romanian folklore creatures

Here we are, arriving at the ubiquitous Zmeu (pronounced ). The Romanian folklore shares some similar fantastic cast of monsters and the Vasilisc is just an example. Hi! 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, people who claim to have seen him say that along with his book, he also carries a piece of wood for calling the winds and an iron axe which he uses to create hail. A moroi is a kind of Strigoi-light theyre also vampiric creatures, but not quite as violent or frightful as the Strigoi. It took some convincing, as this was not a prudent match for a prince to make (at least, as far as they knew). Ce zici? Jidovii are described in Romanian legends as kind and patient, walking with huge steps from one hill to another. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages) This article needs additional citations for verification. But when he came of age, the young man asked his father to make good on his promise, and give to him eternal youth. A Cpcun is something similar to an ogre in the Romanian folklore. One of the creation stories in Romanian folklore explains the Genesis. 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). Ft-Frumos is actually present in many Romanian folk tales. 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. Vampires, fairies, mythological creatures, and monsters co-exist in tales and stories. 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. In another instance, should this army not come, God shall burn the earth as described and bring the Blajini to live there. Ft-Frumos with his princess | illustration by Marina Plantus. Seems the regular information from WP are now again delivered to me too. Sometimes it is described wearing a shiny magical stone on its head, making it more difficult for Ft-Frumos, the Romanian Prince Charming, to crush it. Day Fifteen of the Folkloric Fauna of February. The balaur appears in most love stories as an evil character. 10. Occasionally they help children find answers to moral questions in life. 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. Thats because the Romanian mythical monster with seven heads shares its name with a recently discovered species of dinosaurs. Vampire movies fans should know that stories about dead people, who haunt the live ones and suck their blood, were part of the Romanian folklore long before Bram Stokers Dracula became famous. The Adventures of Kiara Yew 2019 All rights reserved | Designed by One Graphic Street, The Adventures of Kiara Yew 2019 All rights reservedDesigned by One Graphic Street, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), The Adventures of Kiara Yew 2019 All rights reserved | Designed by, the most beautiful fairy tales and legends, Transylvania Vampires | Historic Mysteries, Romanian Folklore | Fascinating Stories and Rituals. But the best legend ever is that of the famous agreement between the great Dacian king Burebista and all the Jidovi from the mountains. With mountains as sky-high as the Carpathians is easy to understand why Giants were the first people evercreated on the Romanian land. Ielele bathe in glacial lakes, and dance on mountain cliffs and in meadows. Worth mentioning is the root of the word Frtat coming from frate = brother. The legends of many nations describe a bygone era when the world was ruled by giant humans. It has physical traits such as legs or arms and the ability to create weapons. Oh, yes, we can hold hands then, Priscilla. Romanians generally perceived the earth as a disc, and they imagined what existed on the other side. In: Ciubotaru, Silvia. The content of this website is under copyright Patricia Furstenberg (unless specified otherwise). So the king, enraged (somehow) by her answer, banished his daughter from the castle, unwilling to listen to any explanation. Please help improve this . If you know of any Romanian tales we should include here, let us know! One of the best answers for the question "how were these legends created" is, obviously, the Romanian folklore itself. Maybe Zburatorul adapted to our modern times and uses other ways of tormenting young womens love life. Nuggets of Romanian Folklore, Myths and Legends Jewels of Romanian History and Travel. And be gone! The translations are excellent reads for your children when traveling to Romania. 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. This is just one of them! Tthe feeding method, however, may not be new at all. He is smart and hard-to-defeat. 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. The Romanian Giants known as Jidovi, are probably one of the most beloved 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. Tall, red-haired, with bulging eyes, dressed in a white long coat, he is always described carrying his Magic Book, the source of all his powers. Category:Romanian legendary creatures Help Pages in category "Romanian legendary creatures" The following 22 pages are in this category, out of 22 total. This is said to be the length of their great stride. Basilisk. Legends tell the stories for most of them. [1]:61, If these warnings should fail, God will initiate the End of the World. 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. Easter of Blajini is called also Easter of Deaths or Mighty Easter. On this night, people hang garlic on their doors for protection, and tend to stay inside. Now, lets jump into Romanias mythical creatures! 