Religious holidays are primarily Christian celebrations as most of the people in Moldova are Eastern Orthodox Christians. Among the most important of these holidays is Christmas, which in Moldova takes place January 7-8, which is the Eastern Orthodox Christmas. During the Christmas season there are a few popular dishes and traditions. One of the staple foods during this season is sarma, which was originally a Turkish dish known as dolma; sarma consists of meat, grains, and spices stuffed in grape or cabbage leaves. Other popular dishes during Christmas include pilaf, chicken, pastries, cake, cheeses, fruits, and nuts. In general, there is an incredible variety of foods during Christmas.
The only other major religious holiday in Moldova is Orthodox Easter, which again doesn't share a date with much of the Catholic and Protestant religions' Easter dates. Like in other Christian countries though, Easter is celebrated over a full week, with numerous holy days taking place the week preceding Easter Sunday and Easter Monday.
For many of the above mentioned holidays and other celebrations, such as birthdays and weddings, the one consistency is the vast amounts of food served, but the particular foods offered are more dependent on personal tastes.