In: Lefter, Lucian-Valeriu. Signs of their existence are still noticeable, local people claim. , Sa stii ca nu te contrazic aici [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. These are a few of Romanias most widely-known folktales and legends! It remains to be seen. Monsters from Romanian Myths Frtat, Nefrtat and Apa Smbetei (The Wasted Water, Long Gone and Wasted) One of the creation stories in Romanian folklore explains the Genesis. Where they dance, they are often said to leave the ground burnt, and no living thing will grow there for years. Terrible crimes and cruelties were committed by both sides, until god despaired and intervened. The 12 winds are said to sweep up the ashes of people and gather them in the valley of Safed, where the Last Judgement shall be done. Vampires are evil mythological beings who roam the world at night searching for people whose blood they feed upon. 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. [2] The Devil tried to push him over the side, but the ever-expanding earth would hinder that. 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. Most of these names can be found in the Romanian Lore in reference to Vampires and Dragons. Occasionally they help children find answers to moral questions in life. Luckily, there were certain chosen people, known as good sorcerers, that with the permission of the possessed girls and with a bit of magic succeeded in healing them. The Romanian mythology is quite impressive. I'm was never really into authentic military units simulation, so true fans can feel free to throw rocks of shit at me. "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"). Iele - the Ladies of the Woods Romanian Myths & Legends 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. 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. So, the Romanian Vasilisc is just like the Basilisk from Harry Potter? This bizarre whale feeding technique may explain some ancient folklore. But if they are helped, they offer gifts to the rivers and please the water fairies. 3. Legends tell the stories for most of them. 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"). Occasionally they help children find answers to moral questions in life. Around that day, which represents the end of winter, it is believed that birds find their mate and start building nests together. Frtat called to his brother to dive together and gather handfuls of sand from the bottom of the ocean and throw it in the air, in his name, so Earth will form so they could both rest and catch their breath. Women also wore a white skirt and a shirt with a vest. And when the banquet was held, the king was flabbergasted at the taste of his food. Answer (1 of 3): The name strigoi comes from the Latin strix and striga, which in ancient times were associated with witches or nocturnal flying creatures. Blessed, alluring IELELE,Mistresses of breeze,Ladies of the earth and mist,Through the air you rise,On the grass you slide,And on waves you glide. . One day, the king asked his daughters how much they loved him. Enjoyed this? The mythological "aluxes" have a penchant for tricks and small deceptions . A boundless ocean called Apa Smbetei. Sentimental music, however, is the most valued, and Romanians consider their doina (a sad song either about one's home or about love, composed like an epic ballad) unique in the world. 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! Hi! He only wanted his daughter to be happy. What a practical love! Were Glenn and Katja! Traditional folk arts include wood carving, ceramics, weaving and embroidery of costumes, household decorations, dance, and richly varied folk music. It comes out only to feed on the saliva of those living above, slowly dehydrating the residents until they die. As he slept, his trickster brother decided to push him off the edge. A not-so-widespread belief is that of a definitive destruction of the earth, whereupon God and the Devil shall divide the souls of the dead among themselves and retire to the moon, who is considered to have been made in the image of the earth to serve a place of retreat after the destruction of the earth. Werewolves, vampires, capcaun, zmeu and many other mythical creatures originated in East Europe in Transylvania, Romania. [1]:55, The origin of mountains is explained in a number of ways by the cultures of the different regions of Romania. 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. But what is a Dacian Draco? The "chupacabra hysteria" was frequently associated with deep economic and political crises, particularly during the mid-1990s. Eventually, he realised he was being had and demanded to know why! Overcome by sadness, he walked through every room in search of the room where he was born. I should add in the post that the root of the word Fartat comes from frate = brother. [3] According to Christian calendar, Romanians from Banat, Transylvania, Bucovina and Maramure counties celebrate Easter of Blajini on first Monday after St. Thomas Sunday. A few of the most well known types of vampires are the nosferatu, moroi, strigoi, and mullo. But the clay refused to budge until finally he gave up and called it in his brothers name of course, it immediately came to his hands. The serpentine rooster from Chile. Interesting post. His second daughter said I love you like sugar, father, and he was pleased as well. Author of the Year Spillwords Press Nomination, An Unexpected Christmas Gift Publication of the Month on Spillwords Press, Storytime, An Unexpected Christmas Gift Un Dar Neateptat de Crciun, How To Improve