On the occasion of Romania's National Day, The Embassy of Romania in partnership with the Romanian Cultural Institute organise a distinctive performance of Romanian Christmas carols and customs with the folkloric group Colinda and the singer Theodora Paunescu-Tuca.

In the culturally-vibrant space of the Covent Garden Market, on 30 November, the group will offer an open-air performance. Colinda will also perform at the National Day reception, organised by the Embassy of Romania at the Royal Automobile Club on 1 December.

Established in 1975 by professor Cezar Neacsu, the Colinda Ensemble has 39 members, ages ranging from 11 to 75.
The group will sing Christmas carols and will perform Romanian Christmas customs like: The Goat, The Bear, The Star, Sorcova and The Small Plough.
The group members will wear Romanian national/folk costumes while some of them will be dressed-up in symbolic characters like the Goat and the Bear.

* Christmas Carols - young and mature people gather in well-organized groups and they choose a leader. Together they perform their songs that are accompanied by dance.
* The Goat - the Goat is embodied by a young woman wearing a colored costume & wooden mask. Accompanied by the flute music, the goat jumps, jerks, turns round, and bends, clattering regularly the wooden jaws. The Goat's performance is remarked by the originality of its costumes and choreography.
* The Bear is embodied by a young man wearing a mask and the coat of a bear on his head and shoulders. The bear is accompanied by a whole procession of characters - children and adults - who sing: "Dance well, you old bear, / Because I give bread and olives." The bear strikes against the earth with his soles, while the drums and the pipe are playing.
* The Star - Children make a star using coloured paper; they put in its middle a Jesus icon. The Star Carol announces the Jesus born. The children sing holding the star in the hand. "The star has appeared on high / Like a big secret in the sky / The star is bright / May all your wishes turn out right…"
* Sorcova is a bouquet used for New Year's wishes. Children wish to the people a happy New Year while touching them lightly with this bouquet.
* Plugusorul is a small plough but in Romanian folklore is a traditional procession with a decorated plough. The ploughmen are teenagers and children having whip, bells and pipes in the hands. Their noises accompany the well wishing.

When: 30 November 2008; 11.40 am
Where: Covent Garden Market, London.
Admission: free.