Dragobete: traditions and customs on February 24

Dragobete is a holiday with ancient traditions and deep meanings in Romanian culture, known as the festival of love among Romanians and celebrated on February 24th.

Dragobete is an ancient Romanian tradition that heralds the beginning of spring and the rebirth of nature. In the Romanian village world, until the mid-20th century, Dragobete was celebrated on February 24 and 28 or on March 1 and 25, according to researcher Ion Ghinoiu, author of the volume “Days and Myths”. It is also known that the holiday was specific to the southern area of ​​the country, being also known as “Birds' Engagement” – the day when they mated and built their nests. This birds' engagement was symbolically adopted in the village world, which believed that girls and boys must meet in order to be in love throughout the year.

The day of Dragobete, the god of youth, joy and love in Romanian mythology, overlaps in the Christian Orthodox calendar with the "First and Second Finding of the Head of St. John the Baptist".

Who was Dragobete?

Legends say that Dragobete is the son of Baba Dochia, a handsome and impetuous young man, representing in opposition to this the positive principle. Dragobete is the god of youth, joy and love in the local Pantheon.

According to folk legends, Dragobete enchanted everyone with his beauty and the songs of his flute. He appeared in dreams to young men who were about to get married and taught them the secrets of love. Dragobete awakened love in people's souls and brought life back to nature after the hard winter months. After hundreds of years of living and teaching people to love, Dragobete died and was transformed into a spring plant, like a fern, called "navalnic".

Etymology of the word Dragobete:

Some philologists claim that the name Dragobete is based on two Old Slavic words "dragu" and "biti", which would be translated as "to be dear". However, other philologists believe that it comes from the Dacian words "trago" - tap (later became "drago") and "bete" - legs.

There is also a hypothesis that Dragobete can be translated as "the beautiful face in the house of God, the beautiful young man, chosen", from the Dacian words "drag", which means "beautiful face", "face of light" and "betel" - "house of God".

What are the traditions of Dragobete?

On this great holiday, young people dressed in beautiful clothes used to gather in the forests and pick the first flowers of spring. The picking of flowers continued with good cheer and songs, with a kind of game called "flying". At noon, the girls would run towards the village, and the boys would chase them, trying to catch them and give them a kiss. If the boy was dear to the girl, she would let herself be caught, and later the kiss considered equivalent to the engagement, but also of the beginning of love between the two, took place. Towards evening, the engagement would be announced to the village community and family members.

In different parts of Romania, around Dragobete, village elders would give special care to the animals and birds in the household. The elders believed that on this day the birds would choose their mate for life and begin building their nests, setting the tone for the entire ritual of awakening to life through love.

Similar to Epiphany, in certain areas of the country: young virgins can find out their fate on the night of Dragobete if they put holy basil under their pillow.

Dragobete Superstitions:

• If on Dragobete day someone hears a puppet, then they will be diligent throughout the year;
• If it rains on Dragobete, it means that a beautiful spring will follow;
• To avoid bad luck all year long, you should never argue with anyone on Dragobete Day.