.

The Ensemble’s History Documented in a Book

As part of the project, the book “Izvoraș Flows Down the Valley” will be published, presenting the ensemble’s 45-year journey.

The book will bring together information about the history of the ensemble, its main activities and achievements, as well as testimonies and comments from prominent personalities. The volume will also include press articles, certificates, awards, photographs and other materials documenting the ensemble’s development.

Particular attention will be given to its traditional repertoire, including the names of the people from whom the authentic folk verses and melodies included in the “Izvoraș” repertoire were collected.

An Album of Authentic Folk Music from Northern Bukovina

Another important component of the project is the production of the musical album “Gathered from the World and Given Back to the World!”, featuring authentic Romanian folk songs collected from Northern Bukovina.

Recording these traditional works is particularly important for preserving the musical heritage, as some of the orally transmitted songs risk disappearing together with the generations that have preserved them.

Folk Song as the Living Memory of a Community

Authentic folklore is an important source for understanding the history and cultural identity of Romanian communities in Northern Bukovina. Traditional songs preserve stories about the joys, hardships, customs and important moments in people’s lives.

Passed down from generation to generation, these traditions help maintain the connection between the past and the present and strengthen the community’s cultural consciousness.

Passing Traditions on to Future Generations

Many folk creations are closely connected to the main stages of life and community rituals – birth, marriage, funerals, celebrations and other traditional occasions. In this context, folk song has not only artistic value, but also cultural and spiritual significance.

By documenting the repertoire and making it accessible to the public, the project contributes to passing this heritage on to younger generations and preserving Romanian traditions within the communities of the Chernivtsi region.

An Investment in Cultural Identity

The project “Gathered from the World and Given Back to the World!” transforms the 45th anniversary of the “Izvoraș” ensemble into an opportunity to document and preserve the local cultural heritage.

Through the book “Izvoraș Flows Down the Valley” and the traditional song album, the initiative creates a cultural archive for the Romanian community in Northern Bukovina and contributes to preserving the Romanian language, traditions, collective memory and cultural identity.