Such imagery as a darkened sun, a bleeding moon and falling stars are associated with the beginning of the End Times. The first describes a highly skilled person, with special artistic abilities. Some historians describe him as a justyet brutally cruelruler who valiantly fought off the Ottoman Empire. We also check out the somewhat overrated Bran Castle, which has some very loose associations with Vlad the Impaler, aka Dracula., (Did you know Bram Stoker based his character on a real person?). These stories appear not only in Romanian folklore, but also in those of Aromanian, Slavic Macedonian and Bulgarian folklore. Then, two things happened: either Chaos or Gaia created the universe as we know it, or Ouranos and Tethys gave birth to the first beings. Stories suggest God made the earth with the help of animals, while the Devil was trying to thwart his plans. Romani magic is deeply rooted in their culture, and this folklore is seen in a different way than typical western cultures. The Fairytale Traveler is a travel and lifestyle blog exploring the worlds magical, otherworldly, and fairytale-like places, places that have inspired great stories, film locations, weird and obscure places, historic sites, castles, luxury experiences, and destinations. The Witch Our third being, the . So lets start with. "Din senin de ap: Facerea Lumii" [Out of Infinite Clear Waters: The Genesis]. Blajin also means a dead child who did not receive the benediction of Holy Spirit. [1]:6971. 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. Ancient legends say that there was once a woman who wanted to become a witch, so she went to the river where she waited until midnight. Then, the restless devils killed the young man and no one ever dared to open the Black Book ever again. He ruled Walachia, Romania, off and on from 1456-1462. A surprisingly large number of people are unaware of this. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Founded in 2013 by Christa Thompson, a geeky single mom who loves myth, legend, folklore, film tourism, and cool history, The Fairytale Traveler, alongside travel stories, travel tips, trip ideas, and travel guides, features product reviews and gift guides on travel gear, gadgets, beauty products, consumer products, pets, home decor, and more. They often shut out outsiders to protect their culture. By bringing together top experts and authors, this archaeology website explores lost civilizations, examines sacred writings, tours ancient places, investigates ancient discoveries and questions mysterious happenings. Homeric texts describe these earth/spirit connections in the (Odyssey, XIII, 103-105);At the head of the harbor is a long-leafed olive tree, and near it is a pleasant, shadowy cave sacred to the nymphs called naiads and again (Odyssey, XVII, 209211);Cold water flowed down from the rock above, and on the top was built an altar of the nymphs where all passers-by made offerings. 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. I feel comfortable with Klara. Some individuals claim that a child fell and died on the spot after being sent by the constructors to verify whether the wall was straight or not. As a matter of fact, youll come across a number of mountain lakes with many dark legends one of which is referred to as Iezer. It is also where we learned how to identify, destroy and prevent them from existing at all. Klara only went to school up to the eighth grade-three years longer than her sister, who only went to the fifth grade. What Are Some of the Benefits of Healthy Cat Food? Thoths Storm: New Evidence for Ancient Egyptians in Ireland? 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. He is known for his humor and cleverness, hidden under a mask of naivety and simplicity. 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. . A Celebration of the Seasons & the Spirit. After the 17th century, the castle had been abandoned for many decades, and then a fire destroyed a great part of the castle, leaving it in ruins. Party music is very lively and shows both Balkan and Hungarian influences. The ancient civilization of Greece is a historical period that has long been a subject of fascination and intrigue. However the little girl's brother outsmarts Muma Pdurii and pushes the woman-monster in the oven instead, similar to the story of Hansel and Gretel. In other cases, staying in an unclean place was sufficient in order to obtain the infernal aid. 8.The princess and the fisherman. As Romanian magic does not easily fit into historical, anthropological portrayals of Western European witchcraft, it should be considered a separate topic with its own analytic problems and merits its own body of literature. It's difficult to pin down its genre, but it's about a witch and set in a series of rural