romanian folklore creatures

He is smart and hard-to-defeat. Strigoi is a character from Romanian mythology. There are many stories of men being mutilated or losing their ability to talk after discovering these beautiful but cruel creatures. I think it might be due to a good mix of tumultuous histories, a web of cultures, incredible geography, weather, and crazy politics? This article has multiple issues. Both reside above the infinite ocean called Apa Smbetei. Here we are, arriving at the ubiquitous Zmeu (pronounced ). And with that, he slapped the old man, and Ft-Frumos fell down dead, crumbling into dust. By Jackie Wattles, CNN; Mar 2, 2023 Mar 2, 2023 Updated Mar 2, 2023; . Yet he brightened everything around him and everything He touched, for he was God, or Frtat. Somewhere in 1882, a book regarding the Romanian folklore regarding burials was published . These top five Romanian folktales send us on a quest for 'Youth without Age and Life without Death', engage us with Half-man-riding-on-the-worse-half-of-a-lame-rabbit and 'Emperor Aleodor', introduce us to sorcery in the 'Enchanted Pig', teach us that love is . 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. Bulgarian folklore tradition keeps its beliefs into supernatural creatures towards which people have more poetic or generally pagan attitude. Most people . One day, God decided to create the earth, and enlisted the help of the animals and of his brother. Or a love story would be better, to melt your other half's heart? There you have it! The wedding day came, and the princess knew her father would be coming to the wedding, totally unawares. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Extremely Rare Ancient Gold Glass With Goddess Roma Found During Subway Works In Rome. I am always astonished by the number of myths, legends and all the folklore there is in European countries. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. The princess spent every day alongside the empress at her sons bed, and quickly he was healed. Believed to look like a mix between a snake and a reptile, the Vasilisc had a killer gaze and poisonous breath. [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. According to the stories, a vampire is a Strigoi possessing a bat, just like a werewolf is a Strigoi possessing a wolf. They may be the best-known classic monsters of all. Fully grown adult chamois reaches 70-80 cm (28-31 in) in height and 107-137 cm (42-54 in) in length. Folklore of Romania. In fact, in 2005, The Guardian covered a vampire-slaying ritual in a Romanian village, performed after deceased laborer Petra Toma's family decided he'd become a strigoi in 2003. 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 Many of these creatures can be both cruel and kind, depending on their whims. One day, the king asked his daughters how much they loved him. While the name Draco comes from the Greek term Drakon, which signifies to guard with a sharp eye, it also means serpent or dragon. Ft-Frumos is actually present in many Romanian folk tales. The Nalusa Falaya from Choctaw mythology slithers like a snake, preying on children who stay out too late. RavenInTheSky. In Romanian strigoi means to scream. Ft-Frumos with his princess | illustration by Marina Plantus. Werewolves, vampires, capcaun, zmeu and many other mythical creatures originated in East Europe in Transylvania, Romania. Every story has a beginning, and our tale of the five most beloved Romanian villains starts with the Dacian Draco. [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. Now, lets jump into Romanias mythical creatures! Welcome to our blog! Tthe feeding method, however, may not be new at all. If you are curious about his adventures on this quest, you can read the story in English. 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. We all know the phenomenon of children having imaginary friends. While Ft-Frumos doesnt sound like the sexiest name in English, this classic Romanian fairy tale figure is the local equivalent of Prince Charming. Oh, yes, we can hold hands then, Priscilla. Had you been much later, I would have perished myself!. wikipedia-en:List_of_legendary_creatures_(B) This content was extracted from Wikipedia and is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License A varcolac (or vrcolac or vircolac) in Romanian folklore may refer to several different figures. Vlad Hagyak epe, the Impaler, Prince of Wallachia, died 1477. They appear in Romani folklore. While the worm became Nefrtat, the Devil, a creature in human form but without inner light, without spirit. The Romanian word appears to have meant "Dog-head" (cp being a form of cap, meaning "head", and cun a derivative of cine, "dog"). (a type of cracker) If you refuse to buy any, she releases a Pontianak (a vengeful ghost) into your house. [1]:34. Second, for a long time learned culture was governed by official and social commands and developed around courts of princes and boyars, as well as in monasteries. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. One day, the peace ended, and a great war between humans and Uria was waged. Party music is very lively and shows both Balkan and Hungarian influences. As mentioned in the show, Zanna derive from Romanian folklore. This list may not reflect recent changes . These are embroidered with traditional motifs that vary from region to region. [1]:61, If these warnings should fail, God will initiate the End of the World. 