Romanian Folklore. Music and dance represent a lively part of the Romanian folklore and there are a great variety of musical genres and dances. They appear in Romani folklore. [1]:34. Believed to look like a mix between a snake and a reptile, the Vasilisc had a killer gaze and poisonous breath. The Devious Dragon of Romanian Folklore Posted by Magical Europe BY HANNAH HORN In the books of mythology, the Romanian Balaur is an enticing creature. Some people claim to even have seen them, especially in the region of Bukovina. Pricolici, along with the vampiric Strigoi and shapeshifting Moroi, gather on the Night of the Wolf the eve of Saint Andrews. Ft-Frumos with his princess | illustration by Marina Plantus. One day, the empress son was injured in battle, and he returned home to be nursed back to health. They lived in caves and thick woods, enjoyed talking and respected the little humans, which they considered their successors, the next owners of all the rivers and mountains. Romanians, Hungarians, Saxons, Ottomans, Jews, and Roma Gypsies inhabited the whimsical territory of "the land behind the forests" ( trans silvae), shaping the local folklore and giving birth to fantastic creatures, magic legends, and a fascinating tradition of storytelling. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Thus explaining the many names the Bible used for God, the Oltenians believed the first God was called Sabaoth, followed by Amon, Apollo, the Creator God of the Bible and, finally, Jesus Christ. They also used magic plants like wild garlic, Mandrake, lovage or deer grass to create strong potions to bathe the women for 3 days in a row. Three saints (usually in the persons of Enoch, John and Elijah) are said to come to earth to unveil the Devil's attempts to destroy the world, whereupon they shall be killed by decapitation. Moroii and their legends are as old as Dacian times -especially in Orastie area and thus it is believed that they used charms to steal the cattles milk, rendering the cows dry. They were both a source of . However, the dragon wolf mythology does not end here. With legends such as those of Baba Dochia, Manole, or the Ballad of Miorita, we can surely say that Romania is pretty creative when it comes to mythology. Not at all delightful. They were judged like whores, discredited by the community and by their family, blamed to have a weak will and no love or respect for the working, responsible husband. Now, lets jump into Romanias mythical creatures! There you have it! Moreover, Strigoii can cause many illnesses and eve shape-shift into were-wolfs. MAJESTIC TURKEY BY CULTURE TRIP The legends of many nations describe a bygone era when the world was ruled by giant humans. In Romanian culture, as in many others, the house represents the spiritual center of human life, the place where profane meets sacred and around which gravitates many of the intriguing creatures populating myths (stories and beliefs rooted in human's origin, often involving gods) and folklore (fictional tales and superstitions, legends . In most local folklore, moroi are the souls of unbaptised children or faithless adults. I'm was never really into authentic military units simulation, so true fans can feel free to throw rocks of shit at me. This physical deformation reflects his evil, warped mind, and hes keen to kill anyone who passes his musty den. But as he pushed, the earths expansion kept God from ever falling off. A Pricolici is an undead vampire/werewolf/demon hybrid, the souls of the malicious and violent are prone to becoming pricolici. Happy to be here. Myths and Legends have always interested me from a young age, on this channel we discuss all kinds Mythology and fiction from all around the world. Learn about worldwide Past and Present Monsters of Folk Tales too. They are considered to fast the year through, and thus doing humans a great service. A feature of Romanian culture is the special relationship between folklore and the learned culture, determined by two factors. Ft-Frumos enthusiastically agreed, having found his place of eternal youth. Sources. However, there is oneRomanian tale of a storm in the shape of a balaur that saves two young lovers from the wrath of a jealous aristocrat. I think it might be due to a good mix of tumultuous histories, a web of cultures, incredible geography, weather, and crazy politics? This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. It represents evil, as do its counterparts Zmeu and the Balaur. Once upon a time, at the very beginning of the world, there was nothing but water. