Romania was originally a Roman province that was later conquered by various groups. It emerged as two principalities in the 13th century under the Turkish Empire and later joined together in 1861. After World War I, Romania gained new territories and became a parliamentary democracy, though fascism led to a dictatorship in the 1940s. Following World War II, Romania became a communist state until the 1989 revolution established democracy. Romania now aims to join the European Union and celebrates Orthodox Christian holidays with traditions like painted Easter eggs.