{"id":7479,"date":"2020-05-28T03:21:00","date_gmt":"2020-05-28T01:21:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/?p=7479"},"modified":"2023-10-08T14:26:24","modified_gmt":"2023-10-08T12:26:24","slug":"garlic-romanian-folklore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alluringcreations.co.za\/wp\/garlic-romanian-folklore\/","title":{"rendered":"Garlic in Romanian Folklore #Im4Ro"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Garlic is deeply rooted in Romanian cuisine but also in Romanian folklore where it is include in numerous rituals mostly due to its heath benefits; it is almost considered magical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Give me Garlic on S\u00e2ntandrei, Saint Andrei – 30 November<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

S\u00e2ntandrei is a major celebration that involves lots of garlic. Saint Andrei is also the Patron Saint of Romania, observed on the 30th of November.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In case you didn’t know already… garlic is believed to have healing and protective powers. For this reason alone Romanian folktales call it ai. Usturoi <\/em><\/strong>is named when used in culinary situations. The wild garlic is samurasl\u0103<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So on Saint Andrei it is advised to hang garlic, ai<\/em><\/strong>, at window, doors, on the eaves of the house, and don’t forget the stables to protect the horses and the cattle against any evil spirits, strigoi <\/em>and moroi<\/em> (who are wander around to steal people\u2019s minds and the orchards\u2019 fruits). But do hang the garlic strings so that they form a cross. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Romanian folklore it is said that God Himself named the garlic ai<\/em><\/strong>, because it is a sacred plant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MUILLA<\/em>, ALLIUM <\/em>and an anagram<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The flowers from the Muilla <\/strong>genus, although lilies, have flowers quite similar to those of Allium<\/strong>, the onion genus. Just judge by yourselves:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

But garlic, aiul, although considered sacred, due to its religious connotations, as well as having magical powers cannot be eaten all year round. For example it is advised not <\/strong>to eat garlic ahead of 29 August (29 Gustar<\/em>) when Christianity observes the Beheading of John the Baptist<\/strong>, and before 14 September (14 Rapciune<\/em>), The Exaltation of the Holy Cross<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Romanian folklore garlic has a head and a cross<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

In Romanian folklore the garlic, usturoi<\/em>, is seen as a human been, with a head <\/em><\/strong>(cap<\/em> de usturoi<\/em>, as we call the garlic bulb), a cross, it is dressed in clothes (the many layers of skin one must peel), and the garlic cloves are called catei <\/em>(puppies).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you clean the garlic and throw its skin in the fire, make sure they don’t fall on the ground. It would be a shame, the garlic is from God.<\/p>Romanian saying<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Interesting is that Hindu and Islamic traditions also mention garlic in a reverence way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Garlic<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Romanian Legend of How Garlic Got its Name<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Legend says that Saint Peter wished to rise to the sky, to Heavens. But a magpie was watching him and whenever he tried, the magpie would announce rascal Satan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, before this string of events humans had perfectly flat feet. Yet whenever the magpie would chirps to announce Satan that Saint Peter wishes to rise to Heavens, the horned scoundrel would jump right away and catch Saint Peter by his feet, digging into them with his bony, sharp fingers and pulling out bits of meat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saint Peter, in agony, would have called ‘ai<\/em><\/strong>‘ towards Heavens, instead of ‘ouch’. And God would answer: ‘quiet, Peter, for ai <\/em><\/strong>would also be good for something’.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And since then humans have a curvature in the soles of their feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In parts of rural Romania snowdrops <\/strong>are nicknamed little garlic<\/em> and seen as sacred and mysterious, much like the garlic itself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Garlic
Garlic in Romanian Folklore<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

C\u0103lu\u0219arii and the Garlic on the Flag<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

C\u0103lu\u0219arii <\/em>are the members of a Romanian secret society who practice a ritual acrobatic dances with mystical connotations known as the c\u0103lu\u0219<\/em><\/strong> (little horse, pony). Romanian historian and writer Mircea Eliade, described the C\u0103lu\u0219ari for “their ability to create the impression of flying in the air” believed to represented the galloping of a horse and the dancing of the fairies – their patron saint being “Queen of the Fairies” Doamna Z\u00eenelor<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n