villages during the 19th century so let's call it folk horror, a descriptor for films steeped in legends and lore connected to landscape, ritual, and, often, human sacrifice. One place that has always had a rich and strong practice of their craft are the Witches or Romania. Author of Loki The Trickster Unleashed and Supernatural in the Land of Count Dracula, Valda Roric has always been fascinated by the supernatural. I ask a lot of questions about his history with the Roma people and the way he manages tours with them. Other rare natural phenomena such as Eclipses or Comets were seen as a sign of impending doom. Romanians have very precise rules and regulations when dealing with vampires. Now that you have your own magical besom, you may use . Old Romanian legends presents Maiastra as a very beautiful bird, spreading a celestial light all around it. This blatant behaviour drowned the intoxicated soldiers in wine, which may be one of the more dignified ways to die in a war, all things considering. I like how smoothly you explained that there is a definite difference between Romani, or Roma, and Romanians. In one of his poems from 1896, the bogeyman consecutively takes the shape of a wolf, a poor man and a foreign merchant, who comes into the village to buy children who are not loved by their mothers. For instance, the Teleki mansion, which is situated in the town of Ocna Mures, is presently in a rundown condition. According to the description, the demon was red and very skinny. In 1692, the daughter of Reverend Samuel Parris and two other girls began having "fits" - screaming, throwing things, contortions, and uttering strange sounds. Finally, we make our way to the Medieval town of Sighisoara, where I happened to stumble upon a fashion shoot in the walled city. A tense moment passes. Shtriga is a vampiric witch in traditional Albanian folklore that sucks the blood of infants at night while they sleep, and then turns into a flying insect (traditionally a moth, fly or bee). Some of the most popular clubs and pubs in the city include Shoteria, Bordello, Control, Bamboo, Beat of Angels, Fratelli Social, and many many more. She and her coven -- all women of the traditionally itinerant Roma minority -- live at the margins of European society, in the. Thanks! Since then, malcontent ghosts started haunting this location and, according to locals, there are even some blurry images captured in 2011 to fuel the enduring superstition. Gypsy women wear all their jewelry. She laughs. In Romanian folklore, an evergreen or fir tree log would be burned on the night of the winter solstice to renew the year and allow the smoke to carry messages to the dead, a practice that echoes throughout Europe with regional variations. Women also wore a white skirt and a shirt with a vest. Muma Pdurii is a spirit of the forest in a very ugly and old woman's body. [1]:33. 11.The old woman and the old man. The art of egg painting has elevated the Amidst the buzz of a highway construction project in Romania, a team of workers accidentally stumbled upon a historic trove of buried treasure and a Hun warrior tomb. In the 1600's, a French Jesuit priest named Fr. I book a homecooked meal with the family several days in advance. 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Another lake is believed to have swallowed people after they tried to cross it during the cold winter months. Ariel - A Biblical name meaning "Lion of God.". 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. The folklore of Romania is the collection of traditions of the Romanians. The young man first gave them easy tasks and, then, more and more complex ones. 6 Ideas for Boosting Your Restaurant Sales in 2022, Everything You Need to Know About Foreign Exchange While Traveling, The 6 Cutest Shih Tzu Mixes You Need to See, 6 Things You Should Know Before Traveling With Your Pet By Train, Temperatures are Rising- Heres How to Take Care of Your Pet This Summer, 10 Travel Friendly Dog Breeds for Travel Enthusiasts, Getting a Dog 10 Practical Things to Know First, 3 Great Benefits of Using a Dog Playpen Plus Multifunctional Ideas, Exotic Pet Care: What You Absolutely Need to Know. It was short but sweet and said a lot. Among the treasures found were womens bronze and Mesopotamian and Egyptian glass jewelry, Nordic amber beads, and horse-riding gear left in three places alongside pottery and sacrificial offerings. Its a famous myth? His observations conclude that the Romani magical tradition was very practical and handy. