Craiova Wears
the IE

The heart of the event is the traditional costume parade — a stream of color, embroidery, and folk pride that starts from Mihai Viteazul Square and crosses the center of Craiova until it reaches Nicolae Romanescu Park. Hundreds of participants — children, youth, adults, and seniors — wear authentic iis, floral skirts, and complete folk costumes, forming a street performance of rare beauty.

The parade route crosses the city's main arteries, transforming Craiova into a living stage. Spectators line up along the route hundreds of meters in advance, and the atmosphere created by live folk music, shouts of encouragement, and the extraordinary coloring of the costumes creates one of the most emotional images of the city all year.

The parade gathers not only Craiova residents but also delegations from other regions of Romania — Muntenia, Moldova, Transylvania — each with its own clothing specific, offering a lesson in the diversity of the Romanian folk costume condensed into a single route of a few kilometers.

At the heart of the festival is the IE — a masterpiece of traditional Romanian textile art and one of the identity symbols of our culture, internationally recognized. The ie is not just a garment — it is a cultural identity card, a testimony to the creativity and Romanian spirit transmitted from generation to generation through the sewing needle.

The ie is worn by both women and men, but differs in decorative model. The female shirt is generally more richly ornamented, with complex embroideries on the shoulders (altiță), sleeves (încrețitură), and chest. The masculine one is more sober, but no less expressive. Oltenian specifics are recognized by the predilection for red and black colors on immaculate white background, through angular geometric motifs (rhombuses, crosses, stars), and through the density of embroideries that almost completely cover the sleeves.

The meaning of the sewn motifs is not decorative, but symbolic and protective: each geometric sign has an archaic value — the sun, the water, the tree of life, mother earth — transmitted orally by generations of craftswomen who codified an entire folk cosmology in embroidery. At the festival, you can admire and purchase authentic iis, handmade by local craftswomen.

Prepare to be part of an explosion of color, music, and good vibes! The festival transforms Craiova into a living stage of traditions, with a rich program that combines movement and spectacle with education and craft.

The program includes: the impressive traditional costume parade on the city's main route; folk music and dance shows with local and regional ensembles, led by the emblematic "Maria Tănase" Ensemble; craft fair where you can admire and purchase authentic iis, ceramics, fabrics, and traditional objects; interactive workshops for sewing and weaving, accessible even to children; thematic exhibitions about the history of the ie and the Oltenian folk costume; moments dedicated to local gastronomy — traditional Oltenian dishes.

"Craiova Wears the IE" is, above all, a community celebration. The event brings together people of all ages — children, youth, parents, and grandparents — united by the love for tradition. Come and see how Craiova residents, as well as guests from other areas, proudly wear inherited or newly purchased iis, actively participate in events, and support local artisans.

One of the most emotional images of the festival is generational continuity: a grandmother in a wool ie with motifs decades old, next to her granddaughter in a new ie bought from the exhibition, next to a small child with a small traditional shirt sewn at home. Precisely this live transmission of tradition is the essence of the event — not a show for tourists, but an authentic celebration from the inside out.

The festival also attracts members of the Romanian diaspora who return home for Sânziene specifically to participate — for many, it is a reunion with roots, family, and a culture they carry in their hearts anywhere in the world. It is a demonstration of unity, collective joy, and reaffirmation of cultural identity in the heart of Oltenia.

The parade ends in the superb setting of Nicolae Romanescu Park — the green jewel of Craiova and one of the most beautiful parks in Europe — where the festival finale takes place. The location is not chosen by chance: the park, with its shaded alleys, the lake, and the fairytale garden atmosphere, is the perfect setting for a celebration of the Romanian spirit.

The folk show presents music and dances from the Oltenia region, with dance ensembles and brass bands that bring the theatrical stage to the natural space of the park. The "Maria Tănase" Folk Ensemble — the most representative ensemble of Craiova, bearing the name of the legendary folk music performer — is the main protagonist. Alongside it, ensembles from neighboring counties and sometimes from Moldova or Transylvania participate, offering a panoramic perspective of the Romanian folk dance.

The exhibition-sale of traditional Romanian clothes, accessories, and artisanal objects completes the experience. Local craftswomen exhibit and sell hand-sewn iis, skirts, aprons, scarves, and other folk costume pieces, alongside ceramics, natural products, and traditional souvenirs. It is one of the rare occasions where you can purchase authentic pieces directly from the creator.