#romanianfolklore

The Church of the “Entry of the Theotokos into the Temple” and “Saint John the Baptist” in Târgu Horezu (also known as the Market Church) is a historical monument built at the beginning of the 19th century. It was constructed between 1800 and 1804 under the guidance of its main founders, among whom were the high treasurer Ion Urșanu, Constantin Covrea, and Lady Stana.

Strigoi: The Nightmare Monster that Inspired Vampires

The legend of the Strigoi is darker than you think. Do you know how this evil spirit torments the living? Watch now.

As the New Year approaches, let us remember our roots and the profound symbolism of the frenetic dances of the masked figures. 👹 The crack of whips and the jingling of bells drive away evil, clearing the path for a year filled with light and abundance!

“Twigs from the fence,

With hair from a rabid dog,

With soil from beneath the bed,

Soil taken from a grave,

Sprinkled into the bedding,

So that he may rise deaf and mute.”

“Deaf and mute” were terms used symbolically, meaning that the man would no longer listen to or speak with other women, remaining faithful and bound only to his partner.

You take out three glowing coals.

On each one, you speak the name of the person you want to “call.”

Then: one coal is left to burn completely,one is extinguished by blowing on it and one is thrown into cold water.

After that, you say:

“What I burn is his longing, what I dull is his thoughts, what I break is his will — let him come.”

Beyond the Water of Life — said to spring from the mountains “that strike their heads together” — Romanian folklore also tells of a secret plant known as the Herb of Life. It is believed to hold the power to bring the dead back to life, whether human or animal, yet only creatures of the wild, especially serpents, are able to recognize it.

According to legend, those who seek this plant must rely on an ancient trick. A man kills a young serpent and hides nearby, waiting in silence. Soon, the mother snake returns, carrying the Herb of Life in her mouth. She touches her offspring with it, and the dead serpent stirs once more, revived by the magic of the plant.

When the mother rejoices and leaves, the man may take the herb for himself.