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. I'm Glenn. The first beings to exist on earth were the Uria giants or ogres so large, they could bound across continents. They also stepped gingerly, so that we wouldnt get squashed. Michael, Ah, how wonderful too see you here, Michael. Whatever their exact origins are, the Solomonars are not considered gone and in fact, they are well respected and have a special place among the magical beings of Romanian folklore. Inspired by the breath and depth of classic action RPG and farming games,"A Viking's Quest, the Lost Continent" is an engaging, dynamic world role playing game where you experience a beautifully hand crafted world of fantasy and adventure. Second, for a long time learned culture was governed by official and social commands and developed around courts of princes and boyars, as well as in monasteries. The Romanian creation myth According to the tale of creation, God and the Devil are master and servant, the devil (Nefrtatul) being God's foolish brother. The Transylvanian Folklore has a lot of legends, myths and haunting creatures: from the well-known vampires to werewolves, Moroi, Strigoi, iele, and all kinds of monsters! The Hydra in the Marvel universe is essentially lifted straight from the myth, ultimately being defeated by Hercules in a fight witnessed by the Eternals Ikaris and Phastos. Once upon a time, there was a great king and queen. The creature himself appears as a beautiful young man. I studied some ancient mythology in uni, and I love learning about other places and cultures. Most of these names can be found in the Romanian Lore in reference to Vampires and Dragons. #folklore #creatures #cartoons #illustrations All Rights Reserved. Folklore of Romania. Traditionally, men wore a white shirt and pants (if made of wool they are called iari) with a wide leather belt, usually over the shirt, and a vest sometimes made of leather and embroidered. It comes out only to feed on the saliva of those living above, slowly dehydrating the residents until they die. Even if they did or did not exist, they left us beautiful stories about their way of living. Despite the popularity of the vampire mythology, Romania holds her own myths and legends. It has also given rise to the Romanian saying pn ajungi la Dumnezeu, te mnnc sfinii ("before you reach God, the saints will eat you"). And so he came to live with them for uncounted years, enjoying unearthly delights. The giants sound almost charming, but Capcaun scares me . Occasionally they help children find answers to moral questions in life. So, the Romanian Vasilisc is just like the Basilisk from Harry Potter? The Devil, however, tried to rebel, and, in response, God opened up the heavens so that he might fall to the earth. So, the Uria are no longer among us. Some legends say it is a ghost or vampire (Strigoi) while others say it is a werewolf (in some versions, a werewolf that emerges from the corpses of . Jakobson, Roman (1955). There, he studies the languages of all the beings from Earth, all the magic spells ever created, and then, after many hard tests, he is left alone, to a rock table, to write down all of his knowledge in his own book. Reading about Romanian Monsters of Myth and Folklore is a fun way of learning about a civilization strengthened by historical battles, enriched by its insight into the forces of nature, enchanting through its narratives. It is essential to preserve these creations together with the act of telling stories and fables. The Jidovi are said to have considered humans the successors of their earth, and so they treated us well and taught us what they knew. They have filled folklore, stories, songs, and works of art . Despite this, many consider Ielele the protectresses of the forest. As mentioned in the show, Zanna derive from Romanian folklore. Please help improve this . Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Sometimes compared to other fantastic creatures, such as the balaur or the vrcolac, the zmeu is nevertheless distinct, because it usually has clear anthropomorphic traits: it is humanoid and has legs, arms, the ability to create and use artifacts such as weapons, or the desire to marry young girls. Now the water was everywhere, so both brothers were floating about. But fartat also means prieten. Any man can become this bloodthirsty demon after death if they die under certain conditions. Often, these accounts are accompanied by the imagery of one or several World Pillars, which sustain the earth from below and are usually placed beneath mountains. According to Adrien Cremene . He is called Zburatorul, meaning The One Who Flies, a handsome airman tormenting the sleep of young girls and young wives. It is said that they used magic words that asked to Zburator to leave, to hide and never to return. Their presence in Romania is well maintained by the multitude of places that were named after them: the Jidovi table, the Jidovi cave, the hill or the tombs of Jidovi, and also, there is jidovina, a measuring unit consisting of several meters, the equivalent of a giants step. Iele - the Ladies of the Woods Romanian Myths & Legends Poate de aceea il asociez cu un monstru i am considerat c locul lui este in articolul de fa. Kites are a favorite way of entertaining both children and adults on the Romanian Black Sea beaches, where the wind is mighty. A varcolac (or vrcolac or vircolac) in Romanian folklore may refer to several different figures. In various regions of the country, the Solomonars are divided into two categories: good and evil. With mountains as sky-high as the Carpathians is easy to understand why Giants were the first people evercreated on the Romanian land. Waters overflowing and mountains collapsing are both linked to these earthquakes, which are mainly caused by lack of faith, which accelerates the crumbling of the World Pillars. And thus, while he still tries to take control of the earth, it never did become his. At the end of this ritual, the girls were cured, the Zburator was gone, and life kept going on as usual. In 2010 the archeologist who put together the skeleton named it Balaur Bondoc, which means stocky dragon. This