romanian folklore creatures

Genesis the creation stories in Romanian folklore are numerous and varied, from its ancient, Indo-European roots with Brother and Non-brother, to a Christianization of the tale involving God and His perpetual antagonist, Satan. Remembered it this morning when I was Tweeting for #FolkloreThursday and their #monsters theme! But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. 3. Zmeu also refers to kite in Romanian. [1]:61, If these warnings should fail, God will initiate the End of the World. 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. At the end of this ritual, the girls were cured, the Zburator was gone, and life kept going on as usual. With legends such as those of Baba Dochia, Manole, or the Ballad of Miorita, we can surely say that Romania is pretty creative when it comes to mythology. There are many stories of men being mutilated or losing their ability to talk after discovering these beautiful but cruel creatures. Most of these names can be found in the Romanian Lore in reference to Vampires and Dragons. One day, the king asked his daughters how much they loved him. In Romanian culture, as in many others, the house represents the spiritual center of human life, the place where profane meets sacred and around which gravitates many of the intriguing creatures populating myths (stories and beliefs rooted in human's origin, often involving gods) and folklore (fictional tales and superstitions, legends . 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. The wedding day came, and the princess knew her father would be coming to the wedding, totally unawares. Some people claim to even have seen them, especially in the region of Bukovina. Top 10 Greatest Mythological Creatures and Legendary Creatures of Myth and Folklore Werewolf: Wolf-human shapeshifter (Global Culture) Dragon: Depicted as fire-breathing and winged (Global Culture) Chimera: Hybrid Fire-breathing creature (Greek Mythology) Loch Ness Monster: Aquatic monster (Scottish Folklore) | Sep 28, 2018 | Legends and Myths, Romanian Folklore, Romanian Folklore Creatures. A boundless ocean called Apa Smbetei. Romanians generally perceived the earth as a disc, and they imagined what existed on the other side. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Legends tell the stories for most of them. According to Adrien Cremene . The fey creatures that lived here quickly took a liking to him and invited him to stay. The Romanian creation myth According to the tale of creation, God and the Devil are master and servant, the devil (Nefrtatul) being God's foolish brother. The Most Prevalent Feminine Mythical Characters in Romanian Folklore The Great Goddess of Neolithic, Mother of all, the source of life, feeder of men and animals, prefigured as a snake, bird or fish, guardian of all creatures living in the air, waters or underground, is the dominant character of the pre-historic mythology. , Thank you very much, for this interesting posting, Patricia. Youll find that Strigoi, some of the creepiest mythological creatures, captured the whole area around Romania, with similar myths appearing in Hungary and Poland. The princess spent every day alongside the empress at her sons bed, and quickly he was healed. In various regions of the country, the Solomonars are divided into two categories: good and evil. But when he came of age, the young man asked his father to make good on his promise, and give to him eternal youth. It must have been very, very fully flooded, considering the giants great stature. 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. Where they dance, they are often said to leave the ground burnt, and no living thing will grow there for years. The word Strigoi originates in medieval Romanian folklore. The balaur appears in most love stories as an evil character. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! As this piece of clay grew into the earth, God laid himself down to sleep. This bizarre whale feeding technique may explain some ancient folklore. Of course, there are so many that are less widely known, but just as uniquely interesting. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. According to their stories, there were few giants left but lived in good communion with humans. 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. A Cpcun is a creature in Romanian folklore, depicted as an ogre who kidnaps children or young ladies (mostly princesses). The Romanian folklore shares some similar fantastic cast of monsters and the Vasilisc is just an example. But Zburatorul was not an ordinary lover, he developed obsessions and curing this love-illness was a hard thing to do. Most people . It comes out only to feed on the saliva of those living above, slowly dehydrating the residents until they die. Three saints (usually in the persons of Enoch, John and Elijah) are said to come to earth to unveil the Devil's attempts to destroy the world, whereupon they shall be killed by decapitation. If the latter, hes a dark embodiment of the Romanian peoples fear of their invading enemies. [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. With stories being passed down from one generation to another, the Romanian folklore was always rich with magical or scary tales. From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia. Nu stiu daca Zburatorul poate fi inclus in categoria monstrilor, fiind un mit my erotic. 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 Some believe they still live there, guarding treasures and living peacefully, silently in the safe mountains. How to Reason with Scientists and Other Partially Rational Creatures. So sweet, and without any real flavour! 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. 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. Romania's rich folk traditions have been nourished by many sources, some of which predate the Roman occupation. Romania is a rich trove of mythology and folklore, historically located at the crossroads between Germanic, Latin and Slavic traditions. 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. A fascinating post. These include dying unmarried, by execution or suicide, or even by being the seventh child of the same sex born into a family. Welcome to our blog! 