Happy to be here. It took some convincing, as this was not a prudent match for a prince to make (at least, as far as they knew). Nuggets of Romanian Folklore, Myths and Legends Jewels of Romanian History and Travel. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Gugalanna (Sumerian Mythology) Jidovii are described in Romanian legends as kind and patient, walking with huge steps from one hill to another. Ielele bathe in glacial lakes, and dance on mountain cliffs and in meadows. 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. It was a combination snake, rooster, bat, and sometimes other animals, that was born from an . He is an outlandish beast that has a female version in some stories. Despite the popularity of the vampire mythology, Romania holds her own myths and legends. One of the best answers for the question "how were these legends created" is, obviously, the Romanian folklore itself. 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. Myths in the ancient kingdoms of Carpathia and Transylvania are especially original. 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. The ethnograph Marian Simion Florea wrote: Blajini are fictitious beings, incarnations of dead children not baptized who live at the end of Earth, nearby The Holy water (of Saturday). . So Nefrtatul pushed in each of the four cardinal directions, trying with all his might to claim the earth for himself. Not at all delightful. Vampires, fairies, mythological creatures, and monsters co-exist in tales and stories. B Balaur C Cpcun D Dhampir I Iele M Marolea Moroi Muma Pdurii Muroni P Pricolici R Rahmans S Sntoaderi Snzian Spiridu Strigoi U Uria V Vlv Yet the earth kept on growing to reach and protect Frtat, and thus Earth came to be. MAJESTIC TURKEY BY CULTURE TRIP In his search, Ft-Frumos had many adventures, acquiring a flying horse and fighting many of the monsters we mention below. These are usually, in our world, psychological creations that children invent as a way to socialize, be creative, and altogether develop cognitively. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". A legend in his home country, Vlad was incredibly impressive in inspiring fear and horror into his Turkish enemies, demoralising their troops. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages) This article needs additional citations for verification. 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". According to Romanian mythology, Zburatorul is actually the personification of the intense feelings of erotic desire and longing for a man. In Romania, fears of the strigoi, once-human monsters who need blood to survive, have circulated for hundreds of years. These stories appear not only in Romanian folklore, but also in those of Aromanian, Slavic Macedonian and Bulgarian folklore. Ft-Frumos with his princess | illustration by Marina Plantus. Sources. So the king, enraged (somehow) by her answer, banished his daughter from the castle, unwilling to listen to any explanation. Both reside above the infinite ocean called Apa Smbetei. 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. 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. Dare we assume Balaur sound familiar? But when he came of age, the young man asked his father to make good on his promise, and give to him eternal youth. Bulgarian folklore tradition keeps its beliefs into supernatural creatures towards which people have more poetic or generally pagan attitude. Worth mentioning is the root of the word Frtat coming from frate = brother. Category:Romanian legendary creatures Help Pages in category "Romanian legendary creatures" The following 22 pages are in this category, out of 22 total. In the latter case, they are equalized with demons and provoke human resentment. The Romanian holiday Patele Blajinilor (Easter of Blajini) is a way to repay them for the benefits they bring. 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. Romania's rich folk traditions have been nourished by many sources, some of which predate the Roman occupation. So, the Uria are no longer among us. Folklore of Romania. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Absolutely fascinating Pat.. thanks for the amazing background and I love the explanation of Genesisxx, Cheering your visit, Sally Ielele are stunning nymph-like women who dance under the moonlight. Even if they did or did not exist, they left us beautiful stories about their way of living. They appear in Romani folklore. But if you spot them, dont linger. As this piece of clay grew into the earth, God laid himself down to sleep. 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. Of course, there are so many that are less widely known, but just as uniquely interesting. [1]:34. Vampires in popular culture | by Ben Douglass via Flickr. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The sky and the earth will be set alight and the earth will be purged, so that its Creator may descend upon it. K Kiara Yew Adventures Romanian Legends and Myths Werewolf Legend Werewolf Mythology Vampire Mythology Werewolf Hunter Mythical Creatures Art Terrible crimes and cruelties were committed by both sides, until god despaired and intervened. European folklore, like the Polish Wpierz, Local folktales and legends around the world, Mongolian mythology | Gods & legends of the nomadic tribes, Greek desserts | 8 Incredible pastries to try in Athens. Or a love story would be better, to melt your other half's heart? Sometimes it is described wearing a shiny magical stone on its head, making it more difficult for Ft-Frumos, the Romanian Prince Charming, to crush it. In Romanian strigoi means to scream. The spell of obsession he weaves around his women can only be broken by a talented sorcerer. Im Author of the Year, Spillwords Press Awards! And while we do have some pretty funny superstitions, other legends are very meaningful and even a little bit believable. The Romanian Giants known as Jidovi, are probably one of the most beloved folklore creatures. The Romanian word appears to have meant "Dog-head" (cp being a form of cap, meaning "head", and cun a derivative of cine, "dog"). Once, in an old anonymous folk tale, Ft-Frumos even goes on a quest to gain immortality. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. But what to do with the difference in size? Other descriptions have him as an undead . Korrigan - in northwestern France, these elf-like female beings have long hair, flowing white garments, and sometimes delicate wings. But frtat also means prieten = (precious) friend. Vlad Hagyak epe, the Impaler, Prince of Wallachia, died 1477. His eldest daughter said I love you like honey, father, and he was very pleased. Cpcun (ogre) 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. Traditional folk arts include wood carving, ceramics, weaving and embroidery of costumes, household decorations, dance, and richly varied folk music. