Told from one generation to the next with the aim to explain, elucidate, aid the daily harshness of life or simply subdue; these stories snowballed, like any captivating story does, becoming myths (explaining creation), legends (inspiring through heroic figures), and folklore (explaining everyday life). With stories being passed down from one generation to another, the Romanian folklore was always rich with magical or scary tales. [1]:6971. Traditional folk arts include wood carving, ceramics, weaving and embroidery of costumes, household decorations, dance, and richly varied folk music. The creature himself appears as a beautiful young man. Folk creations (the best known is the ballad Mioria) were the main literary genre until the 18th century. "Aluxes" are creatures from Mayan mythology, depicted as small elven or goblin-like spirits known for creating mischief. One day, God decided to create the earth, and enlisted the help of the animals and of his brother. Finally, he came to a fairie palace, the palace of Youth without Age and Life without Death. Prince Radu the Black dreamed of building the most striking monastery in Romania. From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia. xx, Talking books (Transylvania's History A to Z and Dreamland) with lovely Andra Craig & Sorina Stallard from DOR Romanian Diaspora on #CarteaDeVineri. In that time, the prince fell in love with this charming servant girl, and asked his mother if he could marry her. In: Ciubotaru, Silvia. 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 giants sound almost charming, but Capcaun scares me . Please help improve this . Realising her to be his daughter, and finally understanding that he had been a fool, the emperor embraced her, apologising. This is a welcome development, on the whole, as the American public's . Zburators lovers can soon be identified by their dishevelled, sleepless appearance. 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. 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. Were from South Africa, and have a keen interest in history, mythology and culture. And this is my "build" which is inspired by Slavic mythological folk tale creatures such as Baba Yaga or maybe Swamp Kikimora. 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. Romanian Folklore. We cant imagine a better way to learn about it than through traveling so thats what were doing. As he slept, his trickster brother decided to push him off the edge. Other customs are presumably of pre-Christian pagan origin, like the Paparuda rain enchanting custom in the summer, or the masked folk theatre or Ursul (the bear) and Capra (the goat) in winter. kobolds - these little German guys might live in mines or in your house. Belonging to the Cretaceous period the Theropod dinosaur is one of the dwarf dinosaur species that lived in what is now Romania. The Romanian Giants known as Jidovi, are probably one of the most beloved folklore creatures. 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. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Terrible crimes and cruelties were committed by both sides, until god despaired and intervened. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Ielele are charmstresses, women of forests and waters with magic powers living in Romania and populating its folklore. Ft-Frumos enthusiastically agreed, having found his place of eternal youth. But what to do with the difference in size? His eldest daughter said I love you like honey, father, and he was very pleased. In some Romanian folk tales the uria giants are also called jidovi. He is known to kidnap children and young women, and features in multiple Romanian folktales, where he kidnaps the princess and must be defeated. Women also wore a white skirt and a shirt with a vest. 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. These creatures are sometimes described as one-eyed cyclops-like monsters, who feed on human flesh. Ft-Frumos is actually present in many Romanian folk tales. So he told the fairies that he must go, and bid them farewell despite their objections. (a type of cracker) If you refuse to buy any, she releases a Pontianak (a vengeful ghost) into 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. Romania's rich folk traditions have been nourished by many sources, some of which predate the Roman occupation. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages) This article needs additional citations for verification. It has similarities to many different legendary creatures, but most of all with the vampire and lycanthropes of the Slavic and Balkan region. One of the creation stories in Romanian folklore explains the Genesis. Folk legend say that wherever the seductive ielele danced, strung in a circle, afterwards the ground appeared scorched, dead. Eventually, she found employment with another emperor, working as a servant girl. 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. She forgave him, and they all lived happily ever after. As the Norse Fenris, a varcolac may swallow the moon and the sun; it's thus responsible for eclipses. 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. is the Slavonian blan meaning 'kind, well-minding person'. Linen was the most common material for clothing, combined with wool during the winter or colder periods. , Thank you very much, for this interesting posting, Patricia. They have similarities to brownies and to dwarves. The Strigoi is also a shapeshifter, able to transform itself into a bat, animal or fog. We all know the phenomenon of children having imaginary friends. F rom lumbering giants and fearsome trolls to impish satyrs and magical elves, mythical creatures have captured imaginations since the dawn of time. They are also known as vampires. [3] According to Christian calendar, Romanians from Banat, Transylvania, Bucovina and Maramure counties celebrate Easter of Blajini on first Monday after St. Thomas Sunday. Day Fifteen of the Folkloric Fauna of February. