On 18 December 2021 the 8th edition of the National Rug Fair "The Rug of Love" will take place at the National Museum of Ethnography and Natural History. 

This year's key theme was the significance of the carpet in the context of the Moldovan Wedding. In order to literally feel the magic of this tradition, during the current edition of the Carpet Fair the organizers arranged the space in the courtyard of the National Museum of Ethnography and Natural History in such a way that all visitors became wedding guests.
In between the presentation of the customs, there were musical breaks performed by artists such as Cornelia Stefaneț; Igor Cuciuc and Adriana Ochișanu; Maria Iliuț and the folklore ensemble Crenguța de iederă.
 
The aim of the National Carpet Fair is to promote the value of traditional carpets, to get to know the basic motifs and symbols of carpets, and to familiarize the public with Romanian traditions and customs and the significance of carpets within them.

During the National Rug Fair "Rug of Pain" the cross-border project HERIPRENEURSHIP -
"Establishment of long-term partnerships for the modernisation of heritage-based offers and creation of new investment opportunities in tourism and cultural and creative industries in UNESCO designated areas of the Black Sea basin"

The project aims to connect tourism companies and stakeholders around selected UNESCO sites in the Black Sea basin to create and manage an attractive and innovative tourism product based on experience and creativity. In Moldova, we will focus on traditional wall carpet craftsmanship ("Rustic Art" Clisova-Nova) and satellite areas of cultural, historical, religious and other interests.

The partners' visit to the Republic of Moldova will take place from 18 to 20 January 2022.

          

 

The launch event was attended by the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Moldova - Sergiu Prodan, who explained the importance of a cross-border project of this kind, aimed at preserving and promoting intangible cultural heritage. Only authentic things can become attractive, being an engine for tourism development. He also added that only by preserving and replicating national values will we increase the attractiveness and potential of the tourism offer for the national economy.

There was also a video greeting from the Project Leader - Greece