The Aromanians in Romania (
Aromanian: armãnji or rrãmãnji;
Romanian: aromâni or machedoni) are a non-recognized
ethnic minority in
Romania that numbered around 26,500 people in 2006.[1] Legally, Romania regards the
Aromanians and other groups such as the
Megleno-Romanians and the
Istro-Romanians as part of the Romanian
nation. This is according to a promulgated
legislation according to which Romania supports the rights of all those who "assume a Romanian cultural identity, people of Romanian origin and persons that belong to the Romanian linguistic and cultural vein, Romanians who live outside Romania, regardless how they are called".[2] Such is also the stance of the
Romanian Academy.[3]
However, some Aromanians have protested against this and have demanded to be recognized as an ethnic minority within Romania.[4] One of the main demands of this community has been to learn
their language and
culture in Romanian schools.[5] Another has been the creation of a
church for the Aromanians functioning in the Aromanian language.[6] In 2020, the
Minister of National Education of RomaniaMonica Anisie announced that the subject "Aromanian culture and civilization" would be introduced in schools as an optional one.[7] Nevertheless, the request of some Aromanians to be declared as an ethnic minority has caused controversy in Romania.[6]
Additionally, in 2021, a proposal to approve the
Aromanian National Day as a holiday in the country, to be celebrated every 23 May, was rejected by the
Parliament of Romania.[8] Earlier that year, another observance, the Balkan Romanianness Day, was officially adopted to commemorate the establishment of the
Ullah millet in the
Ottoman Empire on 1905. This day is meant for the Aromanians but also for the Megleno-Romanians and the Istro-Romanians, which are simply considered ethnic
Romanians living south of the
Danube.[9] The Balkan Romanianness Day is officially celebrated every 10 May.[10]