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Once upon a time, at the very beginning of the world, there was nothing but water. [1]:55, The origin of mountains is explained in a number of ways by the cultures of the different regions of Romania. One day, the empress son was injured in battle, and he returned home to be nursed back to health. Sentimental music, however, is the most valued, and Romanians consider their doina (a sad song either about one's home or about love, composed like an epic ballad) unique in the world. It has physical traits such as legs or arms and the ability to create weapons. Despite the popularity of the vampire mythology, Romania holds her own myths and legends. It too kidnaps young ladies, with an individual preference for princesses, but also children who are eventually rescued by knights and princes. Dare we assume Balaur sound familiar? Perhaps the most well known form of vampire, popularized by fiction and film in the Western world, is the nosferatu. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". . Similarly gigantic, the Jidovi are the giants of the Carpathian Mountains. The sky and the earth will be set alight and the earth will be purged, so that its Creator may descend upon it. The word Strigoi originates in medieval Romanian folklore. Of course, there are so many that are less widely known, but just as uniquely interesting. That is, until he realised he had drawn a giant cross in the ground, and backed off in fear of the sacred symbol. According to the tale of creation, God and the Devil are master and servant, the devil (Nefrtatul) being Gods foolish brother. A moroi is a kind of Strigoi-light theyre also vampiric creatures, but not quite as violent or frightful as the Strigoi. The Romanian word appears to have meant "Dog-head" (cp being a form of cap, meaning "head", and cun a derivative of cine, "dog"). 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. 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. It is essential to preserve these creations together with the act of telling stories and fables. Yet he brightened everything around him and everything He touched, for he was God, or Frtat. 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. But as he pushed, the earths expansion kept God from ever falling off. The famous vampire, Dracula, may not have existed in all his blood-sucking glory, but his frightful myth is based on an equally frightful individual in Romanian history. In the Romanian folklore, the wolf appears more often, since the Carpathian people have had many encounters with these animals. Such imagery as a darkened sun, a bleeding moon and falling stars are associated with the beginning of the End Times. With immense dark forests, mysterious mountains, and, in many periods of history, enemies on all sides, its no wonder the stories are often quite dark. And with that, he slapped the old man, and Ft-Frumos fell down dead, crumbling into dust. While the name Draco comes from the Greek term Drakon, which signifies to guard with a sharp eye, it also means serpent or dragon. The Nalusa Falaya from Choctaw mythology slithers like a snake, preying on children who stay out too late. 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. The creatures swim to the surface of the ocean . 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. Jidovi and uria (giants) Repulsive, savage and present in many stories, the uria are often depicted with menacing size equal to the one of mountains. [2] The Devil tried to push him over the side, but the ever-expanding earth would hinder that. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. There you have it! Gugalanna (Sumerian Mythology) Well, the representation of the symbolic animal is a fusion between a wolf and a dragon, sometimes depicted as a serpent. 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. 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"). Muma Pdurii (Mother of the woods) is, perhaps, the most famous creature in Romanian mythology. . These are a few of Romanias most widely-known folktales and legends! Yet she fell in love with one of them, the head of the Dacian Roman city of Turda (where my Mother was born His name was Robonban. As the prince walked home, he found that he was growing steadily older, until he was a crooked, white-haired man. The Romanian holiday Patele Blajinilor (Easter of Blajini) is a way to repay them for the benefits they bring. Black is the most common colour used, but red and blue are predominant in certain areas. The Pricolici is a Romanian werewolf another name for them is Vrcolac, but this term has also been used to name goblin-like creatures. A strong desire to kidnap and marry young girls animates him. As mentioned in the show, Zanna derive from Romanian folklore. So she cooked only his meal herself, ensuring the serving girl brought it to just him. Michael, Ah, how wonderful too see you here, Michael. No grass would ever grow there, for many years, but instead only red, poisonous herbs and mushrooms would appear. I believe that at the source of each myth, folktale or superstition is the seed of a true story. There are many stories of men being mutilated or losing their ability to talk after discovering these beautiful but cruel creatures. 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. One day, the peace ended, and a great war between humans and Uria was waged. We hope you liked our selection of Romanian mythical monsters. | Sep 28, 2018 | Legends and Myths, Romanian Folklore, Romanian Folklore Creatures. Those who know the series The Strain surely know this creature too; Strigoi is the product of the same culture that created Count Dracula: Romania. The queen was pregnant and in labour, but her son, still in the womb, cried and refused to come out. 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. The Balaur resides among the mythic dragons and dragon-like beings, who retain their unique traits and cultural elements from their fitting lores. But if they are helped, they offer gifts to the rivers and please the water fairies. Dragons, wolves, and hybrid animals populate the most appreciated stories. The ancient legendary creature called the Basilisk was feared in Europe and North Africa. She is the author of Dreamland, Transylvania's History A to Z, bestseller Joyful Trouble and other 18 books. At the end of this ritual, the girls were cured, the Zburator was gone, and life kept going on as usual. His second daughter said I love you like sugar, father, and he was pleased as well. Poate de aceea il asociez cu un monstru i am considerat c locul lui este in articolul de fa. 