This tradition, called Ursul (the Bear Dance), is now kept mainly in the Bucovina region of Romania and Moldova on New Year’s Eve, though it was once widespread through all of Romania. It consists of singing and dancing while wearing real bear skin. Originally live bears were included in the dance too. The tradition aims to purify and fertilise the soil for the next year. The bear tradition is of Geto-Dacian origins- the bear was regarded a sacred animal, similar to humans.