Folklore of Romania

Folklore of Romania - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia https://en.wikipedia.
org/wiki/Romanian_folklore
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A feature of Romanian culture is the special relationship between folklore

and the learned culture, determined by two factors. First, the rural character
of the Romanian communities resulted in an exceptionally vital and creative
traditional culture. Folk creations (the best known is the ballad Mioria)
were the main literary genre until the 18th century. They were both a source
of inspiration for cultivated creators and a structural model. 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.
A traditional house in the Village
Museum
1 Overview
1.1 Creation of the world
1.2 Origin of evil
1.3 Origin of God
1.4 Origin of race
1.5 The Earth
1.6 The myth of the Blajini
1.7 Eschatology
2 Characteristics
2.1 Places
2.2 Folk tales
2.3 Romanian myths part of international culture
2.4 Rituals
2.5 Fairy tales
3 Characters in folk literature
3.1 Heroes
4 List of folk dances
4.1 Banat plain
4.2 Banat mountain
4.3 Moldavia
4.4 Oltenia
4.5 Bihor
4.6 Nasaud
4.7 Transylvania
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Folklore of Romania - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanian_folklore
5 References
Creation of the world
Stories suggest God made the earth with the help of animals, while Satan was trying to thwart his plans.[1][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 these stories the Devil goes by the name
"Nefartatul" and is the somewhat foolish brother of God in folk versions of stories. These stories appear not only
in Romanian folklore, but also in those of Aromanian, Slavic Macedonian and Bulgarian folklore. 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. 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. As this piece of clay grew into the earth, God laid himself down to sleep.[2]
The Devil tried to push him over the side, but the ever-expanding earth would hinder that. 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.
Origin of evil
Other accounts, closer to the biblical one, suggest that the Devil and his demons were once angels of God. The
Devil, however, tried to rebel, and, in response, God opened up the heavens so that he might fall to the earth.
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 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. It has also given rise to the Romanian saying pn ajungi
la Dumnezeu, te mnnc sfinii ("before you reach God, the saints will eat you").[3]
Origin of God
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. 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.[4]
Origin of race
This is identified as the source of the expression a se nglbeni de fric (to go yellow with fear), which can also
be found in various forms in the folklore of other peoples.[5]
The Earth
Even after Christian imagery and symbolism became part of Romanian culture, Mother Earth is identified as the
consort of God, the heavenly Father.[6]
The origin of mountains is explained in a number of ways by the cultures of the different regions of Romania.
One account is that mountains formed as a response to God demanding the Earth to nurture all life, to which the
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earth shuddered and brought forth mountains. Another version suggests the Earth was too large to fit under the
firmament, and so God attempted to shrink it, thus raising mountains. 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. 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.[7]
The myth of the Blajini
Etymology of word blajin (adj.) is the slavonian blan meaning kind, well-minding person.[8] According to
Christian calendar, Romanians from Banat, Transilvania, Bucovina and Maramure counties celebrate Easter of
Blajini on first Monday after St. Thomas Sunday. Easter of Blajini is called also Easter of Deaths or Mighty
Easter. Romanians generally perceived the earth as a disc, and they imagined what existed on the other side. 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. They are described
as anthropomorphic and short, sometimes having the head of a rat. They are either described as malicious or as
having great respect for God and leading a sinless life. They are considered to fast the year through, and thus
doing humans a great service.[9]
The Romanian holiday Patele Blajinilor (Easter of Blajini) is a way to repay them for the benefits they bring.
Since they live in isolation, they have no way of knowing when Easter comes. 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.[10] Blajini are invisible connectors between Inner and Hollow Earth.
Blajin also means a dead child who did not receive the benediction of Holy Spirit. The ethno graph Marian
Simion Florea wrote : Blajini are fictious beings, incarnations of dead children not baptized who live at the end
of Earth, nearby The Holy water (of Saturday).[11] Some explain them as the descendants of Adam's son Seth.
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.[12]
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. They cheer up in memory of the deceased.
