A new shop in York is celebrating a special day with a giveaway.
Convenience store La Māruca is giving away free cupcakes today in York, to mark the national day in Romania.
The shop on George Hudson Street was opened last month by Romanian Mara Cioineag. And to celebrate the day, she’s giving away 100 cupcakes for free.
National Romania Day, or Great Union Day, celebrated on 1 December marks the unification of Transylvania, Bessarabia, and Bukovina with the Romanian Kingdom in 1918, and was declared a holiday after the Romanian Revolution.
In Romania, no one has to work on the national holiday – “we have the day off,” said Mara.
“Everybody celebrates however they really want to celebrate, everybody does something to remind themselves of Romania, of the roots.
“Either it can be food, or it can be a show where they do the national Romanian dances and they dress up in the national costumes.”
Mara has made the red velvet cupcakes herself, which took three to four hours.
“We have this thing in Romania where like, since I was a kid, if it’s my birthday, and I go into school, I have to bring a sweet for everyone,” said Mara.
“So like nowadays, it’s Romania’s birthday – it’s just like giving a sweet out to everyone.”
It’s also a tease for what’s to come at La Māruca – as there’s future plans to include a patisserie in the shop, which would be serving up English treats like cookies and cakes baked in house.
La Māruca offers a wide variety of Romanian products, such as meats, cheeses and confectionery.
The free cupcakes will be available up until they’re gone – so make sure to get on down to La Māruca for your sweet treat.
Stay up to date with La Māruca at their Facebook page.