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Getting to them proves challenging, but exponentially rewarding. The real story of Vlad Dracul and how he used to torture his victims is enough to curdle your blood. Depiction of a red demon, like the one in the Romanian tale. Those who wanted to contact the Devil used to go to a crossroad where they called his name or they yelled out loud Hey! A successful local entrepreneur and pillar of her community, she strikes a brilliant balance. Beliefs about malevolent witchcraft extend beyond these religions. I take some time to speak with one of the oracle readers, Andrea. This is beautiful, Tiffany, wonderful experience and lovely words to share it. There are even tales mentioning that bloody pieces of human flesh are sometimes seen floating on the surface of one of these eerie lakes. It appears in this article only when directly quoted or out of respect when practitioners or tribal members expressed a preference for it over the alternative Roma.). [Romanian Pluvial Myths In a World Wide Context]. But those who like to party like there is no tomorrow can swarm the trendy dance bars and clubs for some delicious cocktail drinks and body-shaking beats. strigoi (see . Starhawk, probably feminism's . Answer (1 of 3): There are no ghosts in the Romanian folklore. Our open community is dedicated to digging into the origins of our species on planet earth, and question wherever the discoveries might take us. In: Ciubotaru, Silvia. New at the best online prices at eBay! These witches recognize their practice as a form of magic. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 20 Awesome Mothers Day Gift Ideas Picked By Mom, How to Choose the Right Gift for Anyone In Your Family, 9 Unique Gift Ideas to Take the Stress Out of Holiday Shopping, Cheap vs Expensive Hair Products Consider These 5 Things, 4 Style Tips for Flawless Vacation Hairstyles, 7 Helpful Skincare Travel Tips for Staying Flawless This Winter, The Advantages of a Gaming Laptop for Business Use, Whats the Best Gaming Mobile Device? Some legends state that all these children were either drowned or they willingly jumped from a cliff, while others arent even certain what happened to them, which is more troubling. 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. It is in Romania where the vampire myth rules over everything the people do and say. He can appear quickly, happy with the availability of the person who wishes to be initiated into the secrets of witchcraft. [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. Hiring someone who knows them makes everything infinitely easier. You should definitely include Romania on your subsequent Eastern European itinerary. Romanians generally perceived the earth as a disc, and they imagined what existed on the other side. 1.8M views 3 years ago In Romania, the homeland of Dracula and superstition, witches were pretty much spared from the medieval witch-hunts that plagued most of Europe and killed 100,000. The man replied mechanically as though he was taking in his sleep: - I am sitting .. 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. Salem Witches, America's Most Infamous Witch Hunt. I'm Christa, founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Fairytale Traveler travel blog. 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. This is where urban legends are made! Across the table, a European couple sit. Compendium Maleficarum Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Hey! Neolithic Stone Balls: The Northern Rosetta Stone? The witch became the high priestess of the Wiccan religion, creating a myth of female power and intuitive knowledge of nature so beloved by contemporary feminism. Still, not all witches are very skilled when it comes to magic. 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. Speaking here from experience. 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. To me, its a denial [of my heritage]., In the kitchen, her mother prepares a meal from scratch for their guests. Some of these stories have really given me goosebumps. The Fairytale Traveler brand gives Christa the opportunity to do all of these things and to live intentionally every day. Great article. You see, a fire destroyed this establishment in the 17th century, hence the name. She laughs when I tell her I couldnt learn French even with books and teachers. I find this remarkable. Apart from all these ancient myths of Romania, the country is teeming with urban legends and modern-day witchcraft practices that both fascinate and chill the bones. Im not sure if its true, but it most definitely is cool. Folk creations (the best known is the ballad Mioria) were the main literary genre until the 18th century. [1]:1112[2] In the majority of versions, before the earth existed, a boundless ocean called Apa Smbetei was the abode of God and the Devil, seen as master and servant rather than equals. What is curious is that the statue depicts a boy who is about to fall and its meaning is an enigma even to this day. Many Romani