
Dancing with the Bears: Romania’s Winter Ritual of Strength and Spirit
In the Romanian town of Comănești, nestled in the Carpathian Mountains, a centuries-old winter tradition known as the “Dance of the Bears” unfolds each December. This unique festival features participants donning real bearskins—some weighing up to 50 kilograms—and parading through the streets while performing rhythmic dances to the beat of drums. The ritual, rooted in…