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. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. In the latter case, they are equalized with demons and provoke human resentment. Nefrtatul went forth, but he tried to call the clay in his own name so that he would be ruler over all. Roman Sexuality Was Far More Complex Than Simply Gay Or Straight - Pompeii's House Of The Vettii Reveals Why. Another fascinating occurring villain is the Vasilisc. Their songs and firelit dances can lead travelers astray. Romanians, Hungarians, Saxons, Ottomans, Jews, and Roma Gypsies inhabited the whimsical territory of "the land behind the forests" ( trans silvae), shaping the local folklore and giving birth to fantastic creatures, magic legends, and a fascinating tradition of storytelling. The wedding day came, and the princess knew her father would be coming to the wedding, totally unawares. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. 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. The word Cpcun can mean either dog-head or Turk chieftain. Males are somewhat larger than females, with a weight of 30-60 kg . Not at all delightful. But if you spot them, dont linger. Let's face it. Monsters from Romanian Myths Frtat, Nefrtat and Apa Smbetei (The Wasted Water, Long Gone and Wasted) One of the creation stories in Romanian folklore explains the Genesis. Had you been much later, I would have perished myself!. Makcik "keropok". 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. 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. Now, lets jump into Romanias mythical creatures! Other accounts, closer to the biblical one, suggest that the Devil and his demons were once angels of God. One day, Ft-Frumos found that he missed home, and could hardly remember what his life had been before his fairie revelries. The first beings to exist on earth were the Uria giants or ogres so large, they could bound across continents. Ft-Frumos grew up to be wise and quick-witted, a perfect prince to rule the kingdom. 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. He told Nefrtatul to go to the bottom of the ocean and, in his holy name, bring up a handful of clay. Enjoyed this? Maybe it is a bedtime story, for your little one? The most prominent symbol associated with the End Times is that of the earthquake. 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. Even if they did or did not exist, they left us beautiful stories about their way of living. The varkolak or vyrkola or vrykolakas, also called vorvolakas or vourdoulakas, is a harmful undead creature in Slavic folklore. In 2010 the archeologist who put together the skeleton named it Balaur Bondoc, which means stocky dragon. This way, the traditional fairy tale character of the dragon-like-serpent-headed monster gets to live on. Finally, Ft-Frumos practically means handsome son. He is the Romanian superhero who gets to slay all the mythical monsters we listed above. 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It does not store any personal data. , Sa stii ca nu te contrazic aici Because there is a long history of walking corpses and bloodsucking ghouls in folklore . #folklore #creatures #cartoons #illustrations Past and Present Monsters of Folk Tales - Books by Patricia Furstenberg, The Old Bear in Romanian Mythology and Folklore, Garlic and Dreamland Book, Superstitions on Pentecost, Rusalii, Nuggets of Romanian Folklore, Myths and Legends, Martisor, 1 March, Celebrating Old and New, Change and Hope, Legend of Rasinari, Resin City and a Roman Soldiers Payslip, Talking Books, Romania s Folklore and History, on #CarteaDeVineri this Friday. It remains to be seen. These are mythic creatures related almost wholly to the nature.When the humans draw them nearer, they are presented either as friendly or as ill meaning. 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. A Cpcun is a creature in Romanian folklore, depicted as an ogre who kidnaps children or young ladies (mostly princesses). In fact, in Romania you may come across an unusual form of measurement, the Jidovina, which measures several meters length. 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. Myths in the ancient kingdoms of Carpathia and Transylvania are especially original. 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. Thats because the Romanian mythical monster with seven heads shares its name with a recently discovered species of dinosaurs. The content of this website is under copyright Patricia Furstenberg (unless specified otherwise). The Devil, however, tried to rebel, and, in response, God opened up the heavens so that he might fall to the earth. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Im Author of the Year, Spillwords Press Awards! Remembered it this morning when I was Tweeting for #FolkloreThursday and their #monsters theme! The Romanian mythology is quite impressive. The Romanian Giants known as Jidovi, are probably one of the most beloved folklore creatures. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Some of the most beautiful fairy tales and legends have been translated into English. You might want to try it. 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. The Cpcun is a violent ogre-like creature. 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. by Irina B. 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. With stories being passed down from one generation to another, the Romanian folklore was always rich with magical or scary tales. Even in modern Romania, certain wolf attacks are attributed to Pricolici. These massive beings were mostly good and kind, and lived in peaceful existence with humanity and the creatures of the earth. They may be the best-known classic monsters of all. This Romanian vampire . Muma Pdurii is a mythological representation of a long ago civilization, mainly focused on woods as she personifies everything that comes out of a forest and you can read more about her in my blog post here.