“DRAGOBETE” - an old Romanian tradition, featuring Love
Each year, on February 24th (10 days after Valentine’s Day), Romania
celebrates its own day of love, called “DRAGOBETE” – a day dedicated not only
to love, but also to nature as well. With the month of February marking the onset of
spring, nature itself seems to be in celebration, as birds begin to mate and
build their nests during this time. For that reason, this day is also known as
the day when ‘birds are betrothed’, and, likewise, this promising sign inspires
Romanian youth to pursue their own future ‘mates’. Why the name Dragobete
though? Legend has it that he was the son of “Baba Dochia” (the goddess who ushered in spring), and because of his unending
kindness, he was blessed to be the guardian of love.
“Dragobete”
was, and hopefully shall remain one of the most beautiful Romanian
traditional holidays, in which the human feelings and the rhythms of nature are
intertwined; this holiday celebrates love, in the time when nature wakes back
to life.
To all those who observe this old traditional Romanian custom, I’m
wishing them a very happy “Dragobete” Day!
● My previous greetings on the same theme: ”DRAGOBETE” Day – 2022, 2021, 2020
NOTE: Dear readers, please be advised that on this website each of the previous postings, pertaining to the recurrent annual themes, portray a different perspective of the subject/s presented (same theme/s, but a different outlook without duplication due to the cultural richness of the specific topic/s discussed).
NOTE: Dear readers, please be advised that on this website each of the previous postings, pertaining to the recurrent annual themes, portray a different perspective of the subject/s presented (same theme/s, but a different outlook without duplication due to the cultural richness of the specific topic/s discussed).