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. This physical deformation reflects his evil, warped mind, and hes keen to kill anyone who passes his musty den. Realising her to be his daughter, and finally understanding that he had been a fool, the emperor embraced her, apologising. They cheer up in memory of the deceased. Romania's rich folk traditions have been nourished by many sources, some of which predate the Roman occupation. Its even capable of moving invisibly. Myths and Legends have always interested me from a young age, on this channel we discuss all kinds Mythology and fiction from all around the world. Which is much creepier. The word Strigoi originates in medieval Romanian folklore. 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 In some versions, a vrcolac is a wolf demon. To preserve traditional houses, many village museums have been created in the last century throughout Romania,[5] such as the Village Museum in Bucharest, the Traditional Popular Civilisation ASTRA Museum in Sibiu or the Oltenian Village Museum in Rmnicu Vlcea. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [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. Would you like to find out the latest trips and stories from the land of Romania? In Romanian mythology, the Iele are mythical creatures similar to the Nymphs and Dryads found in Greek mythology. 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. They have similarities to brownies and to dwarves. The Balaur resides among the mythic dragons and dragon-like beings, who retain their unique traits and cultural elements from their fitting lores. 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). Worth mentioning is the root of the word Frtat coming from frate = brother. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. 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. , Thank you very much, for this interesting posting, Patricia. Thank you, Roberta It must have been very, very fully flooded, considering the giants great stature. Rare Ancient Paycheck Of A Roman Legionary Soldier Found At Masada. The Romanian Giants known as Jidovi, are probably one of the most beloved folklore creatures. 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. Seems the regular information from WP are now again delivered to me too. anything that can shape shift scares me! These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. 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. 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. 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 bizarre whale feeding technique may explain some ancient folklore. It has physical traits such as legs or arms and the ability to create weapons. Enjoyed this? Finally, he came to a fairie palace, the palace of Youth without Age and Life without Death. The Devil set forth and tried to bring it to the surface in his name instead, but could not succeed until he brought it up in the name of God. Are these some fantasy creatures? Zmeu also refers to kite in Romanian. Ugly and evil, this creature feeds on human flesh and looks like a giant dog-headed beast. 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. It too kidnaps young ladies, with an individual preference for princesses, but also children who are eventually rescued by knights and princes. The ancient legendary creature called the Basilisk was feared in Europe and North Africa. But as he pushed, the earths expansion kept God from ever falling off. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Their songs and firelit dances can lead travelers astray. Stories suggest God made the earth with the help of animals, while the Devil was trying to thwart his plans. 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. Most of the country is made up of rural communities, leading to a strong traditional culture and a love for storytelling. What are some unique aspects of Romanian folklore and legend? They wore an apron called or or ctrin which is also embroidered and a headscarf called basma;on special occasions they wore more elaborate outfits. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. Anyone who would have wanted to kill it had to bring a mirror in front of it so that its gaze could be reflected. 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. by Irina B. Major Archaeological Discovery Of A 7,000-Year-Old Settlement In Miami . Remembered it this morning when I was Tweeting for #FolkloreThursday and their #monsters theme! Pricolici. August 20, 2020 by Patricia Furstenberg. Romanian mythology says that only a baby boy born with a distinctive sign over his face and body can become such a wizard. Long considered a venomous monstrosity, the Basilisk surfaced as a folkloric character in Europe in the Middle Ages. They also stepped gingerly, so that we wouldnt get squashed. 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. This little tale follows a king and his three daughters, long, long ago. Want to find out more about Romanian mythical monsters, besides the ever-present Dracula? So Nefrtatul pushed in each of the four cardinal directions, trying with all his might to claim the earth for himself. , Thanks for the addition Pat.. very interesting..hugsx. His name translates to handsome son, and he embodies purity, passion, spiritual and mental strength. These giants lived in the immense woodlands and in caves. These are the most popular and well-known stories and Romanian mythological creatures. 