way, the traditional fairy tale character of the dragon-like-serpent-headed monster gets to live on. Day Fifteen of the Folkloric Fauna of February. Every story has a beginning, and our tale of the five most beloved Romanian villains starts with the Dacian Draco. They are very similar to the beasts in the rest of the European mythologies, and ever popular in Romania. It too kidnaps young ladies, with an individual preference for princesses, but also children who are eventually rescued by knights and princes. kobolds - these little German guys might live in mines or in your house. A legend in his home country, Vlad was incredibly impressive in inspiring fear and horror into his Turkish enemies, demoralising their troops. This Romanian vampire . Blajin also means a dead child who did not receive the benediction of Holy Spirit. The subspecies of the Rupicapra genus differ by habitat range and slightly different in certain physical traits, such as color. Scientists are increasingly aware that they need to improve their skills of public engagement, so as to combat scientific misinformation more effectively than they have been able to manage to date. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! So Ft-Frumos left them, insisting that he would roam the world and find immortality. Let's face it. The Romanian holiday Patele Blajinilor (Easter of Blajini) is a way to repay them for the benefits they bring. These are mythic creatures related almost wholly to the nature.When the humans draw them nearer, they are presented either as friendly or as ill meaning. She forgave him, and they all lived happily ever after. One of the best answers for the question "how were these legends created" is, obviously, the Romanian folklore itself. Ft-Frumos grew up to be wise and quick-witted, a perfect prince to rule the kingdom. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Basilisk. Sure enough, the sculptures on Emperor Trajans Column in Rome are there to attest it. According to the stories, a vampire is a Strigoi possessing a bat, just like a werewolf is a Strigoi possessing a wolf. The Romanian mythology is quite impressive. From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia. Makcik "keropok". Vlads cruel and brutal acts led to many widespread tales about him, eventually leading to the bloody legend of Count Dracula, which also pulls from Hungarian vampiric myths and other European folklore, like the Polish Wpierz. Its even capable of moving invisibly. With stories being passed down from one generation to another, the Romanian folklore was always rich with magical or scary tales. His name translates to handsome son, and he embodies purity, passion, spiritual and mental strength. This list may not reflect recent changes . Even now, in some remote villages, there are few people remembering such women who were at the edge of losing their minds or their marriages forever. The dances are lively and are practiced throughout Romania by a large number of professional and amateur groups, thus keeping the tradition alive; Hora is one of the most famous group dances but men's folk dances such as cluari are extremely complex and have been declared by UNESCO to be "Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritages of Humanity". This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. A strong desire to kidnap and marry young girls animates him. It has physical traits such as legs or arms and the ability to create weapons. , Thank you very much, for this interesting posting, Patricia. In: Ciubotaru, Silvia. I should add in the post that the root of the word Fartat comes from frate = brother. Korrigan - in northwestern France, these elf-like female beings have long hair, flowing white garments, and sometimes delicate wings. Folk creations (the best known is the ballad Mioria) were the main literary genre until the 18th century. The water soon foamed, perhaps under a gust of wind, and from that foam grew a flower. by Irina B. Signs of their existence are still noticeable, local people claim. This Carpathian Gandalf not only masters the elements, but also masters the mythical dragons, some people claiming that they saw a might dragon coming up from deep mountain lakes, obeying the commands of Solomonars. Are these some fantasy creatures? Youll find that Strigoi, some of the creepiest mythological creatures, captured the whole area around Romania, with similar myths appearing in Hungary and Poland. Around that day, which represents the end of winter, it is believed that birds find their mate and start building nests together. His eldest daughter said I love you like honey, father, and he was very pleased. Both reside above the infinite ocean called Apa Smbetei. The Adventures of Kiara Yew 2019 All rights reserved | Designed by One Graphic Street, The Adventures of Kiara Yew 2019 All rights reservedDesigned by One Graphic Street, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), The Adventures of Kiara Yew 2019 All rights reserved | Designed by, the most beautiful fairy tales and legends, Transylvania Vampires | Historic Mysteries, Romanian Folklore | Fascinating Stories and Rituals. The Romanian Giants known as Jidovi, are probably one of the most beloved folklore creatures. They wore either boots or a simple shoe made of leather and tied around the foot called opinc and they wore a hat which differs in design from region to region. Not surprisingly, one Romanian business even adopted it in the shape of its logo. According to their stories, there were few giants left but lived in good communion with humans. