Romanian culture is strongly connected to religion and mythology. One myth describes the creation of the world, with God throwing his hatchet into water and a tree appearing under which the Devil lay, with that tree being the pillar around which the universe was made. Another legend tells of Dochia, the king's daughter who turned herself into a flower to escape slavery. Zamolxis was a beloved god with amazing powers who was said to curse those who tried to find Dacian gold. The legend of Master Manole involves the sacrifice of his wife to ensure the stability of a monastery they were building.

1. Save the PAST, live the PRESENT,Save the PAST, live the PRESENT,
imagine the FUTURE (PPIF)imagine the FUTURE (PPIF)
Romanian LegendsRomanian Legends
ŞŞcoala Gimnazialcoala Gimnazialăă nr.1 Snr.1 Săăveniveni
Romania 2Romania 2

2. ‘‘The cultural identity of a nation may beThe cultural identity of a nation may be
reflected by the myths and legends thatreflected by the myths and legends that
accompanied it through its development.’accompanied it through its development.’
(unknown author)(unknown author)
Romanian culture is strongly connectedRomanian culture is strongly connected
to religion; therefore, there are a lot of mythsto religion; therefore, there are a lot of myths
and legends that explain mysteries like: theand 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…

3. The Myth of the Tree and the SnakeThe Myth of the Tree and the Snake
It is said that, being veryIt is said that, being very
upset, God threw His hatchet intoupset, God threw His hatchet into
the water and from there a treethe water and from there a tree
appeared, under which the Devilappeared, under which the Devil
lay.lay.
It is believed that the tree wasIt is believed that the tree was
actually a fir tree.actually a fir tree.
That tree is the pillarThat tree is the pillar
of the world, aroundof the world, around
which the wholewhich the whole
universe is made.universe is made.
The Devil, as aThe Devil, as a
snake, existed beforesnake, existed before
the creation of thethe creation of the
universe…or so theuniverse…or so the
myth says…myth says…

4. The Legend of DochiaThe Legend of Dochia
A very long time ago,A very long time ago,
the people who lived on thisthe people who lived on this
territory were calledterritory were called
Dacians, and their country,Dacians, and their country,
Dacia. They were ourDacia. They were our
forefathers.forefathers.
The Dacians wereThe Dacians were
conquered by the Romansconquered by the Romans
in 106. The legend saysin 106. The legend says
that to escape slavery, thethat to escape slavery, the
king’s daughter, Dochiaking’s daughter, Dochia,,
turned herself into a, whichturned herself into a, which
exists today in theexists today in the
Carpathians.Carpathians.

5. The Legend of Zamolxis – theThe Legend of Zamolxis – the
Man-GodMan-God
Zamolxis was a very lovedZamolxis was a very loved
god by the Dacians. And theygod by the Dacians. And they
believed he had amazingbelieved he had amazing
powers, being able to changepowers, being able to change
his appearance. He also usedhis appearance. He also used
to wander through Polovragito wander through Polovragi
Cave and come atCave and come at
Sarmizegetusa City, the capitalSarmizegetusa City, the capital
of Dacia.of Dacia.
Those who tried to findThose who tried to find
the Dacian gold atthe Dacian gold at
Polovragi Cave have died.Polovragi Cave have died.
It is said that the causeIt is said that the cause
was Zamolxis’s curse…was Zamolxis’s curse…

6. The Legend of Master ManoleThe Legend of Master Manole
It is a legend of humanIt is a legend of human
sacrifice for the sake ofsacrifice for the sake of
creation. Ana, the Master’s wifecreation. Ana, the Master’s wife
is built inside the Curtea deis built inside the Curtea de
ArgeArgeşş Monastery’s wall, so itMonastery’s wall, so it
won’t collapse over and overwon’t collapse over and over
again.again.
Manole finds his death whileManole finds his death while
flying down from the roof of theflying down from the roof of the
Monastery…Where he died, aMonastery…Where he died, a
fountain remains as a sign that hisfountain remains as a sign that his
genius is immortal.genius is immortal.

7. The Legend of the ‘SThe Legend of the ‘Sâânziene’nziene’
A few days after theA few days after the
summer solstice,summer solstice,
Romanians celebrate theRomanians celebrate the
night of love and thenight of love and the
hottest day of the year. Ithottest day of the year. It
is the day of theis the day of the
‘S‘Sâânziene’, on June 24nziene’, on June 24thth
..
The name comes from aThe name comes from a
wild flower.wild flower.
The celebration isThe celebration is
dedicated to the Sun anddedicated 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 batheand young women bathe
in dew.in dew.
The most beautifulThe most beautiful
girl of the village isgirl of the village is
chosen to bechosen to be
‘Dr‘Drăăgaica’,and she isgaica’,and she is
dressed as a bride. Then,dressed as a bride. Then,
she and her followers goshe and her followers go
to the fields, bringingto the fields, bringing
fertility to the land.fertility to the land.

8. Myths and legends show theMyths and legends show the
world who we are, where we comeworld who we are, where we come
from and what defines us as afrom and what defines us as a
nation.nation.
T h a n k y o u !T h a n k y o u !