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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. Other rare natural phenomena such as Eclipses or Comets were seen as a sign of impending doom. I think it might be due to a good mix of tumultuous histories, a web of cultures, incredible geography, weather, and crazy politics? Let's face it. The sky and the earth will be set alight and the earth will be purged, so that its Creator may descend upon it. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window), Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window), Die Fennek of Woestynjakkals, the Fennec or Desert Jackal and a Story, Patricia Furstenberg Historical Fiction, Contemporary, Kids Books Author, Privacy Policy, Terms of use, Disclosures. The Nalusa Falaya from Choctaw mythology slithers like a snake, preying on children who stay out too late. So she cooked only his meal herself, ensuring the serving girl brought it to just him. They were both a source of . Different from balaur or vrcolac, the Zmeu has human features. Prince Radu the Black dreamed of building the most striking monastery in Romania. 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. 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. 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. Basilisk. Ielele are stunning nymph-like women who dance under the moonlight. . Vlads cruel and brutal acts led to many widespread tales about him, eventually leading to the bloody legend of Count Dracula, which also pulls from Hungarian vampiric myths and other European folklore, like the Polish Wpierz. Thus explaining the many names the Bible used for God, the Oltenians believed the first God was called Sabaoth, followed by Amon, Apollo, the Creator God of the Bible and, finally, Jesus Christ. Occasionally they help children find answers to moral questions in life. One day, Ft-Frumos found that he missed home, and could hardly remember what his life had been before his fairie revelries. Upon deciding to create the earth, God sent the Devil to bring a handful of clay from the ground of the World Ocean in his holy name. Even in modern Romania, certain wolf attacks are attributed to Pricolici. According to the stories, a vampire is a Strigoi possessing a bat, just like a werewolf is a Strigoi possessing a wolf. The Hydra is a reptilian creature from Greek mythology that could regrow two heads for every one that was cut off, a trait that the Hydra organization adopted as its motto. 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. [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. In some versions, a vrcolac is a wolf demon. But in the end, she was convinced, as she loved the young servant girl. You will interact with the world and its inhabitants in the quest to learn more about its life, the plants . Most of the country is made up of rural communities, leading to a strong traditional culture and a love for storytelling. 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. Some of the most beautiful fairy tales and legends have been translated into English. Jidovii are described in Romanian legends as kind and patient, walking with huge steps from one hill to another. "Aluxes" are creatures from Mayan mythology, depicted as small elven or goblin-like spirits known for creating mischief. 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. 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. Their presence in Romania is well maintained by the multitude of places that were named after them: the Jidovi table, the Jidovi cave, the hill or the tombs of Jidovi, and also, there is jidovina, a measuring unit consisting of several meters, the equivalent of a giants step. And so he came to live with them for uncounted years, enjoying unearthly delights. So he told the fairies that he must go, and bid them farewell despite their objections. . [3] According to Christian calendar, Romanians from Banat, Transylvania, Bucovina and Maramure counties celebrate Easter of Blajini on first Monday after St. Thomas Sunday. 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. Sure enough, the sculptures on Emperor Trajans Column in Rome are there to attest it. RavenInTheSky. The ancient legendary creature called the Basilisk was feared in Europe and North Africa. In these stories the Devil goes by the name "Nefrtatul" and is the somewhat foolish brother of God in folk versions of stories. They are also known as vampires. I am always astonished by the number of myths, legends and all the folklore there is in European countries. Another legendsays that old Urias burial mounds hides amassive horde of riches that can only be discovered on Christmas Eve, at Easter, or on St. Georges Day, when magical fires burn above his grave. With Halloween coming up this year, the Cpcun seems to be an unconventional choice for an impersonation. Quite a choice. A feature of Romanian culture is the special relationship between folklore and the learned culture, determined by two factors. With an uncommonly large wolf population within the Romanian forests, Pricolici are a very dominant part of rural folklore. Vampires are evil mythological beings who roam the world at night searching for people whose blood they feed upon. A moroi is a kind of Strigoi-light theyre also vampiric creatures, but not quite as violent or frightful as the Strigoi. This is said to be the length of their great stride. 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. Yes, and it is not such a well known myth. Ft-Frumos is actually present in many Romanian folk tales. anything that can shape shift scares me! But the king said that he had no power to fulfil his pledge, it was impossible. These massive beings were mostly good and kind, and lived in peaceful existence with humanity and the creatures of the earth. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". It's related to the Polish striga and the Albanian shtriga. Wherever you go, their memory is well preserved and you must not be surprised to hear that there are still many people who believe in their past existence. If sorcerers are known to have disappeared long ago, the love stories and passionate dreams certainly are not. 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. 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. 