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". Nu stiu daca Zburatorul poate fi inclus in categoria monstrilor, fiind un mit my erotic. How to Reason with Scientists and Other Partially Rational Creatures. It is essential to preserve these creations together with the act of telling stories and fables. This is my own version of the Romanian creation story with elements taken from all. 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"). Nefrtatul went forth, but he tried to call the clay in his own name so that he would be ruler over all. Youll find that Strigoi, some of the creepiest mythological creatures, captured the whole area around Romania, with similar myths appearing in Hungary and Poland. [1]:33. Un weekend frumos, Jo. I'm a maths tutor and a mechanical engineering student with a long time-interest in history. The queen was pregnant and in labour, but her son, still in the womb, cried and refused to come out. Different from balaur or vrcolac, the Zmeu has human features. The Strigoi is also a shapeshifter, able to transform itself into a bat, animal or fog. Black is the most common colour used, but red and blue are predominant in certain areas. Shape shifting freaks me out too. "Trgtorii cu coarne aurite ntre cotidian i mitologie" [Golden Horn Plough Pulling Animals Between Everyday Life and Mythology]. Halloween in Transylvania 2022 How was our 8 days trip to the spooky party at Bran Castle, 10 Most Famous Romanian Women from Now and Then, 10 reasons why you should move to Romania, The ethnic mosaic is enhancing local culture, Halloween in Transylvania - 8 days tour and party at Dracula's Castle, Six days tour from Cluj-Napoca - Discover Maramures and Bucovina, Dracula Beyond the legend - 8 day tour to Transylvania, Amazing Romania - Seven day private tour from Bucharest, Dracula Castle tour by night from Bucharest. 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. "Aluxes" are creatures from Mayan mythology, depicted as small elven or goblin-like spirits known for creating mischief. Romania's rich folk traditions have been nourished by many sources, some of which predate the Roman occupation. 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. Pricolici, along with the vampiric Strigoi and shapeshifting Moroi, gather on the Night of the Wolf the eve of Saint Andrews. If youd like us to research and write about a particular place, get in touch! Ce zici? Sometimes compared to other fantastic creatures, such as the balaur or the vrcolac, the zmeu is nevertheless distinct, because it usually has clear anthropomorphic traits: it is humanoid and has legs, arms, the ability to create and use artifacts such as weapons, or the desire to marry young girls. 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. Belonging to the Cretaceous period the Theropod dinosaur is one of the dwarf dinosaur species that lived in what is now Romania. Jakobson, Roman (1955). It does not store any personal data. Interesting post. Korrigan - in northwestern France, these elf-like female beings have long hair, flowing white garments, and sometimes delicate wings. These include dying unmarried, by execution or suicide, or even by being the seventh child of the same sex born into a family. These are a few of Romanias most widely-known folktales and legends! At the end of this ritual, the girls were cured, the Zburator was gone, and life kept going on as usual. 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). The mythological "aluxes" have a penchant for tricks and small deceptions . Poate de aceea il asociez cu un monstru i am considerat c locul lui este in articolul de fa. When he came to his palace, he cried out, for it lay in ruins, overgrown with moss. Once upon a time, at the very beginning of the world, there was nothing but water. This is because those wolves were unusually large and single-minded, attacking one individual at a time. Now Nefrtat, evil ashe was, tried to take possession of earth, pushing his brother into the waves. Nobody knew if he was handsome or not, for he was the very first one. According to the tale of creation, God and the Devil are master and servant, the devil (Nefrtatul) being Gods foolish brother. And so he came to live with them for uncounted years, enjoying unearthly delights. Yet the earth kept on growing to reach and protect Frtat, and thus Earth came to be. 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. Cpcun (ogre) 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. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Happy to be here. 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. Were from South Africa, and have a keen interest in history, mythology and culture. 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. A feature of Romanian culture is the special relationship between folklore and the learned culture, determined by two factors. Often, these accounts are accompanied by the imagery of one or several World Pillars, which sustain the earth from below and are usually placed beneath mountains. If the latter, hes a dark embodiment of the Romanian peoples fear of their invading enemies. It's related to the Polish striga and the Albanian shtriga. But the king said that he had no power to fulfil his pledge, it was impossible. I do remember being scared of this mosnter, for he was supposed to eat naughty children (which I was not!). 