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. In Maramure, wood was used to create impressive structures such as churches or gates; in Dobruja, windmills were made of wood, and in mountainous regions hardwood was used even for covering the roof. This bizarre whale feeding technique may explain some ancient folklore. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. One day, the peace ended, and a great war between humans and Uria was waged. Rememeber, Romania has the largest population of canis lupus (wolves) in Europe. Some explain them as the descendants of Adam's son Seth. In Romanian strigoi means to scream. vampire, also spelled vampyre, in popular legend, a creature, often fanged, that preys upon humans, generally by consuming their blood. Cultures worldwide have passed down tales. Taken away by an old Solomonar, the boy is trained for 20 years at the Solomonars School, found somewhere at the End of the Earth, in a deep cave. . There is more on dragon-like creatures in the Romanian mythology in what follows. The king begged him to join them in the world, but no matter what he offered him love, riches, kingdoms the baby refused to be born. The king loved his daughters very much, and when his wife died, he made sure they had every luxury and educational advantage. Ielele bathe in glacial lakes, and dance on mountain cliffs and in meadows. In these stories the Devil goes by the name "Nefrtatul" and is the somewhat foolish brother of God in folk versions of stories. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. . Jidovi and uria (giants) Repulsive, savage and present in many stories, the uria are often depicted with menacing size equal to the one of mountains. Now Nefrtat, evil ashe was, tried to take possession of earth, pushing his brother into the waves. The queen was pregnant and in labour, but her son, still in the womb, cried and refused to come out. Sometimes he has two heads, other times a head of a dog on the body of a man, it appears that he is also a shape-shifter, being able to transform itself in other animals too. However, Romanian mythology is full of characters, and you can read more about them here or in future articles. Rare Ancient Paycheck Of A Roman Legionary Soldier Found At Masada. The wedding day came, and the princess knew her father would be coming to the wedding, totally unawares. The fey creatures that lived here quickly took a liking to him and invited him to stay. A boundless ocean called Apa Smbetei. Roman Sexuality Was Far More Complex Than Simply Gay Or Straight - Pompeii's House Of The Vettii Reveals Why. A Cpcun is something similar to an ogre in the Romanian folklore. Well, the representation of the symbolic animal is a fusion between a wolf and a dragon, sometimes depicted as a serpent. I cover the travel and myth/legend posts. Zmeu also refers to kite in Romanian. Better keep away for they are irresitable, especially to men, and they will make youlooseyour way through the forest. Interesting post. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Terrible crimes and cruelties were committed by both sides, until god despaired and intervened. Strigoi is a character from Romanian mythology. [1]:12, Even after Christian imagery and symbolism became part of Romanian culture, Mother Earth is identified as the consort of God, the heavenly Father. Romanian mythology is vibrant and often scary, full of blood-sucking creatures, vicious and fickle lovers, and bloody battles. Others think that they used to live alongside humans on the earth, but Moses, seeing his people oppressed by them, split the waters and, after he and his people had retreated to safety, poured the waters back onto them, sending them to their current abode. In the Romanian folklore, the wolf appears more often, since the Carpathian people have had many encounters with these animals. These are usually, in our world, psychological creations that children invent as a way to socialize, be creative, and altogether develop cognitively. The original story came from Ancient Greek and Roman legend of Strix creature, a bird of ill omen which fed on human blood and flesh. But what to do with the difference in size? Patricia Furstenberg writes historical fiction, contemporary and children's book. The Strigoi is also a shapeshifter, able to transform itself into a bat, animal or fog. It is said that the evil ones bring raging storms and floods, but these maleficent creatures also have an enemy - a former Solomonar who became a Master of Stones. They wore an apron called or or ctrin which is also embroidered and a headscarf called basma;on special occasions they wore more elaborate outfits. In fact, in 2005, The Guardian covered a vampire-slaying ritual in a Romanian village, performed after deceased laborer Petra Toma's family decided he'd become a strigoi in 2003. . You've taught your students about the worldnow . Peoples folkloric imaginary produced other monstrous depictions such as a double dog-headed human with four eyes, standing on four feet. Ce zici? How cruel it must have been for them to be judged by the entire community only because their dreams become their