Hello Alain and Everyone,
I’m in a rush but hope to have the time to post this for
you?! … so this won't be my most beautiful post but I'll be back! :-)
Today, 24th of February, we – ROMANIANS – are celebrating LOVE
– Rmanian way Valentine’s Day = DRAGOBETE
Today is the day of love in its most pure and intense way. It
should be a day of Spring spring (LOL), when NATURE is stretching its arms and feet
to return to life (not the -5 degrees Celsius that are here where I live and almost
all over the country – Birds should spread joy and the tiny and fragile snowdrops
should be all over the places delighting our senses – well one can see some here
and there, a few of the most courageous ones!
Today is the day of DRAGOBETE,
also called Navalnicul (THE TEMPESTUOUS) or BIRDS’ FIANCE, a „piece” of handsome
and mighty lad, which brings love in the homes and souls. According to the
legend, DRAGOBETE - a mythological character, similar to Eros at the ancient
Greeks, and to Cupid, for the Romans - at the beginning of each Spring, officiates
in the sky all animals wedding; the tradition has gradually extended among
people and gave birth to some specific habits of Romanians from the south and north
The Danube.
Unfortunately, they tend to be more and more forgotten by the Romans and
replaced by St Valentine's Day. In the countryside, these ancient traditions,
ancient rituals coming from the tracs are still alive. The Romanians here still
remember and keep in their mind the tradition when girls and boys, on The
DRAGOBETE’S DAY dressed in nice clothes and with much joy and happiness went into
the forest to collect snowdrops, Lady’s Delight, and other season’s flowers,
which they put on icons and then used them in the various magics of love. A
about lunch time, the girls start run back to the village, and each run attracting
after itself a boy; not some, but the one who loved them. If they were able to
catch their chosen one, they stole a kiss which everyone could see, thus this kiss
being the pledge symbolizing their love for the entire year. Here is coming
from the the famous saying "DRAGOBETE KISSES THE GIRLS!" very much
loved by the eager girls that wore in their souls the hope of receiving as many
kisses, thus being promised to bring them wholly love in the future. According
to another tradition the girls had to gather unmelted snow, rain water or
spring water, which is supposed like having magical effect upon them when used;
thus for example washing their face with this water they became more beautiful
and more loving.
The lads gathered in gangs, or the lots of girls, used, on Dragobete’s day, used
to become cross brothers and sisters. Tradition says that on this day, when the
Christian church celebrates Querying of St. John’s Head, people stop any other
work aside, cleaning up their houses, to properly welcome The God of Love who is
always accompanied by Love Fairies, whispering sweet words into the lovers ears.
Each Young girl and boy are doing their
best to assure on this day to catch a pair, else it is considered to be a bad
sign, foreseeing loneliness for the entire year, until the next Dragobete’s Day.
A very good opportunity of joy and well-being, DRAGOBETE represents one of the
most beautiful ancient customs of the Romanian people Do not forget that in
ROMANIA, LOVE is at home - her home :-)
With lots of friendship,
Anamaria
the running one!