Your Child s Reading Skills and How Memory Helps, 32 original Afrikaans idioms sure to make you smile once translated into English, #SouthAfrica #languages #learning #fun, 20 Afrikaans words with interesting English literal translations, Fastest Route to Mona Lisa, Louvre, Paris, The Wooden Church from Bicaz, Maramures, Romania #Im4Ro, Romanian Monsters of Myth and Folklore #Im4Ro, A New Literary Comparison, Bram Stoker's Dracula - Vlad the Impaler, and prieten means friend, a treasured friend . Vampires have been featured in folklore and fiction of various cultures for hundreds of years, predominantly in Europe, although belief in them has waned in modern times. These are embroidered with traditional motifs that vary from region to region. As a matter of fact, the author of this incredibly popular novel never traveled to Romania in his life. He is an outlandish beast that has a female version in some stories. , Thanks for the addition Pat.. very interesting..hugsx. The Romanian folklore is a big happy family. Romania's rich folk traditions have been nourished by many sources, some of which predate the Roman occupation. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Rememeber, Romania has the largest population of canis lupus (wolves) in Europe. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. 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. This is related to the concept of soul customs, where every soul is intercepted on its way to heaven by these demons, who force it into hell. Prince Radu the Black dreamed of building the most striking monastery in Romania. Another legendsays that old Urias burial mounds hides amassive horde of riches that can only be discovered on Christmas Eve, at Easter, or on St. Georges Day, when magical fires burn above his grave. Nefrtatul went forth, but he tried to call the clay in his own name so that he would be ruler over all. Oftentimes people claim to see them at night, dancing Horas naked in the moonlight, with bells on their ankles and candles in their hands. Features RPG Yaga Folklore monsters, Romanian hip-hop, and a one-armed blacksmith star in this action RPG By Christopher Livingston last updated March 19, 2022 There are also light roguelike. In Romanian strigoi means to scream. I am always astonished by the number of myths, legends and all the folklore there is in European countries. Moreover, Strigoii can cause many illnesses and eve shape-shift into were-wolfs. Day Fifteen of the Folkloric Fauna of February. Richly marked with medieval castles, cities, and ruins, Transylvania is home to 8 Myths of Romania | Popular Folklore, Legends and Tales From hauntings, vampires, nymphs and treasures, these myths of Romania will mystify you and have you adding these fantastic places to your itinerary. The princess stood up, and said that since he did not like salt, she had cooked his food with only sugar and honey. In some stories this is his true appearance, in others, he is actually a dragon-like demon who simply takes on this visage. Once upon a time, there was a great king and queen. The wedding day came, and the princess knew her father would be coming to the wedding, totally unawares. Basilisk. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". With immense dark forests, mysterious mountains, and, in many periods of history, enemies on all sides, its no wonder the stories are often quite dark. We all know the phenomenon of children having imaginary friends. No grass would ever grow there, for many years, but instead only red, poisonous herbs and mushrooms would appear. They lived here first as West Slavic, Lechitic tribes, and later as a swiftly Christianized kingdom (formed by a tribe known as the Polans, hence Po land). On this night, people hang garlic on their doors for protection, and tend to stay inside. From this clay he would make the earth. According to the tale of creation, God and the Devil are master and servant, the devil (Nefrtatul) being Gods foolish brother. Perhaps the most successful collector of folk tales was the novelist and storyteller Ion Creang, who, in very picturesque language, shaped into their now-classic form stories like Harap Alb (roughly, "The White Moor") or Fata babei i fata moului ("The old woman's daughter and the old man's daughter"). Rolandia is registered as tour operator at Ministry of Tourism in Romania. 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. These giants lived in the immense woodlands and in caves. 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. Better keep away for they are irresitable, especially to men, and they will make youlooseyour way through the forest. "Mituri pluviale romneti n context universal". Seems the regular information from WP are now again delivered to me too. [1]:1314, Another question commonly addressed is that of the origin of God, which is explained in a Russian doll-type fashion; before every God there was another God that created him. Past and Present Monsters of Folk Tales - Books by Patricia Furstenberg, The Old Bear in Romanian Mythology and Folklore, Garlic and Dreamland Book, Superstitions on Pentecost, Rusalii, Nuggets of Romanian Folklore, Myths and Legends, Martisor, 1 March, Celebrating Old and New, Change and Hope, Legend of Rasinari, Resin City and a Roman Soldiers Payslip, Talking Books, Romania s Folklore and History, on #CarteaDeVineri this Friday. And with that, he slapped the old man, and Ft-Frumos fell down dead, crumbling into dust. 