second reality, one full of love and passion. This article has multiple issues. Tthe feeding method, however, may not be new at all. Folk legend say that wherever the seductive ielele danced, strung in a circle, afterwards the ground appeared scorched, dead. However, they are all very small bovids. Black is the most common colour used, but red and blue are predominant in certain areas. (a type of cracker) If you refuse to buy any, she releases a Pontianak (a vengeful ghost) into your house. But if you spot them, dont linger. In some versions, a vrcolac is a wolf demon. Fully grown adult chamois reaches 70-80 cm (28-31 in) in height and 107-137 cm (42-54 in) in length. In the latter case, they are equalized with demons and provoke human resentment. In traditional Romanian folklore the term strigoi (feminim strigoaic) can refer. Major Archaeological Discovery Of A 7,000-Year-Old Settlement In Miami . Thank you! Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. A boundless ocean called Apa Smbetei. This is a mythical creature in South Slavic mythology. Strigoi also include ghosts, wights, banshees, wraiths, ghouls, zombies and other shades of undeath and all forms of lycanthropy. As a matter of fact, the author of this incredibly popular novel never traveled to Romania in his life. Romania's rich folk traditions have been nourished by many sources, some of which predate the Roman occupation. A feature of Romanian culture is the special relationship between folklore and the learned culture, determined by two factors. In others, they are living beasts (not the undead), and happen as a result of a curse. In the historical county of Maramures, famous for its Merry Cemetery Sapanta as well as its picturesque wooden churches, folk legend says that giant, huge people inhabited its hills, thousands of years ago. Top 5 Romanian Folk Tales. They cheer up in memory of the deceased. These are the most popular and well-known stories and Romanian mythological creatures. If you know of any Romanian tales we should include here, let us know! With Halloween coming up this year, the Cpcun seems to be an unconventional choice for an impersonation. Because there is a long history of walking corpses and bloodsucking ghouls in folklore . "While Reading Vasmer's Dictionary" In: Learn how and when to remove these template messages, Learn how and when to remove this template message, introducing citations to additional sources, Traditional Popular Civilisation ASTRA Museum, Youth Without Aging and Life Without Death, "Dragobete 's Day - Celebrating love in the Romanian style", De la tipologia folcloristului finlandez Antti Amatus Aarne la universul basmului romnesc vzut de etnologul Adolf Schullerus, n comparatiune cu legendele antice clasice i n legtur cu basmele popoarelor nvecinate i ale tuturor popoarelor romanice: studiu comparativ, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Folklore_of_Romania&oldid=1128627917, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles needing additional references from June 2010, All articles needing additional references, Articles needing additional references from September 2012, Articles with multiple maintenance issues, Articles with unsourced statements from May 2022, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Hora miresei (translated as "Bride's Hora"). Romanian myths part of international culture. Oftentimes people claim to see them at night, dancing Horas naked in the moonlight, with bells on their ankles and candles in their hands. It is essential to preserve these creations together with the act of telling stories and fables. A fascinating post. Seems the regular information from WP are now again delivered to me too. Wood used to be the main construction material, and heavily ornamented wooden objects were common in old houses. January 13, 2021 The ancestors of the Poles were already present in what is now Poland since the earliest Roman records of the area, in the early centuries AD. From this clay he would make the earth. This article is about to introduce you to the heroes and villains of Romanian folklore! Ethnographers have tried to collect in the last two centuries as many elements as possible: the Museum of the Romanian Peasant and the Romanian Academy are currently the main institutions which systematically organise the data and continue the research. Dar l-am inclus intr-un post mai vechi: 4 Romanian Myths between Culture, History and the Sacred, https://alluringcreations.co.za/wp/4-romanian-myths-culture-history-sacred/, Imi amintesc ca, in copilrie, cand am citit pentru coal poezia lui Ion Heliade Rdulescu, tare nspimntat am fost de Zburtorul. We all know the phenomenon of children having imaginary friends. Nuggets of Romanian Folklore, Myths and Legends Jewels of Romanian History and Travel. At the beginning of 1900, there were still some people who claimed to have heard real stories about Jidovi from their grandparents who saw them in person. According to Romanian mythology, Zburatorul is actually the personification of the intense feelings of erotic desire and longing for a man. God began to grow the piece of clay into the earth, and when it was large enough that he felt he could leave it to expand in peace, he lay his head down to rest. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
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