Dragobete is a traditional Romanian holiday celebrated on February 24th, which marks the beginning of spring. It is a day associated with love and fertility, similar to Valentine’s Day in other cultures. It is the Romanian celebration of love, similar to Valentine’s Day.
The name Dragobete is derived from the name of a local deity, Dragobete, who was believed to be the son of Baba Dochia/Old Lady Dochia, a character associated with the return of spring.
The Dragobete Day is reportedly inherited from the Dacians and the Romans. In ancient Rome, the Lupercalia festival was being held every February 15th. This was a celebration of fertility, with the tradition requesting that the young unmarried girls should write love notes. Each girl would be wooed by the one who had extracted her note from the great hazard`s urn.
On Dragobete, young people traditionally go into the woods to pick flowers, especially snowdrops, which are considered a symbol of the holiday. They also engage in various rituals and games, such as running races or jumping over fires, to ensure good health and fertility for the coming year.
More precisely, on February 24, boys and girls would pick up vernal flowers and sing together. Maidens used to collect the snow and melt it, using the water in magic potions throughout the rest of the year. Those who are attending Dragobete customs are supposed to be protected from illness, especially fevers, for the rest of the year. If the weather allows, girls and boys pick snowdrops or other early spring plants for the person they are courting.
One of the most popular customs on Dragobete is the tradition of “dragobetele sarutului” or “dragobetele iubirii” (the Dragobete of kisses or the Dragobete of love). According to this tradition, young men and women go into the woods to pick flowers, and if they find themselves alone, they are supposed to kiss each other. This is believed to bring good luck and happiness in love.
In recent years, Dragobete has become more popular in urban areas, where people celebrate it with parties, concerts, and other events. However, the traditional customs and rituals associated with the holiday are still observed in many rural areas.
Overall, Dragobete is a celebration of love, fertility, and the arrival of spring, and it is an important part of Romania’s cultural heritage.
The Romans were not even born when the Dacians ruled the area.