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. Cultures worldwide have passed down tales. They have filled folklore, stories, songs, and works of art . The Pricolici is a Romanian werewolf another name for them is Vrcolac, but this term has also been used to name goblin-like creatures. Despite this, many consider Ielele the protectresses of the forest. Similarly gigantic, the Jidovi are the giants of the Carpathian Mountains. So, the Romanian Vasilisc is just like the Basilisk from Harry Potter? The legends of many nations describe a bygone era when the world was ruled by giant humans. Overcome by sadness, he walked through every room in search of the room where he was born. They cheer up in memory of the deceased. In the Romanian folklore, the wolf appears more often, since the Carpathian people have had many encounters with these animals. Once upon a time, at the very beginning of the world, there was nothing but water. In: Ciubotaru, Silvia. Glad WP is sorted. Every story has a beginning, and our tale of the five most beloved Romanian villains starts with the Dacian Draco. 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 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. Blessed, alluring IELELE,Mistresses of breeze,Ladies of the earth and mist,Through the air you rise,On the grass you slide,And on waves you glide. Folk creations (the best known is the ballad Mioria) were the main literary genre until the 18th century. There, he studies the languages of all the beings from Earth, all the magic spells ever created, and then, after many hard tests, he is left alone, to a rock table, to write down all of his knowledge in his own book. In this video we will be looking at the most popular and famous mythical creature of each and every country. He is smart and hard-to-defeat. 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. Now, lets jump into Romanias mythical creatures! The Romanian mythology is quite impressive. These stories appear not only in Romanian folklore, but also in those of Aromanian, Slavic Macedonian and Bulgarian 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 Of course, redheads are also considered very suspicious. Terrible crimes and cruelties were committed by both sides, until god despaired and intervened. We hope you liked our selection of Romanian mythical monsters. 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. Please help improve this . Yet he brightened everything around him and everything He touched, for he was God, or Frtat. Ciubotaru, Silvia. This list may not reflect recent changes . 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). 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. Scientists are increasingly aware that they need to improve their skills of public engagement, so as to combat scientific misinformation more effectively than they have been able to manage to date. As the Norse Fenris, a varcolac may swallow the moon and the sun; it's thus responsible for eclipses. 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. 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. I do remember being scared of this mosnter, for he was supposed to eat naughty children (which I was not!). In Romanian mythology, the Iele are mythical creatures similar to the Nymphs and Dryads found in Greek mythology. Once upon a time, at the very beginning of the world, there was nothing but water. One day, the empress son was injured in battle, and he returned home to be nursed back to health. Romania's rich folk traditions have been nourished by many sources, some of which predate the Roman occupation. His eldest daughter said I love you like honey, father, and he was very pleased. It goes without saying, human heroes with supernatural powers are always there to save the day. First, the rural character of the Romanian communities resulted in an exceptionally vital and creative traditional culture. Ft-Frumos grew up to be wise and quick-witted, a perfect prince to rule the kingdom. Youll also find that some of the figures are shared with the neighbouring Hungarian mythology, as borders were fluid and travellers have been moving between the two forever. So Ft-Frumos left them, insisting that he would roam the world and find immortality. When he asked his youngest how much she loved him, she told him I love you like the salt in your meal, father. 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. The Dacians were the ancestors of Romanians, and they used a fabricated dragon flag as a protection symbol during battles against the Romans. Others attribute the earthquakes to the earth (which is alive, and can therefore feel) realising the wicked ways of humans, and trembling in fright. 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. MAJESTIC TURKEY BY CULTURE TRIP By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. The princess stood up, and said that since he did not like salt, she had cooked his food with only sugar and honey. Males are somewhat larger than females, with a weight of 30-60 kg . Likewise, the wolf is still present as a symbol in Romanian culture. It has physical traits such as legs or arms and the ability to create weapons. She was so skilled and so kind, that she quickly became handmaiden to the empress. From this clay he would make the earth. 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. He is described as a shooting star, coming down through the chimney or the window, entering a girls room in the shape of an incredibly handsome man and, sometimes, in the shape of the man the girl loves. Ft-Frumos with his princess | illustration by Marina Plantus. So if you have six kids, all one sex, call it there. When he came to his palace, he cried out, for it lay in ruins, overgrown with moss. This little tale follows a king and his three daughters, long, long ago. But fartat also means prieten. The creature has been described as an undead man that left his grave during the night to haunt people. . Ielele are charmstresses, women of forests and waters with magic powers living in Romania and populating its folklore. 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. Believed to look like a mix between a snake and a reptile, the Vasilisc had a killer gaze and poisonous breath. It represents evil, as do its counterparts Zmeu and the Balaur. Once upon a time, there was a great king and queen. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Were from South Africa, and have a keen interest in history, mythology and culture. Romanian mythology is vibrant and often scary, full of blood-sucking creatures, vicious and fickle lovers, and bloody battles.

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