# Saint Dumitru religious and cultural observances in Romania > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/saint-dumitru-religious-observances-in-romania > Updated: 2026-10-25T09:13:52.000Z. Sources: 20. Developments: 2. The Romanian Orthodox Church organized a pilgrimage to celebrate Saint Dimitrie cel Nou, the Protector of Bucharest, from October 18 to October 28. This event featured the display of relics at the Patriarchal Cathedral and the ‘Calea Sfinților’ procession on October 24. Regional traditions continued on October 25 and 26. In Argeș County, including the Bratia and Argeș valleys and Mioveni, communities observed ‘Focul lui Sumedru’. These large bonfires serve as a ritual symbolizing the transition from autumn to winter, involving customs such as jumping over fires for health and scattering embers in orchards to promote bountiful harvests. On the religious holiday of Saint Dumitru, hundreds of thousands of Romanians celebrated their name days. Data from the General Directorate for Persons Evidence (DGEP) indicates that while over 200,000 men bear the name Dumitru, the specific name has seen a steady decline. In contrast, related names like Dimitrie and Dima have experienced increases in popularity. Additionally, in the commune of Țițești, local authorities held a ceremony to honor 20 couples celebrating 50 years of marriage. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-25: Romania celebrates Saint Dumitru with traditional rituals and name days Romanians celebrate Saint Dumitru on October 26, marking the seasonal transition with traditional bonfires and celebrating the name days of hundreds of thousands of people. 18 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/romania-name-statistics-for-saint-dumitru-feast-day ### 2026-10-17: Romanian Orthodox Church announces Saint Dimitrie cel Nou pilgrimage The Romanian Orthodox Church will hold a pilgrimage for Saint Dimitrie cel Nou from October 18 to 28, featuring relic displays and a major procession in Bucharest. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/romanian-orthodox-church-announces-saint-dimitrie-cel-nou-pilgrimage --- Cite as: Saint Dumitru religious and cultural observances in Romania. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/saint-dumitru-religious-observances-in-romania