A feature of Romanian culture is the special relationship between folklore and the learned culture, determined by two factors. When he found it, the cracked voice of Death said You are most welcome! If youd like us to research and write about a particular place, get in touch! Scientists are puzzling over a strange hunting technique that whales recently began using: They swim to the surface of the ocean, open their mouths into a gaping yawn with their A sly and repulsive antagonist, the Omul Spn, Bold Man, Glabrous Man, is a character of treacherous intelligence, yet he has the role of initiating Harap-Alb, the hero of the Romanian fairytale with the same title, thus representing, together with the Red Emperor, a necessary evil for the growth of the protagonist. Absolutely fascinating Pat.. thanks for the amazing background and I love the explanation of Genesisxx, Cheering your visit, Sally Prince Radu the Black dreamed of building the most striking monastery in Romania. Strong folk traditions have survived to this day due to the rural character of the Romanian communities, which has resulted in an exceptionally vital and creative traditional culture. 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. Ciubotaru, Silvia. Perhaps the most well known form of vampire, popularized by fiction and film in the Western world, is the nosferatu. But frtat also means prieten = (precious) friend. According to the tale of creation, God and the Devil are master and servant, the devil (Nefrtatul) being Gods foolish brother. As the prince walked home, he found that he was growing steadily older, until he was a crooked, white-haired man. 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. Maria Tnase is considered to be one of the greatest Romanian folk singers and today Grigore Lee and Taraful Haiducilor are two of the most famous musicians. Were from South Africa, and have a keen interest in history, mythology and culture. Romanian mythology can be truly impressive, with tales of giants that protected the Earth, and powerful wizards that descended from Dacian High Priests. Romanian Folklore. I do remember being scared of this mosnter, for he was supposed to eat naughty children (which I was not!). 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. "Mituri pluviale romneti n context universal". Males are somewhat larger than females, with a weight of 30-60 kg . Nobody knew if he was handsome or not, for he was the very first one. The creature himself appears as a beautiful young man. MAJESTIC TURKEY BY CULTURE TRIP Learn about worldwide Past and Present Monsters of Folk Tales too. Seen as the Romanian version of Valentine's Day, Dragobete is celebrated on February 24th.Dragobete, personified as a young handsome man, is the protector of lovers in Romanian folk culture. Im Author of the Year, Spillwords Press Awards! The sky and the earth will be set alight and the earth will be purged, so that its Creator may descend upon it. These stories appear not only in Romanian folklore, but also in those of Aromanian, Slavic Macedonian and Bulgarian folklore. But in the end, she was convinced, as she loved the young servant girl. Rozalinda agreed to be turned into a human and so the two lived happily ever after. All Rights Reserved. A Cpcun is a creature in Romanian folklore, depicted as an ogre who kidnaps children or young ladies (mostly princesses). This physical deformation reflects his evil, warped mind, and hes keen to kill anyone who passes his musty den. 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. 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. Have a lovely weekend, Pat. And while we do have some pretty funny superstitions, other legends are very meaningful and even a little bit believable. 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. Some of the most beautiful fairy tales and legends have been translated into English. Korrigan - in northwestern France, these elf-like female beings have long hair, flowing white garments, and sometimes delicate wings. In Romania, fears of the strigoi, once-human monsters who need blood to survive, have circulated for hundreds of years. Myths in the ancient kingdoms of Carpathia and Transylvania are especially original. Discover some of the most powerful legends in Romanian folklore, which influenced and gave birth to numerous tales and stories. And with that, he slapped the old man, and Ft-Frumos fell down dead, crumbling into dust. Some explain them as the descendants of Adam's son Seth. Rolandia is registered as tour operator at Ministry of Tourism in Romania. They may be the best-known classic monsters of all. But as he pushed, the earths expansion kept God from ever falling off. Shape shifting freaks me out too. Strigoi also include ghosts, wights, banshees, wraiths, ghouls, zombies and other shades of undeath and all forms of lycanthropy. What sweet love his daughters had for him. Eventually, he realised he was being had and demanded to know why! Extremely Rare Ancient Gold Glass With Goddess Roma Found During Subway Works In Rome. Such imagery as a darkened sun, a bleeding moon and falling stars are associated with the beginning of the End Times. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. One of the best answers for the question "how were these legends created" is, obviously, the Romanian folklore itself. 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. What do you need today? 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). Occasionally they help children find answers to moral questions in life. These include dying unmarried, by execution or suicide, or even by being the seventh child of the same sex born into a family. But what is a Dacian Draco? El Basilico Chilote. In some stories this is his true appearance, in others, he is actually a dragon-like demon who simply takes on this visage. 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. 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. Some people claim to even have seen them, especially in the region of Bukovina. A Cpcun is something similar to an ogre in the Romanian folklore. This list may not reflect recent changes . The word Cpcun can mean either dog-head or Turk chieftain. 3. In the latter case, they are equalized with demons and provoke human resentment. The princess spent every day alongside the empress at her sons bed, and quickly he was healed. A strong desire to kidnap and marry young girls animates him. The Hydra is a reptilian creature from Greek mythology that could regrow two heads for every one that was cut off, a trait that the Hydra organization adopted as its motto. 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. So she cooked only his meal herself, ensuring the serving girl brought it to just him. 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Or it could have been Decebal, one of the first rulers of the Dacians, Romanians ancestors, who ordered these Giants to protect the Dacian treasures hed hidden in a cave when Romans attacked, 1st century AD. Wood used to be the main construction material, and heavily ornamented wooden objects were common in old houses. They are very similar to the beasts in the rest of the European mythologies, and ever popular in Romania. Once, in an old anonymous folk tale, Ft-Frumos even goes on a quest to gain immortality. In: Ciubotaru, Silvia. In others, they are considered mortal vampires, and live an ordinary lifespan, simply with special powers, avoidance of sunlight, and a tendency to suck your blood. Ugly and evil, this creature feeds on human flesh and looks like a giant dog-headed beast. The legends of many nations describe a bygone era when the world was ruled by giant humans. Among the Romanian culture, we can find several traditions, celebrations and rituals with references to vampire protection, which also contributes to the creation of several legends and beliefs about these creatures. A very old and puzzling folklore piece is the beginning of one of the creation myths: "In the beginning of beginnings, before time and matter, there was a boundless ocean called Apa Smbetei. August 20, 2020 by Patricia Furstenberg. If you are curious about his adventures on this quest, you can read the story in English. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Ielele bathe in glacial lakes, and dance on mountain cliffs and in meadows. Signs of their existence are still noticeable, local people claim. . Of course, redheads are also considered very suspicious. 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. Another prolific editor of folk tales was Petre Ispirescu, who, in the 19th century published an impressive number of volumes containing a large number of short novels and tales from popular mythology. Better keep away for they are irresitable, especially to men, and they will make youlooseyour way through the forest. 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. So he told the fairies that he must go, and bid them farewell despite their objections. This is my own version of the Romanian creation story with elements taken from all. It has similarities to many different legendary creatures, but most of all with the vampire and lycanthropes of the Slavic and Balkan region. , Thanks for the addition Pat.. very interesting..hugsx. First, the rural character of the Romanian communities resulted in an exceptionally vital and creative traditional culture. One day, God decided to create the earth, and enlisted the help of the animals and of his brother. Category:Romanian legendary creatures Help Pages in category "Romanian legendary creatures" The following 22 pages are in this category, out of 22 total. Where they dance, they are often said to leave the ground burnt, and no living thing will grow there for years. Traditional folk arts include wood carving, ceramics, weaving and embroidery of costumes, household decorations, dance, and richly varied folk music. 