Eschatology
The most prominent symbol associated with the End Times is that of the earthquake. 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. Others attribute the earthquakes to the earth (which is alive, and
can therefore feel) realising the wicked ways of humans, and trembling in fright. Other rare natural phenomena
such as Eclipses or Comets were seen as a sign of impending doom.[13]
If these warnings should fail, God will initiate the End of the World. Such imagery as a darkened sun, a bleeding
moon and falling stars are associated with the beginning of the End Times. 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. The sky and the earth will be set alight and the earth will be purged, so that
its Creator may descend upon it. 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.[14]
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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.
In another instance, should this army not come, God shall burn the earth as described and bring the Blajini to
live there. 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. 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 destructuon of the earth.[15]
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. Romania's rich folk traditions have been
nourished by many sources, some of which predate the Roman occupation. Traditional folk arts include wood
carving, ceramics, weaving and embroidery of costumes, household decorations, dance, and richly varied folk
music. 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.
Wood used to be the main construction material, and heavily ornamented wooden objects were common in old
houses. 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. To
preserve traditional houses, many village museums have been created in the last century throughout Romania,[16]
such as the Village Museum in Bucharest, the Traditional Popular Civilisation ASTRA Museum in Sibiu or the
Oltenian Village Museum in Rmnicu Vlcea.
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Linen was the most common material for clothing, combined with wool during the winter or colder periods.
These are embroidered with traditional motifs that vary from region to region. Black is the most common colour
used, but red and blue are predominant in certain areas. Traditionally, men wore a white shirt and pants (if made
of wool they are called iari) with a wide leather belt, usually over the shirt, and a vest sometimes made of
leather and embroidered. They wore either boots or a simple shoe made of leather and tied around the foot called
opinc and they wore a hat which differs in design from region to region. Women also wore a white skirt and a
shirt with a vest. 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.
Music and dance represent a lively part of the Romanian folklore and there are a great variety of musical genres
and dances. Party music is very lively and shows both Balkan and Hungarian influences. 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. Maria Tnase is considered to be one of the greatest
Romanian folk singers and today Grigore Lee and Taraful Haiducilor are two of the most famous musicians. 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".
Romanians have had, from time immemorial, a myriad of customs, tales and poems about love, faith, kings,
princesses, and witches. 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. 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.
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.
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"). Also, the poet Vasile
Alecsandri published the most successful version of the ballad Mioria (The Little Ewe), a sad, philosophical
poem, centered around a simple action: the plot by two shepherds to kill a third shepherd because they envied
his wealth. 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. They
are centered around 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.
Places
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Apa Smbetei
Apa Vie/Apa Moart
Sorbul Pmntului
Trmul Cellalt (Hollow Earth, direct translation: The other
Realm)
Folk tales
Romanian Folk Group Transilvania,
Mioria
Cluj Napoca, in original Romanian
Meterul Manole folk-costumes from Bistrita-Nasaud
area. 2008
Romanian myths part of international culture
Vampire - See strigoi and moroi, which are more phantom- or wizard-like creatures.
Werewolf (vrcolac)
obolan - A giant rat similar to the South American capybara. Rural Romanian folklore tends to attribute
the obolan human characteristics.
Solomonar - See Hultan and Solomonari, who were a group of nobles and wizards, made famous more by
their families' high social status, than for their deeds. However, this is mainly due to the massive crusades
of Christianity and the attempt to destroy all the historic tradition of these Wizards. Some of these are
Dracula Vlad, Solomon, Despina the Impure, Ty'ere, Ventruszch, Brohmyr, Izhain and Vohc.
Most of these names can be found in the Romanian Lore in reference to Vampires and Dragons.
Rituals
Dragobete (Romanian folklore similar to Valentine's Day)

