Ciclul vieții în Basarabia (anii 1930): între tradiție și modernizare
The Cycle of Life in Bessarabia (1930s): Between Tradition and Modernization

Summary/Abstract: This article aims to analyze the profound changes that Bessarabians went through during the interwar period, in the context of Romania’s accelerated modernization. It examines how the life cycle – birth, marriage and death – was marked by both local traditions and new regulations introduced by the modern state, offering a diachronic perspective on the development of rites of passage in this province. Drawing on Petre Andrei’s sociological reflections on family solidarity and on the research of Moldovan folklorist Gheorghe Madan, the article analyses how ancient customs intersected with new civil, religious and health norms. It also examines the tensions between religious and civil authorities in the governance of key moments in an individual’s life, highlighting how modernization led to a redistribution of social roles within a traditional community. A comparative analysis of official documents, folklore sources and statistical data reveals not only institutional changes but also people’s everyday adaptations, capturing the dynamics of time between tradition and modernity.

• Details
• Contents