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. England's Black Annis tans the skins of naughty children and wears them around her waist. In this video we will be looking at the most popular and famous mythical creature of each and every country. I do remember being scared of this mosnter, for he was supposed to eat naughty children (which I was not!). The creatures swim to the surface of the ocean . At the end of this ritual, the girls were cured, the Zburator was gone, and life kept going on as usual. 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. Both reside above the infinite ocean called Apa Smbetei. His name translates to handsome son, and he embodies purity, passion, spiritual and mental strength. 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. anything that can shape shift scares me! The translations are excellent reads for your children when traveling to Romania. The water soon foamed, perhaps under a gust of wind, and from that foam grew a flower. 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. Belonging to the Cretaceous period the Theropod dinosaur is one of the dwarf dinosaur species that lived in what is now Romania. And this is my "build" which is inspired by Slavic mythological folk tale creatures such as Baba Yaga or maybe Swamp Kikimora. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Women also wore a white skirt and a shirt with a vest. 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 They are considered to fast the year through, and thus doing humans a great service. 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. This Romanian vampire . Every story has a beginning, and our tale of the five most beloved Romanian villains starts with the Dacian Draco. Some sources claim that this legendary era is not at all a story and that those giants indeed ruled the world at some point in time. A varcolac (or vrcolac or vircolac) in Romanian folklore may refer to several different figures. Finally, Ft-Frumos practically means handsome son. He is the Romanian superhero who gets to slay all the mythical monsters we listed above. Inside the flower a worm took birth, but also a butterfly. [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. 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. Fearing that Heaven might be voided, the archangel Michael re-sealed it, thus freezing the demons that had not yet fallen to hell in place. [1]:37 Blajini are invisible connectors between Inner and Hollow Earth. 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. One day, God decided to create the earth, and enlisted the help of the animals and of his brother. He only wanted his daughter to be happy. Strigoi also include ghosts, wights, banshees, wraiths, ghouls, zombies and other shades of undeath and all forms of lycanthropy. The varkolak or vyrkola or vrykolakas, also called vorvolakas or vourdoulakas, is a harmful undead creature in Slavic folklore. kobolds - these little German guys might live in mines or in your house. Earthquakes are frequently attributed to the earth slipping due to the Devil's constant gnawing at these pillars, which are rebuilt by God and his angels in times of fasting. 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. It has similarities to many different legendary creatures, but most of all with the vampire and lycanthropes of the Slavic and Balkan region. 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 . The balaur appears in most love stories as an evil character. Jidovii are described in Romanian legends as kind and patient, walking with huge steps from one hill to another. And when the banquet was held, the king was flabbergasted at the taste of his food. "Din senin de ap: Facerea Lumii" [Out of Infinite Clear Waters: The Genesis]. So she cooked only his meal herself, ensuring the serving girl brought it to just him. 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. Shape shifting freaks me out too. So, the Romanian Vasilisc is just like the Basilisk from Harry Potter? Occasionally they help children find answers to moral questions in life. Un weekend frumos, Jo. By taking the shape of a dragon, appearing in the sky and spitting fire, the Zmeu belongs to a particular category of villains. 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. Have a lovely weekend, Pat. Romanian myths part of international culture. One day, God decided to create the earth, and enlisted the help of the animals and of his brother. These monsters go beyond scary Halloween stories of ghosts, demons, vampires, and werewolves. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". 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. 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. For celebrating the souls of dead relatives or friends, Romanians from above mentioned counties prepare festive meals and offer them, in the cemetery, nearby the tombs, after the religious mass and benediction, to all who wished to commemorate and pay their respects to the dead. Strigoii and Moroii are believed to drink not only the blood of a human, but to feed on its energy too. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. 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). 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. Other accounts, closer to the biblical one, suggest that the Devil and his demons were once angels of God. 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. 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. 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. I believe that at the source of each myth, folktale or superstition is the seed of a true story. Likewise, the wolf is still present as a symbol in Romanian culture. It's related to the Polish striga and the Albanian shtriga. If you dare, scroll through this roster of scary . Once upon a time, at the very beginning of the world, there was nothing but water. Stories suggest God made the earth with the help of animals, while the Devil was trying to thwart his plans. In another version, true to the succession of Gods mentioned earlier (s. here), Jesus Christ is said to come and create a new world like his father before him. As the prince walked home, he found that he was growing steadily older, until he was a crooked, white-haired man. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 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. Seems the regular information from WP are now again delivered to me too. Youll find that Strigoi, some of the creepiest mythological creatures, captured the whole area around Romania, with similar myths appearing in Hungary and Poland.
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