Paparuda
Star boys' singing procession
Fairy tales
"The Boys with the Golden Stars"

"The 12 Sisters and the Demon Bride"
"Seventh Son of a Seventh Son"
"Let Thee Be Marked in Magic"
Baba Cloana (similar to Muma Pdurii)

Baba Dochia
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Balaur (giant dragon with seven heads)

Baubau, variant form Babau (similar to the Bogeyman)
Calul nzdrvan (similar to Pegasus, direct translation: The Marvellous Horse)
Cpcun (an ogre)
Celul Pmntului
Corcoaia (similar to Lernaean Hydra)
Cotoroan (similar to Muma Pdurii)
Dragon
Fata Pdurii
Faurul Pmntului (Blacksmith of Earth)
Ileana Cosnzeana
Iele
Luceafr - similar to Planet Venus
Marolea (Demon of Tuesday)
Moroi (a type of vampire)
Moul (the old man)
Muma Pdurii
Murgil
Nemori (similar to zombi)
Pricolici (a werewolf or demon)
Rohmani (or Blajini)
Samca
Solomonari
Snziana (or Drgaic)
Scorpie (Chimera)
Spiridu (a sprite)
Stafie - similar to Ghost
Strigoi (a vampire or zombie)
Uniil (a devil )
Uria - similar to Giant
Ursitoare - similar to the Fates
Vasilisc - similar to Basilisk
Vlva
Vntoase (spirits of the wind)
Vrcolac (werewolf)
Zn (fairy)
Zburtor
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Zgripor (giant eagle)

Zoril
Zmeu
Heroes
Ber-Cciul
Doamna Neaga
Ft-Frumos
Ileana Cosnzeana
Greuceanu
Iovan Iorgovan
Ler mprat
Luana
Baba Novac
Pcal
Prslea cel voinic (Prslea the Sturdy)
Btute
Brul, Sash dance
Buciumeana, hornpipe dance
Cluari (Clus, Cluul)
Ciuleandra
Hora a circle dance
Geamparale
Joc
Joc cu bta (Jocul cu bta), Joc with stick
Mrunel
Perinia, translated as "Little pillow", a dance of wedding traditions, a.k.a. Handkerchief Joc
Pe loc, "On Spot", a stomping dance
Poarga romnesc (Romanian polka)
Srba
Tropotie
Banat plain
Sorocul de la Beregsaul Mare
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Sorocul de la Jebel
Pe loc ca la Murava
Pe loc a lui lefta Lupu
Intoarsa
Banat mountain
Briu Batrin
Ardeleana de la Rugi
Ardeleana Baba Peleaga
Ardeleana ca pe Valea Almajului
Doiul roata de la Glimboca
De doi ca la Caransebes
Moldavia
Bieneasc
Btrnesca din Bucovina
Arcanul
Arcanul Btrnesc
Btuta
Hora Cmpulungului
Hora de la Munte
Raa
Hora miresei (translated as "Bride's Hora")
Batuta de la Tudora
Batuta de la Vorona
Oltenia
Alunelul de la Goicea
Srba Cluereasc
Srba Olteneasc
Trei Pzete de la Bistre
Trei Pzete de la Dolj
Bobocica
Boiereasca
Alunelul
Briuletul
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Hora mare
Galaonul
Bihor
Polca
Pe picior
Nasaud
De-a lungul
Barbuncul
Invirtita (a Romanian-style square dance, done mainly throughout the Romanian Transylvania region,
which also includes Nasaud.)
Transylvania
Crihalma
De-a Lungul
Joc n Patru
Oa Dance
Srba Sita Buzlilui
1. ^ Cosma, Aurel. Cosmogonia poporului romn (The Cosmogony of the Romanian People) (1942). Bucharest:
Tipografia Ziarului "Universul", p 11-12.
2. ^ a b Leeming, David Adams. Creation Myths of the World: An Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO, 2010. eBook Collection
(EBSCOhost). Web. 17 Sept. 2012.
3. ^ Cosma, Aurel. Op. cit., p 13-14.
4. ^ Cosma, Aurel. Op. cit., p 12.
8. ^ DEX, Romanian Academy Publishing House, Bucharest, 1998,
11. ^ Marian Simion Florea, Cultural Romanian Foundation Publishing House, Bucharest 1994
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16. ^ Michael Hitchcock (1998): Tourism, Tam An Mini, and national identity, Indonesia and the Malay World, 26:75,
124-135: 129
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Folklore of Romania - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia https://en.wikipedia.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A feature of Romanian culture is the special relationship between folklore

Creation of the world

The myth of the Blajini

Dragobete (Romanian folklore similar to Valentine's Day)

"The Boys with the Golden Stars"

Baba Cloana (similar to Muma Pdurii)

Balaur (giant dragon with seven heads)

Zgripor (giant eagle)

Sorocul de la Beregsaul Mare

15. ^ Cosma, Aurel. Op. cit., p 69-71.

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This page was last modified on 12 October 2014 at 14:51.

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