Dragaica - sanzienele

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Burning fields – Midsummer’s Day - Romanian Folk custom

România has many elements of prehistoric traditional civilization, with a special connection to the magical world and to the power of fire. One of these elements is a custom called Drăgaica (Midsummer’s Day) or Sânziene (The Gold-haired Fairy)

The term Drăgaică defines a custom which is celebrated on 24 June, a holiday that coincides, in the Christian calendar, with the Birth of St. John the Babtist. In Transylvania it is called Sânziene. The term also denominates a plant, Galium verum from rubiaceae family, which is used as part of the ritual but which also has special properties in the Romanian empiric traditional medicine. The term designates also the „fair” which was held annualy, on the 24 June and the dance during this event. Drăgaică is also the name of the main woman protagonist of this dance. In some areas, Drăgaica would have supernatural forces, similar to the wicked fairies that used to punish those who worked on the 24 June. Some sources claim that drăgaicele are real beings who give plants the power to heal diseases. In other interpretations they have the ability to make seeds bear fruit.

In some areas, it was believed to protect crops or protect fields from burning. The term Drăgaică comes from the Bulgarian Dragaica while the term Sânziene comes from the Latin Sancta Diana. This celebration coincides with the summer solstice. In some areas it was believed that these beings would „burn” crops, and some other times, on the contrary, it was believed that they protected them against fire. It is certain that in some areas torches are used, burning all night and big fires are set alight, after which, girls bathe in dew.

The first written testimony is at the end of the 17th c. ”when crops are ripe, all girls from nearby villages get together and chose the most beautiful one, which they call Drăgaică. They celebrate her on the fields with great pomp, they embellish her with a wreath of wheat-ears and many coloured head-kerchiefs, and give her the keys of the barns”. Then, Drăgaica goes through the villages, singing and dancing with her fellow girls.

From a group of 5-7 girls only one is chosen, on various criteria, Drăgaica. She is embellished with wheat-ears, while the other girls dress in white, wear a veil on their face on which drăgaică/sânziene flowers are pinned, and hold a scythe in their hands. As soon as Dragaica’s suite is formed, they all head towards the village and the fields.

It is believed that that custom is coming from prehistoric times.