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. Are these some fantasy creatures? Well, the representation of the symbolic animal is a fusion between a wolf and a dragon, sometimes depicted as a serpent. They have filled folklore, stories, songs, and works of art . Long considered a venomous monstrosity, the Basilisk surfaced as a folkloric character in Europe in the Middle Ages. Different from balaur or vrcolac, the Zmeu has human features. Mythical creatures, legendary beasts , and supernatural, mystical, and god-like beings have fascinated us since ancient times. I'm Glenn. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. 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. Once upon a time, at the very beginning of the world, there was nothing but water. Finally, he came to a fairie palace, the palace of Youth without Age and Life without Death. There is more on dragon-like creatures in the Romanian mythology in what follows. These are usually, in our world, psychological creations that children invent as a way to socialize, be creative, and altogether develop cognitively. 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. K Kiara Yew Adventures Romanian Legends and Myths Werewolf Legend Werewolf Mythology Vampire Mythology Werewolf Hunter Mythical Creatures Art 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. Better keep away for they are irresitable, especially to men, and they will make youlooseyour way through the forest. Far from a monster, Zburator is a lover-deity who torments young wives and maidens with intense feelings of desire and sexual obsession. In some areas of Romania, she appears as a crone, with wrinkled skin that is peculiarly similar to tree bark. Romanian mythology is vibrant and often scary, full of blood-sucking creatures, vicious and fickle lovers, and bloody battles. But frtat also means prieten = (precious) friend. Let's face it. Korrigan - in northwestern France, these elf-like female beings have long hair, flowing white garments, and sometimes delicate wings. Makcik "keropok". We all know the phenomenon of children having imaginary friends. [1]:55, The origin of mountains is explained in a number of ways by the cultures of the different regions of Romania. Folk legend say that wherever the seductive ielele danced, strung in a circle, afterwards the ground appeared scorched, dead. 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. 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. Males are somewhat larger than females, with a weight of 30-60 kg . 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. Reading about Romanian Monsters of Myth and Folklore is a fun way of learning about a civilization strengthened by historical battles, enriched by its insight into the forces of nature, enchanting through its narratives. 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. He only wanted his daughter to be happy. 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. They were left to live in the mountains only if they promised to guard with their life the great Dacian gold treasures. The first beings to exist on earth were the Uria giants or ogres so large, they could bound across continents. Side by side. In the Romanian folklore, the wolf appears more often, since the Carpathian people have had many encounters with these animals. Thank you, Roberta vampire, also spelled vampyre, in popular legend, a creature, often fanged, that preys upon humans, generally by consuming their blood. 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 . If people refuse to help them while they are in disguise, they bring hail and strong storms to ruin the crops. The Balaur resides among the mythic dragons and dragon-like beings, who retain their unique traits and cultural elements from their fitting lores. The queen was pregnant and in labour, but her son, still in the womb, cried and refused to come out. Yet the earth kept on growing to reach and protect Frtat, and thus Earth came to be. These vicious wolf-creatures come out during the full moon, and in their older myths, lunar eclipses are actually the result of these wolves eating the moon. When great floods came, Jidovii took care of people and their animals without asking for any reward. "Aluxes" are creatures from Mayan mythology, depicted as small elven or goblin-like spirits known for creating mischief. The fey creatures that lived here quickly took a liking to him and invited him to stay. In the show, Zanna are actually the imaginary friends children see. So if you have six kids, all one sex, call it there. [1]:3842, The etymology of the word blajin (adj.) 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. 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. There are many stories of men being mutilated or losing their ability to talk after discovering these beautiful but cruel creatures. 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. Maybe it is a bedtime story, for your little one? Traditional folk arts include wood carving, ceramics, weaving and embroidery of costumes, household decorations, dance, and richly varied folk music. [1]:37 Blajini are invisible connectors between Inner and Hollow Earth. The word Strigoi originates in medieval Romanian folklore. In the modern folklore of Puerto Rico and Mexico, the chupacabra (goat-sucker) is said to be a creature that feeds upon the flesh or drinks the blood of domesticated animals, leading some to consider it a kind of vampire. In the Carpathians, Jidovii are often named Blajini, which means the Kind Ones, or Novaci, which means the Powerful Ones as they could snatch a tree without any effort. Glad WP is sorted. Even more, from spooky legends to love rituals, Romanian culture has them all. What sweet love his daughters had for him. With Halloween coming up this year, the Cpcun seems to be an unconventional choice for an impersonation. 