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. She forgave him, and they all lived happily ever after. Romania's rich folk traditions have been nourished by many sources, some of which predate the Roman occupation. The word Strigoi originates in medieval Romanian folklore. These are usually, in our world, psychological creations that children invent as a way to socialize, be creative, and altogether develop cognitively. That is, until he realised he had drawn a giant cross in the ground, and backed off in fear of the sacred symbol. In these stories the Devil goes by the name "Nefrtatul" and is the somewhat foolish brother of God in folk versions of stories. Sometimes good, sometimes a bit wicked, the Solomonar is considered the great sorcerer of storms and winds, master of all lakes, tall mountains and deep caves, and the creator of frost, mist, and hail. Pricolici, along with the vampiric Strigoi and shapeshifting Moroi, gather on the Night of the Wolf the eve of Saint Andrews. As he slept, his trickster brother decided to push him off the edge. With Halloween coming up this year, the Cpcun seems to be an unconventional choice for an impersonation. The giants sound almost charming, but Capcaun scares me . By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. [4] Kites are a favorite way of entertaining both children and adults on the Romanian Black Sea beaches, where the wind is mighty. "Din senin de ap: Facerea Lumii" [Out of Infinite Clear Waters: The Genesis]. I'm a maths tutor and a mechanical engineering student with a long time-interest in history. In the modern folklore of Puerto Rico and Mexico, the chupacabra (goat-sucker) is said to be a creature that feeds upon the flesh or drinks the blood of domesticated animals, leading some to consider it a kind of vampire. He visits them in their dreams, creating a second reality that is often a good deal more exciting than the truth of their waking reality. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. This article is about to introduce you to the heroes and villains of Romanian folklore! Oftentimes people claim to see them at night, dancing Horas naked in the moonlight, with bells on their ankles and candles in their hands. There you have it! Werewolves, vampires, capcaun, zmeu and many other mythical creatures originated in East Europe in Transylvania, Romania. 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. They have filled folklore, stories, songs, and works of art . These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. They also stepped gingerly, so that we wouldnt get squashed. Pricolici. The founding father of vampire literature, Bram Stoker, introduced the cruelest Wallachian ruler of XVth century Romania to the world. With stories being passed down from one generation to another, the Romanian folklore was always rich with magical or scary tales. Unfortunately, few primary sources are currently available in English. Romanian mythology is vibrant and often scary, full of blood-sucking creatures, vicious and fickle lovers, and bloody battles. These monsters go beyond scary Halloween stories of ghosts, demons, vampires, and werewolves. He is known to kidnap children and young women, and features in multiple Romanian folktales, where he kidnaps the princess and must be defeated. Also, there is a story which repeats regardless of region, when giants seeing people plowing the land, took them in their hands as little toys, smiled at them and then put them back carefully. Best solution is not to open the door.". They appear in Romani folklore. She is the author of Dreamland, Transylvania's History A to Z, bestseller Joyful Trouble and other 18 books. 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 Nalusa Falaya from Choctaw mythology slithers like a snake, preying on children who stay out too late. Nonetheless, Romanian history inspired him to come up with the name Count Dracula for the main character of the book. 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. 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. Sure enough, the sculptures on Emperor Trajans Column in Rome are there to attest it. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". He is an outlandish beast that has a female version in some stories. There are many stories of men being mutilated or losing their ability to talk after discovering these beautiful but cruel creatures. A varcolac (or vrcolac or vircolac) in Romanian folklore may refer to several different figures. [1]:6768, Sources form Moldova and Bucovina also speak of a great army led by the emperor Constantine, which will conquer all the world's states, and kill everyone save for a few pure ones, which will then repopulate the earth. But if you spot them, dont linger. So Nefrtatul pushed in each of the four cardinal directions, trying with all his might to claim the earth for himself. Nefrtatul went forth, but he tried to call the clay in his own name so that he would be ruler over all. One day, God decided to create the earth, and enlisted the help of the animals and of his brother. 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. In another instance, should this army not come, God shall burn the earth as described and bring the Blajini to live there. Different from balaur or vrcolac, the Zmeu has human features. 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. The most prominent symbol associated with the End Times is that of the earthquake. 