Romanians celebrate Dragobete, a magical and mysterious day dedicated to love and romance which heralds the start of Spring.
It symbolizes youth, pure love, hope and a new cycle of life and is less commercial than Valentine’s Day, on February 14.
It’s also known as “The Head of Spring” and marks the beginning of the new agricultural season with warmer weather and longer days.
Dragobete is said to be a Dacian God, similar to Eros, the Greek God or Cupid, the Romanian equivalent.
He not only is the protector of love and fertility, but is strongly connected to nature, linked to the time of year when birds build their nests and mate, a time of rebirth for nature after winter and a time for young love.
Legend has it that Dragobete, a Slavic name, is the son of Baba Dochia, who is the main character in a story which sees the end of the harsh winber and arrival of Spring.
Dragobete was chosen due to his kind nature. The day is also known as „the day when birds are betrothed”
Birds that don’t manage to mate are traditionally believed to remain single until the next Dragobete.
Unlike Eros and Cupis, Dragobete did not use his powers to make people fall in love, but reminded people to never stop celebrating love.
