To begin with this article let's speak about this tradition.
The night between 23rd and 24th June in Romania they celebrate the Noapte de Sânziene.
This celebration is made in honor of the fairies. Etymologically, the name comes from the Latin Sancta Diana, the Roman goddess of the hunt and moon, also celebrated in Roman Dacia (ancient Romania).
The legend tell that Diana was known to be the virgin goddess and looked after virgins and women. She was one of the three maiden goddesses, Diana, Minerva and Vesta, who swore never to marry.
Also this celebration is related with the pagan celebration of the summer solstice in June. According to the official position of the Romanian Orthodox Church, the customs actually relate to the celebration of Saint John the Baptist's Nativity, which also happens on 24th June.
The folk practices of Sânziene imply that the girls wear a white dress and spend all day searching and picking flowers, especially the yellow flower sânziànă and then they Use them to make floral crowns which they wear upon returning to the village at nightfall. After that they meet with their beloved and they dance around a bonfire. In the end the crowns are thrown over the houses, and whenever the crown falls, it is said that someone will die in that house. If the crown stays on the roof of the house, then good harvest and wealth will be bestowed upon the owners.
The night between 23rd and 24th June in Romania they celebrate the Noapte de Sânziene.
This celebration is made in honor of the fairies. Etymologically, the name comes from the Latin Sancta Diana, the Roman goddess of the hunt and moon, also celebrated in Roman Dacia (ancient Romania).
The legend tell that Diana was known to be the virgin goddess and looked after virgins and women. She was one of the three maiden goddesses, Diana, Minerva and Vesta, who swore never to marry.
Also this celebration is related with the pagan celebration of the summer solstice in June. According to the official position of the Romanian Orthodox Church, the customs actually relate to the celebration of Saint John the Baptist's Nativity, which also happens on 24th June.
The folk practices of Sânziene imply that the girls wear a white dress and spend all day searching and picking flowers, especially the yellow flower sânziànă and then they Use them to make floral crowns which they wear upon returning to the village at nightfall. After that they meet with their beloved and they dance around a bonfire. In the end the crowns are thrown over the houses, and whenever the crown falls, it is said that someone will die in that house. If the crown stays on the roof of the house, then good harvest and wealth will be bestowed upon the owners.
Last Friday we went to the museum and we celebrated Sânziene with our Romanian friends.
We saw the presentation of the tradicional costume' s exposition.
There were prepared a lot of activities outdoor, but suddenly it began to rain and we thought that we couldn't enjoy more the day.
But after the rain stop and we could see, discover and enjoy this Romanian celebration.
Some little girls danced traditional folk and after there was a singer and we danced everybody together.
Then some children made a theatre with toys and there were several workshops to paint, play and have funny, even archery.
It was a very interesting day and I discovered more about the beauty of Romanian traditions.
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