The burning the treasures and the Dragaica or Sanzienele

The old legends say that during the nights of the great celebrations, the buried treasures are burning with enchanted flames. To discover the places where money is buried, people used to watch intently for hovering flames hoping they would get rich overnight – literally. Few treasures were discovered this way and fewer even were dug up for there are powerful spells guarding them. The belief in buried treasures is common on Romanian ground. The goddess that protects the fields and married women is called in some areas Sanziana and in others Dragaica. She is born on March 9, the day of the spring equinox, symbolising the death of winter. She grows miraculously until June 24, the day of the summer solstice when a plant that bears her name is in full bloom. Dragaica is a Neolithic goddess, the counterpart of Diana or Juno. She is also called the “Empress of the fields” and “The mistress of the sisters.” She has a court of young maids, she is dressed like a bride, in a white dress, wears a crown made of Sanziene (the flowers) – a sign of wedlock, protects the crops from harm and brings good luck to young girls who want to get married. She tells their fortune and decides whether their married life will be a happy one or not. During the ceremony, the goddess heals people’s ailments, especially the childhood diseases, and makes the wheat grains swell. She rejoices her short existence and people say she flies over the ground accompanied by her train of virgins. When her will is not obeyed she brings storms, makes people ill and makes the flowers odourless. Dragaica’s last dance is the first sign that summer turns to winter – the days become shorter, the wheat is ripe and the Hen constellation is visible. Flowers lose their perfume, cuckoos stop singing, the fireflies start roaming the forests and winter is but a few steps away. The ancient rituals became in time opportunities for young men to meet their brides and get together for a good time. The goddess is still invoked by young girls about to get married to insure their fortune in the coming life and by pregnant women to give their children a good start.