Valentine’s Day: A Day of Romance

Valentine’s Day occurs every February 14. Across the United States and in other places around the world, candy, flowers and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint and where did these traditions come from and how did them got to our country? How did St. Valentine become associated with love and romance? Get the full story behind the holiday. The history of it is shorouded in mistery. Althought legend sais that he was a priest who served during the third century in Roman Empire. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed […]

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Saint Andrew’s Day in the Romanian Folklore

In the year 1997 Saint Andrew was proclaimed the “Protector of Romania”. Saint Andrew’s Day marks the beginning of winter and according to popular belief, is the moment in which dark and maleficent forces unleash upon Earth, represented by werewolves and vampires. This night (29th-30th November) is one strongly marked by sacred, supernatural and mystical manifestations, whom bring devastating effects upon the ones who do not strictly obey to popular customs and rituals, reasons for which St. Andrew’s night can be easily assimilated to the more occidental Halloween legend. In the Romanian traditional culture, spirits of the dead get out of their graves and start fighting themselves on borders, crossroads and other unholy places, using […]

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“Rusaliile” – Traditions & Superstitions

On the fiftieth day after the Resurrection and ten days after Ascension, is celebrated the Pentecost (Rusaliile) , which is the oldest Christian festival and is also the foundation of the Christian Church, because in this day about 3000 people were baptized and formed the first Christian community. The word „Rusalii“ is derived from the Slavic word „Rusalka“ rusalcele which means the water spirits like fairies, nymphs or demons of water that were celebrated to be softened in the first week of June. This pagan tradition has been passed to Christians, who called Rusalka „Drăgaica“ (she-devil, demon). In that week, was forbidden washing, bathing or any other any activity that was related to water. This […]

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