Romanian Language Day Marked in Chișinău through Cultural and Educational Events Dedicated to National Identity

Romanian Language Day Marked in Chișinău with the National Dictation and Cultural Events

The Republic of Moldova marks Romanian Language Day on Monday, August 31, one of the holidays with profound historical and identity significance. Officially established under the name “Our Romanian Language,” after the renowned poem by Alexei Mateevici, the celebration has its origins in the period of the National Renaissance.

A decisive moment came in 1989, when, following the mobilization of tens of thousands of citizens gathered at the first Great National Assembly, Romanian was proclaimed the state language of the Moldavian SSR, and the authorities decided to return to the Latin script.

From the National Renaissance to the Adoption of Legislation on the Romanian Language

During the National Renaissance Movement, writers of the 1960s and 1970s were at the forefront of the struggle to affirm national identity. Dumitru Matcovschi, Leonida Lari, Grigore Vieru, Nicolae Dabija and Ion Hadârcă were among the prominent figures who made a decisive contribution to promoting the Romanian language and national values.

The decisions adopted on August 31, 1989, represented one of the major victories of the National Renaissance Movement and paved the way for the proclamation of the independence of the Republic of Moldova. Approximately 120,000 people from across the republic participated in the first Great National Assembly.

Writer Aurelian Silvestru, one of the 66 signatories of the letter addressed to the republic’s leadership on September 17, 1988, calling for the return to the Romanian language and Latin script, later recalled the atmosphere of those days and the pressure exerted by participants in the demonstration on Parliament.

The Romanian Language’s Legislative Path in the Republic of Moldova

The importance of the Romanian language was also reflected in the country’s fundamental documents. The Declaration of Independence of August 27, 1991, refers to Romanian as the state language of the Republic of Moldova.

Subsequently, the Constitution adopted on July 29, 1994, used the term “Moldovan language,” a provision that generated controversy and prolonged debate within society. In 1996, President Mircea Snegur proposed amending Article 13 of the Constitution to explicitly introduce Romanian as the language, but the initiative was not supported by Parliament.

A major change occurred in 2013, when the Constitutional Court ruled that the Declaration of Independence constitutes the legal and political foundation of the Constitution and that no constitutional provision may contradict it. In this context, Romanian was once again recognized as the official language of the Republic of Moldova.

On March 16, 2023, the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova adopted a further legislative amendment removing the terms “Moldovan language,” “official language,” “state language” and “mother tongue” from national legislation, replacing them with the designation “Romanian language”.

Romanian Language Day is being marked this year through a series of cultural and educational events organized in the capital and across the country.

Starting at 09:00, the National Dictation, now in its fourth edition, is taking place in Great National Assembly Square in Chișinău. Organizers expect approximately 3,500 participants, including around 2,500 in the capital and another 1,000 in the country’s districts and municipalities, where similar events are being organized.

At 11:00, the Academy of Sciences of Moldova will host a festive session dedicated to Romanian Language Day, organized under the auspices of the Romanian Academic Council.

The festive program will conclude in the evening, starting at 19:00, on Eugen Doga pedestrian street, with the literary and musical performance “The Romanian Language – The Soul of the Nation”.

A Shared Celebration for the Romanian-speaking Space

In the Republic of Moldova, Romanian Language Day has been celebrated annually on August 31 since 1990. Romania officially established the day as a national celebration in 2013.

Starting in 2026, Ukraine is also officially marking Romanian Language Day for the first time. The decision was established through Decree No. 235/2026, signed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on March 12.

Romanian Language Day therefore remains an important landmark for affirming cultural and linguistic identity, as well as for promoting the shared values that connect Romanian-speaking communities in the Republic of Moldova, Romania and Ukraine.