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. This little tale follows a king and his three daughters, long, long ago. Some old books even tell stories about young girls haunted by this mysterious man, becoming so desperately in love that they started acting like lunatics, walking down the village streets almost undressed and untidy, obviously exhausted and sometimes semi-conscious. Like the Strigoi, Pricolici are undead monsters (violent criminals returned from the grave) looking like a giant wolf. The Romanian folklore shares some similar fantastic cast of monsters and the Vasilisc is just an example. If the latter, hes a dark embodiment of the Romanian peoples fear of their invading enemies. The sky and the earth will be set alight and the earth will be purged, so that its Creator may descend upon it. Maybe it is a bedtime story, for your little one? It took some convincing, as this was not a prudent match for a prince to make (at least, as far as they knew). First, the rural character of the Romanian communities resulted in an exceptionally vital and creative traditional culture. However, they are all very small bovids. Or a love story would be better, to melt your other half's heart? Ft-Frumos with his princess | illustration by Marina Plantus. [Romanian Pluvial Myths In a World Wide Context]. The word Cpcun can mean either dog-head or Turk chieftain. In Romanian mythology, the Iele are mythical creatures similar to the Nymphs and Dryads found in Greek mythology. And while we do have some pretty funny superstitions, other legends are very meaningful and even a little bit believable. The word Strigoi originates in medieval Romanian folklore. "Aluxes" are creatures from Mayan mythology, depicted as small elven or goblin-like spirits known for creating mischief. Anyone who would have wanted to kill it had to bring a mirror in front of it so that its gaze could be reflected. Shape shifting freaks me out too. This physical deformation reflects his evil, warped mind, and hes keen to kill anyone who passes his musty den. We will explore the myths, urban legends and fol. The Most Prevalent Feminine Mythical Characters in Romanian Folklore The Great Goddess of Neolithic, Mother of all, the source of life, feeder of men and animals, prefigured as a snake, bird or fish, guardian of all creatures living in the air, waters or underground, is the dominant character of the pre-historic mythology. I think it might be due to a good mix of tumultuous histories, a web of cultures, incredible geography, weather, and crazy politics? Cultures worldwide have passed down tales. 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. It is said that they used magic words that asked to Zburator to leave, to hide and never to return. Others attribute the earthquakes to the earth (which is alive, and can therefore feel) realising the wicked ways of humans, and trembling in fright. This is my own version of the Romanian creation story with elements taken from all. It is essential to preserve these creations together with the act of telling stories and fables. The subspecies of the Rupicapra genus differ by habitat range and slightly different in certain physical traits, such as color. These are the most popular and well-known stories and Romanian mythological creatures. One account is that mountains formed as a response to God demanding the Earth to nurture all life, to which the earth shuddered and brought forth mountains. Discover some of the most powerful legends in Romanian folklore, which influenced and gave birth to numerous tales and stories. Vlad Hagyak epe, the Impaler, Prince of Wallachia, died 1477. His solution was to flood the entire earth, leaving only Noah and his Ark (you can see here how old myths have been intermingled with Christianity, rather than being simply replaced by it). 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. Or be a werewolf that died, and came back as a vampire . Ft-Frumos enthusiastically agreed, having found his place of eternal youth. Others claim that they are descendants of St. Elijah and that this is the reason why they master the storms and the thunders so well. Unfortunately, few primary sources are currently available in English. 10. Sure enough, the sculptures on Emperor Trajans Column in Rome are there to attest it. Finally, Ft-Frumos practically means handsome son. He is the Romanian superhero who gets to slay all the mythical monsters we listed above. There are quite a variety of Romanian monsters. Males are somewhat larger than females, with a weight of 30-60 kg . So if you have six kids, all one sex, call it there. The Romanian holiday Patele Blajinilor (Easter of Blajini) is a way to repay them for the benefits they bring. The folklore of medieval Europe was a mixture of legends from various sources, such as ancient regional stories mixed with Judeo-Christian religious tales and myths from the Roman Empire and the Near East. Youll find that Strigoi, some of the creepiest mythological creatures, captured the whole area around Romania, with similar myths appearing in Hungary and Poland. In the latter case, they are equalized with demons and provoke human resentment. 