In spite of these modern developments, Romania still offers a variety of customs, traditions, and folk art creations. Woodcarvings, brightly ornamented costumes, skillfully woven carpets, pottery, and other elements of traditional Romanian culture remain popular and, with the onset of tourism, have become known internationally as well. Folk art is characterized by abstract or geometric designs and stylized representations of plants and animals. In embroidery and textiles, designs and colour schemes can be associated with particular regions of the country. Special folk arts of Romania are the painting of ornamental Easter eggs and painting on glass , a skill which, unfortunately, is on the verge of extinction.
Folk music includes dance music, laments and ballads, and pastoral music.
Folk melodies are preserved in the music of modern Romanian composers such as George Enescu. Romanian poets and writers, too, have operated in a cultural tradition somewhat different from that in neighboring countries. In the field of architecture, the Bucharest television centre is but one example of another Modernist trend. The press consists of more than a thousand newspapers and magazines that cater to regional and minority interests or express the views of national organizations and political parties. However, access is complicated by paper shortages and distribution inefficiencies, so that readers, particularly those in rural areas, have only a limited choice.