It is believed that these nymphs appear mostly at night in the moonlight, in secluded places. They are dancing naked, in circles, or sometimes dressed in iron garments or in transparent dresses with belts at their feet; their dance ground remains burned like it was on fire.
Sometimes they have an apparent body, other times they are just immaterial ghosts, with the illusory appearance of cheerful women. They live in groups, in the air, on lonely rocks or in the mountains, through forests or rarely seen at crossroads.
They are supposed to be a kind of malicious nymphs, not harming people if they’re not provoked, but also they don’t get involved with humans. They can be summoned though, by people, if they want the nymphs to cast a malicious spell on someone else, with a price, of course, of life and death.
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MORoii (Poltergeist, EVIL GHOSTS)
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The “moroi” are believed to be the evil souls of the dead, coming out of the grave at night and turning into wicked animals or ghostly apparitions, to cause harms to the living.
The Dacians considered the “moroi” as the representation of evil, the spirits of those asleep whose deeds were not worthy of entering the „Kingdom of Death”, but these data being transmitted only verbally, the legend lost its original content. Later, the Romanians turned these mythical appearances into bloodthirsty creatures who did not leave the spirits of the deceased to rest in peace. �The “moroi” don’t eat garlic or onion, avoid incense. On the Eve of St. Andrew’s holiday, they come out of the graves and sleep outside churches and cemeteries. On this night, people place garlic at their doors, to prevent these spirits to enter their homes.
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Dracula (Vlad ȚepeȘ)
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Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” was inspired by the history of the Romanian Lord, Vlad - Țepeș (Vlad the Impaler), who is described as a bloody ruler, with a creepy habit of impaling the war prisoners in long, wooden poles .
In fact, Bram Stoker never visited Romania. He placed his story in Transylvania, where Vlad Țepeș was born, not in Wallachia, where he really lived and ruled. Anyway, Romania became Dracula’s land.
If it hadn’t been for Stoker’s novel, Vlad - Țepeș would have been just another cruel, blood – loving, unknown leader. The myth of Dracula doesn’t exist in the Romanian folklore, but grace to Bram Stoker’s novel, it became a brand of our country.
The huge success of his novel lead to a lot of different stories, then movies and comics. All of them had as subject immortality, bloody encounters and the fight between good and evil.
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ROMANIAN SUPERSTITIONS
QUICK GUIDE
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1. MONEY
If you have an itch in the right palm – you will receive money from someone – but if the same itch is in the left palm, you will give money …
Never lend money to someone on Monday – you will be giving money for the whole week. On the other hand, if you receive money on Monday (even if they are yours) you will be fortunate – expect to get money for the whole week
Never put your purse on the floor, because it means poverty! Put it somewhere on the table, on the furniture…
You must have some money in your pockets when you hear the cuckoo singing for the first time in spring, for luck and wealth.
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2. WORK
Never start doing something on Tuesday – you will never finish the job!
There is a belief, that on Tuesdays, there are three ”Bad times” – moments that bring bad luck.
If you walk accidentally under a ladder, it’s bad luck – you must keep your fingers crossed, to avoid it…
Never wash clothes on Saturday, on a religious holiday or in the first day of the year … Never hang them to dry after sunset!
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3. GOOD LUCK – BAD LUCK
Never open an umbrella inside the house – it is extremely dangerous … Wait until you are outside, then open it. You will be safe!
Never put the knife on the table with the sharp edge up. It means fight!
If the salt was accidentally dropped on the floor, it means an ugly fight!
If you throw an old shoe after someone leaving the house for a long trip, they will be followed by fortune, wherever they go.
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4. WEDDING
If it rains on your wedding day, it means wealth and fortune
A bride should avoid to meet another bride – it is bad luck! If it still happens, the two brides must exchange a hairpin – otherwise it is not for good …
But, if you sit at the table, right in the corner, you might never get to your wedding day ever! The same happens if you are swept with a broom by someone else. Another bad luck…
But, if you are already married (or not yet…), if you eat the corner of a bread loaf, your mother-in-law will simply adore you…
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5. VARIOUS/UNCATEGORISED
Never bring an even number of flowers. They are only for the funerals/commemorations!
Don’t kiss or hug your loved one when you are above the threshold – you’ll be falling apart…
If you have an itch on your nose, it means you will be in the middle of a fight!