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 is said that Rozalinda, the Giants daughter, discovered some people on the banks of Some river and she took them home, thinking they are tiny dolls. In the Carpathians, Jidovii are often named Blajini, which means the Kind Ones, or Novaci, which means the Powerful Ones as they could snatch a tree without any effort. With stories being passed down from one generation to another, the Romanian folklore was always rich with magical or scary tales. Believed to look like a mix between a snake and a reptile, the Vasilisc had a killer gaze and poisonous breath. Which is much creepier. Ethnologists, poets, writers and historians have tried in recent centuries to collect and to preserve tales, poems, ballads and have tried to describe as well as possible the customs and habits related to different events and times of year. Top 10 Greatest Mythological Creatures and Legendary Creatures of Myth and Folklore Werewolf: Wolf-human shapeshifter (Global Culture) Dragon: Depicted as fire-breathing and winged (Global Culture) Chimera: Hybrid Fire-breathing creature (Greek Mythology) Loch Ness Monster: Aquatic monster (Scottish Folklore) It is basically the standard form of an evil spirit. While the name Draco comes from the Greek term Drakon, which signifies to guard with a sharp eye, it also means serpent or dragon. The Pricolici is a Romanian werewolf another name for them is Vrcolac, but this term has also been used to name goblin-like creatures. Ugly and evil, this creature feeds on human flesh and looks like a giant dog-headed beast. [1]:3842, The etymology of the word blajin (adj.) It is good to note, as well, that the nomadic Roma people and the Romanian people are two different cultural and ethnic groups, and this post discusses the mythology of the Romanians. He is smart and hard-to-defeat. I'm a maths tutor and a mechanical engineering student with a long time-interest in history. But if you spot them, dont linger. Patricia Furstenberg writes historical fiction, contemporary and children's book. A Cpcun is something similar to an ogre in the Romanian folklore. Major Archaeological Discovery Of A 7,000-Year-Old Settlement In Miami . If people refuse to help them while they are in disguise, they bring hail and strong storms to ruin the crops. They appear in Romani folklore. The Balaur resides among the mythic dragons and dragon-like beings, who retain their unique traits and cultural elements from their fitting lores. They have similarities to brownies and to dwarves. Because there is a long history of walking corpses and bloodsucking ghouls in folklore . I studied some ancient mythology in uni, and I love learning about other places and cultures. These giants are also kind and gentle, and they too stride across mountains although they do seem to be a bit smaller than the Uria. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Had you been much later, I would have perished myself!. Extremely Rare Ancient Gold Glass With Goddess Roma Found During Subway Works In Rome. Not surprisingly, one Romanian business even adopted it in the shape of its logo. "Its a legend about a lady going around door to door selling keropok. According to their stories, there were few giants left but lived in good communion with humans. The giants sound almost charming, but Capcaun scares me . Dare we assume Balaur sound familiar? Happy to be here. You can find her in a plethora of folk and fairy tales, playing the role of a forest guardian. Every story has a beginning, and our tale of the five most beloved Romanian villains starts with the Dacian Draco. The balaur appears in most love stories as an evil character. A moroi is a kind of Strigoi-light theyre also vampiric creatures, but not quite as violent or frightful as the Strigoi. It represents evil, as do its counterparts Zmeu and the Balaur. Would you like to find out the latest trips and stories from the land of Romania? They were left to live in the mountains only if they promised to guard with their life the great Dacian gold treasures. Known as the Powerful Ones, and The Holy Ones, as well as many other names, these feminine creatures hate to be watched. Romanians have had, from time immemorial, a myriad of customs, tales and poems about love, faith, kings, princesses, and witches. , Thank you very much, for this interesting posting, Patricia. They may be the best-known classic monsters of all. Their songs and firelit dances can lead travelers astray. 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. Manananggal (Image credit: Oronoz/Alamy) These terrifying flyers from Filipino folklore gain their name from the Tagalog word "tanggal," which means "to split." Generally depicted as female, the. So sweet, and without any real flavour! These stories appear not only in Romanian folklore, but also in those of Aromanian, Slavic Macedonian and Bulgarian folklore. Romanians claim that Strigoi is the father of Dracula, as opposed to the TV show, he is either invisible or is in the form of an animal. Welcome to our blog! From the little sand Frtat gathered he created a stretch of of earth where both of them went to rest, glad it felt solid, although their fingers were still dipped into Apa Smbetei, for it was narrow. In most local folklore, moroi are the souls of unbaptised children or faithless adults. K Kiara Yew Adventures Romanian Legends and Myths Werewolf Legend Werewolf Mythology Vampire Mythology Werewolf Hunter Mythical Creatures Art Rozalinda agreed to be turned into a human and so the two lived happily ever after. . In that time, the prince fell in love with this charming servant girl, and asked his mother if he could marry her. This other earth is imagined as a mirror image of our own, and as a home to creatures called Blajini [blain] ("gentle/kind-hearted ones"), sometimes given the name Rohmani [roh.man] in Bucovina. These creatures are sometimes described as one-eyed cyclops-like monsters, who feed on human flesh. There are many stories of men being mutilated or losing their ability to talk after discovering these beautiful but cruel creatures.