Photos by Vadim Ghirda
On September 8, 2014, the Romanian Roma community gathered to honor the birth of the Virgin Mary, in Costesti, Romania.
After a religious service at the Bistrita Monastery, thousands of Roma gather on a nearby hillside and celebrate the holiday by sharing food and playing traditional music until dawn.
AP photographer Vadim Ghirda documents this old tradition in the photos below.
A Romanian Roma man teaches his son to pray during a religious service celebrating the Birth of the Virgin Mary at the Bistrita Monastery in Costesti, Romania, Monday, Sept. 8, 2014. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) License this photo
Romanian Roma people pass by icons during a religious service celebrating the Birth of the Virgin Mary at the Bistrita Monastery in Costesti, Romania, Monday, Sept. 8, 2014. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) License this photo
A Romanian Roma woman passes under a table, part of a local tradition, during a religious service celebrating the Birth of the Virgin Mary at the Bistrita Monastery in Costesti, Romania, Monday, Sept. 8, 2014. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) License this photo
A Romanian Roma man makes the sign of the cross after a religious service celebrating the Birth of the Virgin Mary at the Bistrita Monastery in Costesti, Romania, Monday, Sept. 8, 2014. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) License this photo
The sun rays are filtered through smoke as a Romanian Roma sits on the grass while the Roma community celebrates the Birth of the Virgin Mary in Costesti, Romania, Monday, Sept. 8, 2014. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) License this photo
A Roma woman cuts food as the Roma community celebrates the Birth of the Virgin Mary in Costesti, Romania, Monday, Sept. 8, 2014. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) License this photo
A Roma boy watches as women look at skirts while the Roma community celebrates the Birth of the Virgin Mary in Costesti, Romania, Monday, Sept. 8, 2014. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) License this photo
A Roma child dances as the Roma community celebrates the Birth of the Virgin Mary in Costesti, Romania, Monday, Sept. 8, 2014. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) License this photo
Lead Image Caption: Romanian Roma girls run as the Roma community celebrates the Birth of the Virgin Mary in Costesti, Romania, Monday, Sept. 8, 2014. Thousands of Gypsies or Roma gather on a hillside after attending a religious service in a nearby monastery and celebrate the religious holiday by sharing food and playing traditional music until the next dawn. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
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