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. I write the history content. They lived in caves and thick woods, enjoyed talking and respected the little humans, which they considered their successors, the next owners of all the rivers and mountains. 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. Customs related to certain times of year are the colinde - Romanian Christmas carols, sorcova on New Year's Eve or the Mrior custom on the 1st of March marking the spring. Finally, Ft-Frumos practically means handsome son. He is the Romanian superhero who gets to slay all the mythical monsters we listed above. Both reside above the infinite ocean called Apa Smbetei. These stories appear not only in Romanian folklore, but also in those of Aromanian, Slavic Macedonian and Bulgarian folklore. One day, the empress son was injured in battle, and he returned home to be nursed back to health. Terrible crimes and cruelties were committed by both sides, until god despaired and intervened. As he slept, his trickster brother decided to push him off the edge. I, too, seem to notice that WP is out of sorts at times. Kites are a favorite way of entertaining both children and adults on the Romanian Black Sea beaches, where the wind is mighty. 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. In the latter case, they are equalized with demons and provoke human resentment. The water soon foamed, perhaps under a gust of wind, and from that foam grew a flower. Not to mention great and powerful heroes without age and giants who keep guard over the earth! 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. And be gone! 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. 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. And when the banquet was held, the king was flabbergasted at the taste of his food. In another instance, should this army not come, God shall burn the earth as described and bring the Blajini to live there. Learn about worldwide Past and Present Monsters of Folk Tales too. Wood used to be the main construction material, and heavily ornamented wooden objects were common in old houses. 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. In this video we will be looking at the most popular and famous mythical creature of each and every country. Inspired by the breath and depth of classic action RPG and farming games,"A Viking's Quest, the Lost Continent" is an engaging, dynamic world role playing game where you experience a beautifully hand crafted world of fantasy and adventure. Most of these names can be found in the Romanian Lore in reference to Vampires and Dragons. 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. What do you need today? However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. So sweet, and without any real flavour! 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. This article is about to introduce you to the heroes and villains of Romanian folklore! But if you spot them, dont linger. Far from a monster, Zburator is a lover-deity who torments young wives and maidens with intense feelings of desire and sexual obsession. In these stories the Devil goes by the name "Nefrtatul" and is the somewhat foolish brother of God in folk versions of stories. I believe that at the source of each myth, folktale or superstition is the seed of a true story. When he found it, the cracked voice of Death said You are most welcome! In various regions of the country, the Solomonars are divided into two categories: good and evil. 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. Whatever their exact origins are, the Solomonars are not considered gone and in fact, they are well respected and have a special place among the magical beings of Romanian folklore. 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. You've taught your students about the worldnow . A feature of Romanian culture is the special relationship between folklore and the learned culture, determined by two factors. These massive beings were mostly good and kind, and lived in peaceful existence with humanity and the creatures of the earth. 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. Even more, from spooky legends to love rituals, Romanian culture has them all. This is just one of them! It was a combination snake, rooster, bat, and sometimes other animals, that was born from an . Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. But what is a Dacian Draco? If you dare, scroll through this roster of scary . And this is my "build" which is inspired by Slavic mythological folk tale creatures such as Baba Yaga or maybe Swamp Kikimora. What can I say, Romanians have a wild imagination , Thank you for visiting twice today Id forgotten this post in drafts. Women also wore a white skirt and a shirt with a vest. They are generally considered good wizards and often presented as false beggars, testing the kindness of people. Dragons, wolves, and hybrid animals populate the most appreciated stories. It comes out only to feed on the saliva of those living above, slowly dehydrating the residents until they die. 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. Another fascinating occurring villain is the Vasilisc. The Romanian holiday Patele Blajinilor (Easter of Blajini) is a way to repay them for the benefits they bring. As the Norse Fenris, a varcolac may swallow the moon and the sun; it's thus responsible for eclipses.