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. Romania's rich folk traditions have been nourished by many sources, some of which predate the Roman occupation. But the best legend ever is that of the famous agreement between the great Dacian king Burebista and all the Jidovi from the mountains. Traditional folk arts include wood carving, ceramics, weaving and embroidery of costumes, household decorations, dance, and richly varied folk music. At the end of this ritual, the girls were cured, the Zburator was gone, and life kept going on as usual. The subspecies of the Rupicapra genus differ by habitat range and slightly different in certain physical traits, such as color. They are either described as malicious or as having great respect for God and leading a sinless life. As the Norse Fenris, a varcolac may swallow the moon and the sun; it's thus responsible for eclipses. I studied some ancient mythology in uni, and I love learning about other places and cultures. You've taught your students about the worldnow . 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 are centered on popular characters like the prince Ft-Frumos (the Romanian "Prince Charming"), the princess Ileana Cosnzeana, the villain or monster Zmeu or Cpcun, the dragon Balaur or fantastic superbeings like the good Zn and the evil Muma Pdurii. Cpcun (ogre) It represents evil, as do its counterparts Zmeu and the Balaur. According to the stories, a vampire is a Strigoi possessing a bat, just like a werewolf is a Strigoi possessing a wolf. Ft-Frumos is actually present in many Romanian folk tales. He is called Zburatorul, meaning The One Who Flies, a handsome airman tormenting the sleep of young girls and young wives. Anyone who would have wanted to kill it had to bring a mirror in front of it so that its gaze could be reflected. This article has multiple issues. Tall, red-haired, with bulging eyes, dressed in a white long coat, he is always described carrying his Magic Book, the source of all his powers. Or a love story would be better, to melt your other half's heart? As mentioned in the show, Zanna derive from Romanian folklore. Love and death play crucial roles in Romanian mythology, as well as the fight between evil and good, in which Ft-Frumos represents the good. I, too, seem to notice that WP is out of sorts at times. 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. After trying to throw God off the earth in every one of the four cardinal directions, he shied away from the cross he drew in the ground himself. They were left to live in the mountains only if they promised to guard with their life the great Dacian gold treasures. It goes without saying, human heroes with supernatural powers are always there to save the day. When he asked his youngest how much she loved him, she told him I love you like the salt in your meal, father. Rememeber, Romania has the largest population of canis lupus (wolves) in Europe. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window), Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window), Die Fennek of Woestynjakkals, the Fennec or Desert Jackal and a Story, Patricia Furstenberg Historical Fiction, Contemporary, Kids Books Author, Privacy Policy, Terms of use, Disclosures. Linen was the most common material for clothing, combined with wool during the winter or colder periods. He is described as a shooting star, coming down through the chimney or the window, entering a girls room in the shape of an incredibly handsome man and, sometimes, in the shape of the man the girl loves. 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. (a type of cracker) If you refuse to buy any, she releases a Pontianak (a vengeful ghost) into your house. So if you have six kids, all one sex, call it there. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. While the name Draco comes from the Greek term Drakon, which signifies to guard with a sharp eye, it also means serpent or dragon. A boundless ocean called Apa Smbetei. Thank you! 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. Belonging to the Cretaceous period the Theropod dinosaur is one of the dwarf dinosaur species that lived in what is now Romania. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Folk legend say that wherever the seductive ielele danced, strung in a circle, afterwards the ground appeared scorched, dead. I believe that at the source of each myth, folktale or superstition is the seed of a true story. In: This page was last edited on 21 December 2022, at 03:40. A few of the most well known types of vampires are the nosferatu, moroi, strigoi, and mullo. The beauty and mystery of Romania have been sung by poets and painted in ink by illustrious writers, take a trip into the culture of an amazing country and see it through their eyes with a Classic Romania Tour. 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. Other rare natural phenomena such as Eclipses or Comets were seen as a sign of impending doom. A moroi is a kind of Strigoi-light theyre also vampiric creatures, but not quite as violent or frightful as the Strigoi. Likewise, the wolf is still present as a symbol in Romanian culture. Romanian mythology says that only a baby boy born with a distinctive sign over his face and body can become such a wizard. Both reside above the infinite ocean called Apa Smbetei. Iele - the Ladies of the Woods Romanian Myths & Legends Let's face it. There are quite a variety of Romanian monsters. Here we are, arriving at the ubiquitous Zmeu (pronounced ). 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 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.