In Romania, pagan traditions have weaved into Christian Orthodox rites for centuries. One such example happens on June 24. The birth of John the Baptist is celebrated, and so is the Romanian tradition of Sânziene, an ancient feast of fertility and love.
On this particular day, Romanians are encouraged to respect certain traditions.
“Sânziene” are the yellow wildflowers known as Lady’s Bedstraw (Galium verum), but in mythology they are also a sort of woodland fairies that dance around the fire and bestow fertility upon women — and crops.
Mircea Eliade wrote that their dance “opens the sky for those who know how to see it” – tapping into the inherently magical thinking of the Romanian village tradition.
For those who believe, this means that the border between the visible and the unseen world becomes less rigid, allowing symbolic happenings between humanity and the divine force of nature.
It is inherently a celebration of femininity, and people often take to the forest or the field thanks to the typically fine weather.
Legend has it that girls who will put Lady’s Bedstraw under their pillow will dream of their “chosen one”, soulmate or future husband.
Similarly, if you throw the bouquet of Lady’s Bedstraw on the roof the next day, you’ll see the future: if the bouquet stays on the roof, the girl will get married that year, if it falls, she won’t.
Alternatively, wearing a flower crown made from these blossoms will protect the wearer from evil spirits.
