The present paper first uses norm lifecycle theory to examine the appearance of the Holocaust as a symbolic event affecting the behavior of international actors in matters of human rights and even humanitarian intervention. Then the paper employs the literature on the political uses of history to highlight the mechanism of norm socialization and institutionalization in the case of Holocaust education in Romania. The paper concludes that norms are important ingredients in defining the identity of states in international arena and that because they play a role in determining membership in various organizations norms can directly affect state’s domestic politics. As Romania’s situation demonstrates however it takes time for a norm to become institutionalized and uncontested and therefore it is argued that Romania has not entered this last phase in the norm’s lifecycle yet.