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Romanian LegendsRomanian Legends

ŞŞcoala Gimnazialcoala Gimnazialăă nr.1 S nr.1 SăăveniveniRomania 2Romania 2

‘‘The cultural identity of a nation may be The cultural identity of a nation may be reflected by the myths and legends that reflected by the myths and legends that accompanied it through its development.’ accompanied it through its development.’ (unknown author)(unknown author)

Romanian culture is strongly connected Romanian culture is strongly connected to religion; therefore, there are a lot of myths to religion; therefore, there are a lot of myths and legends that explain mysteries like: the and legends that explain mysteries like: the creation of the world, how man appeared, creation of the world, how man appeared, the fight between Good and Evil, and so on.the fight between Good and Evil, and so on.

Let’s see one such myth… Let’s see one such myth…

The Myth of the Tree and the SnakeThe Myth of the Tree and the SnakeIt is said that, being very It is said that, being very

upset, God threw His hatchet into upset, God threw His hatchet into the water and from there a tree the water and from there a tree appeared, under which the Devil appeared, under which the Devil lay. lay.

It is believed that the tree was It is believed that the tree was actually a fir tree. actually a fir tree.

That tree is the pillar That tree is the pillar of the world, around of the world, around which the whole which the whole universe is made. universe is made.

The Devil, as a The Devil, as a snake, existed before snake, existed before the creation of the the creation of the universe…or so the universe…or so the myth says…myth says…

The Legend of DochiaThe Legend of DochiaA very long time ago, A very long time ago,

the people who lived on this the people who lived on this territory were called territory were called Dacians, and their country, Dacians, and their country, Dacia. They were our Dacia. They were our forefathers. forefathers.

The Dacians were The Dacians were conquered by the Romans conquered by the Romans in 106. The legend says in 106. The legend says that to escape slavery, the that to escape slavery, the king’s daughter, Dochiaking’s daughter, Dochia,, turned herself into a, which turned herself into a, which exists today in the exists today in the Carpathians.Carpathians.

The Legend of Zamolxis – the The Legend of Zamolxis – the Man-GodMan-God

Zamolxis was a very loved Zamolxis was a very loved god by the Dacians. And they god by the Dacians. And they believed he had amazing believed he had amazing powers, being able to change powers, being able to change his appearance. He also used his appearance. He also used to wander through Polovragi to wander through Polovragi Cave and come at Cave and come at Sarmizegetusa City, the capital Sarmizegetusa City, the capital of Dacia.of Dacia.

Those who tried to find Those who tried to find the Dacian gold at the Dacian gold at Polovragi Cave have died. Polovragi Cave have died. It is said that the cause It is said that the cause was Zamolxis’s curse…was Zamolxis’s curse…

The Legend of Master ManoleThe Legend of Master ManoleIt is a legend of human It is a legend of human

sacrifice for the sake of sacrifice for the sake of creation. Ana, the Master’s wife creation. Ana, the Master’s wife is built inside the Curtea de is built inside the Curtea de ArgeArgeşş Monastery’s wall, so it Monastery’s wall, so it won’t collapse over and over won’t collapse over and over again. again.

Manole finds his death while Manole finds his death while flying down from the roof of the flying down from the roof of the Monastery…Where he died, a Monastery…Where he died, a fountain remains as a sign that his fountain remains as a sign that his genius is immortal.genius is immortal.

The Legend of the ‘SThe Legend of the ‘Sâânziene’nziene’A few days after the A few days after the

summer solstice, summer solstice, Romanians celebrate the Romanians celebrate the night of love and the night of love and the hottest day of the year. It hottest day of the year. It is the day of the is the day of the ‘S‘Sâânziene’, on June 24nziene’, on June 24 thth. . The name comes from a The name comes from a wild flower.wild flower.

The celebration is The celebration is dedicated to the Sun and dedicated to the Sun and Moon, to water and fire. Moon, to water and fire.

Men liMen lighght great fires, t great fires, and young women bathe and young women bathe in dew. in dew.

The most beautiful The most beautiful girl of the village is girl of the village is chosen to be chosen to be ‘Dr‘Drăăgaica’,and she is gaica’,and she is dressed as a bride. Then, dressed as a bride. Then, she and her followers go she and her followers go to the fields, bringing to the fields, bringing fertility to the land.fertility to the land.

Myths and legends show the Myths and legends show the world who we are, where we come world who we are, where we come from and what defines us as a from and what defines us as a nation.nation.

T h a n k y o u !T h a n k y o u !