Romanians are celebrating 163 years since the birth of their national poet Mihai Eminescu on January 15. The same day the National Culture Day will also be celebrated. Various events all across Romania will mark the day.

Starting 18:30 today (January 15 ), the National Culture Day will be celebrated at the National Museum of Art (MNAR). The event will include a performance by violinist Alexandru Tomescu.

The George Enescu Philarmonica will organize a vocal recital from 19:00 at the Romanian Athenaeum. The Romanian Cultural Institute will also celebrate the day in Romania and in its subsidiaries abroad.

In Bucharest, starting 18:00, is the Young Writers Gala, which will give out awards for poetry in 2012. Events will also be organized in Berlin, Brussels, Vienna, Prague, Chisinau.

In Bucharest, an exhibition dedicated to Mihai Eminescu will be held at the Romanian Central Bank (BNR) starting January 15 and running unti January 31. Another event taking place until January 17 is at the National Museum of Romanian Literature – Eminescu's poetry – source of inspiration for plastic arts.

Mihai Eminescu – 1850 – 1889 was one of the most important Romanian poets and writers and is considered the national poet.

editor@romania-insider.com