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. The Romanian Giants known as Jidovi, are probably one of the most beloved folklore creatures. In fact, it may have been observed and recorded by our distant ancestors knowledge that was buried in ancient texts and folklore, according to a peer-reviewed study published Tuesday in the journal Marine Mammal Science. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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 destruction of the earth. They have similarities to brownies and to dwarves. Not at all delightful. There are quite a variety of Romanian monsters. I'm was never really into authentic military units simulation, so true fans can feel free to throw rocks of shit at me. However, Romanian mythology is full of characters, and you can read more about them here or in future articles. One day, the empress son was injured in battle, and he returned home to be nursed back to health. 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. These giants lived in the immense woodlands and in caves. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". #folklore #creatures #cartoons #illustrations Belonging to the Cretaceous period the Theropod dinosaur is one of the dwarf dinosaur species that lived in what is now Romania. Somewhere in 1882, a book regarding the Romanian folklore regarding burials was published . 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. (a type of cracker) If you refuse to buy any, she releases a Pontianak (a vengeful ghost) into your house. Finally, Ft-Frumos practically means handsome son. He is the Romanian superhero who gets to slay all the mythical monsters we listed above. Romanian mythology says that only a baby boy born with a distinctive sign over his face and body can become such a wizard. Pricolici are, in some stories, the souls of murderous men who come back to earth to do more evil. According to Adrien Cremene . We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. The king loved his daughters very much, and when his wife died, he made sure they had every luxury and educational advantage. These stories appear not only in Romanian folklore, but also in those of Aromanian, Slavic Macedonian and Bulgarian folklore. The serpentine rooster from Chile. According to the tale of creation, God and the Devil are master and servant, the devil (Nefrtatul) being Gods foolish brother. They are considered to fast the year through, and thus doing humans a great service. Nefrtatul went forth, but he tried to call the clay in his own name so that he would be ruler over all. Myths in the ancient kingdoms of Carpathia and Transylvania are especially original. Oftentimes people claim to see them at night, dancing Horas naked in the moonlight, with bells on their ankles and candles in their hands. Realising her to be his daughter, and finally understanding that he had been a fool, the emperor embraced her, apologising. , Thank you very much, for this interesting posting, Patricia. In the latter case, they are equalized with demons and provoke human resentment. One day, the king asked his daughters how much they loved him. They wear flowing white dresses and dance with their hair out, wild and uninhibited. Features RPG Yaga Folklore monsters, Romanian hip-hop, and a one-armed blacksmith star in this action RPG By Christopher Livingston last updated March 19, 2022 There are also light roguelike. This bizarre-looking monster hatches from an egg incubated by a rooster, and lives in a hole underneath its victims' house. 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. If you dare, scroll through this roster of scary . These massive beings were mostly good and kind, and lived in peaceful existence with humanity and the creatures of the earth. I, too, seem to notice that WP is out of sorts at times. by Irina B. 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. 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. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. A Cpcun is a creature in Romanian folklore, depicted as an ogre who kidnaps children or young ladies (mostly princesses). Nobody knew if he was handsome or not, for he was the very first one. By taking the shape of a dragon, appearing in the sky and spitting fire, the Zmeu belongs to a particular category of villains. Welcome to our blog! He is known to kidnap children and young women, and features in multiple Romanian folktales, where he kidnaps the princess and must be defeated. But its said that their burial mounds are filled with treasure, and can be found on Christmas Eve, Easter, and St. Georges Day, lit by magical fires. If youd like us to research and write about a particular place, get in touch! 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. The subspecies of the Rupicapra genus differ by habitat range and slightly different in certain physical traits, such as color. 