Fasting Easter Traditions among Romanians in the Principalities as Recorded by Foreign Travelers (1710–1810)
Fasting Easter Traditions among Romanians in the Principalities as Recorded by Foreign Travelers (1710–1810)

Summary/Abstract: The study investigates how foreign travelers perceived and recorded Romanian religious beliefs and Easter-related customs in the Romanian Principalities between 1710 and 1810. Drawing on travel narratives by figures such as Erasmus Heinrich Weismantel, Antonio Maria del Chiaro, Francesco Griselini, Ignaz von Born, and others, the paper analyzes how external observers described the Orthodox rituals, fasting practices, icon veneration, and communal celebrations. These accounts, although marked by varying degrees of curiosity, misunderstanding, and Eurocentric bias, offer valuable insights into the intersection of religion, identity, and cultural tradition in early modern Romanian society. By critically assessing these representations, the study contributes to a nuanced understanding of how Romanian spiritual life was viewed through the lens of Enlightenment rationalism, Catholic, or Protestant critique, highlighting enduring stereotypes as well as genuine efforts at comprehension.

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