tribes live in chronic isolation from mainstream Romanian society. "Trgtorii cu coarne aurite ntre cotidian i mitologie" [Golden Horn Plough Pulling Animals Between Everyday Life and Mythology]. While we wait for the food to come out, I go outside to photograph her family. This blatant behaviour drowned the intoxicated soldiers in wine, which may be one of the more dignified ways to die in a war, all things considering. Season of The Witch (er) Netflix chose Romania as the setting of the stunt because of its national folklore, which involves tales about Transylvanian vampires, buried giants and traditional. Cluj Napoca-based anthropologist Ioan Pop-Cureu, the author of Magic and Witchcraft in Romanian Territories, believes that several factors contributed to this state of affairs. 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"). Cu gura sa te invat, cu ochii sa nu te vad . ( Devil, Devil, Devil! Always attempting to find Read More. Another lake is believed to have swallowed people after they tried to cross it during the cold winter months. 14.The two step-sisters. Folklore has since tied this storybook location to Bran Castle which has given it the international name of Draculas Castle. 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. In 2017, she relocated to California to. At midnight, the witch came and began to drain the milk of the cows in a bag made of hair. is the Slavonian blan meaning 'kind, well-minding person'. [1]:3842, The etymology of the word blajin (adj.) It represents evil, as do its counterparts Zmeu and the Balaur. In Romanian mythology, the "strigoi" is the evil soul of the dead and the term comes from the word "striga", similar to the Italian "strega" that means "witch". What is the origin of the legend of the Christed Son who was born of a virgin on December 25th? Muma Pdurii literally means "mother of the forest", though "mum" is an archaic version of "mam" (mother), which has a fairy tale overtone for the Romanian reader (somewhat analogous to using the archaic pronouns like "thou" and "thy" in English). It does not store any personal data. Some of the most popular clubs and pubs in the city include Shoteria, Bordello, Control, Bamboo, Beat of Angels, Fratelli Social, and many many more. His name comes from the Romanian "a pcli" - "to fool". Everything is possible in the city of Bucharest and its nightlife call is almost religious. One particular story states that several homes along with one church were submerged by floodwaters when an adjacent slope collapsed. Mihaela Minca is one of the most famous witches in Romania. Klara asks the woman what her mother thought. As this piece of clay grew into the earth, God laid himself down to sleep. It believed and practiced (still to this day) ceremonies and rituals relating to all kinds of nature spirits and entities. The varkolak or vyrkola or vrykolakas, also called vorvolakas or vourdoulakas, is a harmful undead creature in Slavic folklore. , This is a fabulous Blog , thank you for taking us with you as you traveled <3. Klara expertly crafts dresses in her tradition. Now that would be a creepy sight to behold, wouldnt it? . You can be illegitimate, the 7th son of a 7th son who has a 7th son, because you can't keep it in . These are embroidered with traditional motifs that vary from region to region. In Leland's Gospel, Aradia is portrayed as a messiah who was sent to Earth in . Good photos and links to useful information as well. I notice the stones on Klaras hands and wonder if they symbolize anything. Cultures all over the world have known about witchcraft and have kept the subject tightly held within their belief systems, not just limited to the Abrahamic religions and the Catholic Church. DEX, Romanian Academy Publishing House, Bucharest, 1998, Marian Simion Florea, Cultural Romanian Foundation Publishing House, Bucharest 1994, Michael Hitchcock (1998): Tourism, Tam An Mini, and national identity, Indonesia and the Malay World, 26:75, 124-135: 129. In short: learning about the Romani people is best done in person. What happened is that several soldiers wanted to enter the mansion with the intention of enjoying the wine that was concealed in its cobwebbed cellars. Corvin Castle, also known as Hunyadi Castle or Hunedoara Castle, is located in Hunedoara, Romania. Leinenbach learned much of Transylvanian folklore falls on the lighter side, and is . In fact, Romania can boast having numerous terrifying legends which will satiate the curiosity of even the truest of myth hunters. The Devil, however, tried to rebel, and, in response, God opened up the heavens so that he might fall to the earth. The practice of gypsy magic emphasizes fortune-telling, the use of charms, healing and protection spells. Not only the Romanian folklore mentions it, but also Romanian poets like famous George Cobuc. Other accounts, closer to the biblical one, suggest that the Devil and his demons were once angels of God. In Romanian folklore, Muma Pdurii ( Romanian pronunciation: [muma pdurij]) is an ugly and mischievous or mad old woman living in the forest (in the heart of virgin forests, in a hut/cabin or an old tree). Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. President Traian Basescu and his aides have been known to wear purple on certain days, supposedly to ward off evil. This will increase the potency of your broom. In: Lefter, Lucian-Valeriu. Now I definitely want to make a return trip! But I knew from an early age I wanted more, she tells me. Sometimes she has the ability to change her shape. Its easy to admire Klara. 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. In Romanian strigoi means to scream. At that time, the Devil came out of the water and asked her why she was sitting there. Also, the poet Vasile Alecsandri published the most successful version of the ballad Mioria (The Little Ewe), a sad, philosophical poem, centered on a simple action: the plot by two shepherds to kill a third shepherd because they envied his wealth. Yay, random models! You need to hire a guide for this one. Once the witch finished taking the milk from all the cows, she went to the man and asked him: - Are you sitting Ivan? I love magical adventures and places steeped with folklore and mythology. Chuck hails from New York, but hes been working with Roma people for over a decade. Everything is possible in the city of Bucharest and its nightlife call is almost religious. On the Demon-Mania of Witches by Jean Bodin. But I dont like it. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Courageous, the young man opened the book and began reading from it. A witch that predicted the early deaths of several locals accurately; . The dark part, although obscured by this veneer and public ignorance, is just as pervasive as it once was. The existence of strigoi or evil spirits is famous folklore in the Transylvanian village of Bran. Romania is so beautiful and underrated! Instead of saying with my eyes not to see you , she said with my eyes to see you . Some legends say that this is the exact place where Baba Dochia froze and became stone alongside her flock of sheep. about The Sinaia Lead Plates: Dacian Treasure Trove or Impressive Fakes? Klara says the tribe fears sending girls to public school encourages them to leave for a different life. It is also a time when organisations, groups and individuals promote and talk about witches and . She beads a hand-pleated panel of a skirt as we chat in her home about 40 kilometers outside Sighisoara. Blue glass beads, amber beads, and bronze were female jewels. Thegoal of Ancient Origins is to highlight recent archaeological discoveries, peer-reviewed academic research and evidence, as well as offering alternative viewpoints and explanations of science, archaeology, mythology, religion and history around the globe. In European folklore, vampires are undead creatures that often visited loved ones and caused mischief or deaths in the neighborhoods they inhabited while they were alive. It is for this reason that Romanians eat dyed eggs and let the shells flow downstream, from there they believe they will get to the Apa Smbetei, and from there to the Blajini. According to yet another story, the small lad was trying to make his employer jealous by showcasing his amazing crafting skills as the Black Church was being constructed. The real history of witches, however, is dark and, often for the witches, deadly. We spend a lot of time reading up on local customs before we go. They were both a source of inspiration for cultivated creators and a structural model. While the two are very similar, blood-drinking is only marginally associated with the vrykolakas. Then the witch put something in his hand and told him before leaving: - Here, hold this and keep sitting! In his " Romanian Mythology " book, Tudor Pamfile talks about 46, out of which 37 (84%) are malefic creatures or evil spirits, while 8 % are benevolent and 8% neutral. Lost City Revealed: The Mysteries of Nan Madol Uncovered (Video), Outside the Battlefield, What Was Daily Life Like for Medieval Knights? Classical literary portraits of Roman witches and witchcraft demonstrate an emblematic relationship between gender and magic. Werewolves in Romanian Folklore. Remaining both devoted to her tribal heritage, and yet in-touch with the world outside it, she inspires me to stay a little closer to my own beginnings. The Pricolici is a Romanian werewolf - another name for them is Vrcolac, but this term has also been used to name goblin-like creatures.
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