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. He is an outlandish beast that has a female version in some stories. While Ft-Frumos doesnt sound like the sexiest name in English, this classic Romanian fairy tale figure is the local equivalent of Prince Charming. Some explain them as the descendants of Adam's son Seth. August 20, 2020 by Patricia Furstenberg. The princess spent every day alongside the empress at her sons bed, and quickly he was healed. Even in modern Romania, certain wolf attacks are attributed to Pricolici. The creatures swim to the surface of the ocean . Rozalinds fatherand the last head of the Giants, Old Cingalau (not the moth, perhaps a nickname, like Wide-Belt), feeling that his time has come, arranged for the two to get married. Traditional folk arts include wood carving, ceramics, weaving and embroidery of costumes, household decorations, dance, and richly varied folk music. 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. So, the Romanian Vasilisc is just like the Basilisk from Harry Potter? These are a few of Romanias most widely-known folktales and legends! Dragons, wolves, and hybrid animals populate the most appreciated stories. One day, God decided to create the earth, and enlisted the help of the animals and of his brother. From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia. Romania's rich folk traditions have been nourished by many sources, some of which predate the Roman occupation. As the Norse Fenris, a varcolac may swallow the moon and the sun; it's thus responsible for eclipses. In Romania, fears of the strigoi, once-human monsters who need blood to survive, have circulated for hundreds of years. I cover the travel and myth/legend posts. Linen was the most common material for clothing, combined with wool during the winter or colder periods. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. . . Strigoii and Moroii are believed to drink not only the blood of a human, but to feed on its energy too. "Its a legend about a lady going around door to door selling keropok. Cpcun (ogre) A sly and repulsive antagonist, the Omul Spn, Bold Man, Glabrous Man, is a character of treacherous intelligence, yet he has the role of initiating Harap-Alb, the hero of the Romanian fairytale with the same title, thus representing, together with the Red Emperor, a necessary evil for the growth of the protagonist. This little tale follows a king and his three daughters, long, long ago. Rememeber, Romania has the largest population of canis lupus (wolves) in Europe. It does not store any personal data. Some of the most beautiful fairy tales and legends have been translated into English. Signs of their existence are still noticeable, local people claim. 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. You may be able to gather his favourite form of torture from his title Vlad Dracul liked to impale his enemies on stakes, alive, leaving their tortured bodies for the advancing enemy to find. First, the rural character of the Romanian communities resulted in an exceptionally vital and creative traditional culture. The mythological "aluxes" have a penchant for tricks and small deceptions . They are very similar to the beasts in the rest of the European mythologies, and ever popular in Romania. The "chupacabra hysteria" was frequently associated with deep economic and political crises, particularly during the mid-1990s. 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. I think it might be due to a good mix of tumultuous histories, a web of cultures, incredible geography, weather, and crazy politics? Once upon a time, at the very beginning of the world, there was nothing but water. The giants sound almost charming, but Capcaun scares me . I write the history content. Bulgarian folklore tradition keeps its beliefs into supernatural creatures towards which people have more poetic or generally pagan attitude. Once, in an old anonymous folk tale, Ft-Frumos even goes on a quest to gain immortality. 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. You can find her in a plethora of folk and fairy tales, playing the role of a forest guardian. What a practical love! The Devil, however, tried to rebel, and, in response, God opened up the heavens so that he might fall to the earth. 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. They may be the best-known classic monsters of all. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 3. Un weekend frumos, Jo. 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. What are some unique aspects of Romanian folklore and legend? Sure enough, the sculptures on Emperor Trajans Column in Rome are there to attest it. Others claim that they are descendants of St. Elijah and that this is the reason why they master the storms and the thunders so well. anything that can shape shift scares me! 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". Yes, and it is not such a well known myth. How to Reason with Scientists and Other Partially Rational Creatures. It is said that they used magic words that asked to Zburator to leave, to hide and never to return. Absolutely fascinating Pat.. thanks for the amazing background and I love the explanation of Genesisxx, Cheering your visit, Sally In the historical county of Maramures, famous for its Merry Cemetery Sapanta as well as its picturesque wooden churches, folk legend says that giant, huge people inhabited its hills, thousands of years ago. , Sa stii ca nu te contrazic aici [2] The Devil tried to push him over the side, but the ever-expanding earth would hinder that. 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.

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