Ziua Unirii

'Unification Day' is a national holiday that took place earlier this week. It celebrates the date around 1860 that the territories of Wallachia and Moldavia joined as the birth of the modern Romanian state. There's another holiday, 'Great Union Day', in December that celebrates the addition of Transylvania, where I am now, which was added after World War I.

When these youths went back to the nearby high school after the holiday they did so in a fanfare of horns, flags and latecomers scuttling up behind after running from the school bus.

I immediately thought the racket was related to the weekend protests in Bucharest about judicial reform that will likely release thousands of prisoners early. Romanians seem to have a tendency to protest. When 64 people died in a nightclub fire in Bucharest in 2015 it led to the resignation of the Prime Minister and his cabinet due to widespread anger that corruption had led to disregard for safety regulations.

Impressive public action. Given the bizarre state of world affairs right now I think we are entering an era of increased protest and demonstration. Let's get some tips from Romania.