Dragobete - Romanian code name for Saint Valentine
It surely crossed your mind that other cultures might also have some (at least remote) equivalents for the so famous American Saint Valentine's Day. We do! It is called Dragobete and we used to celebrate it openly in the rural areas on the 24th of February. Used to unfortunately, because today few people (if any at all) still care for this celebration in the traditional manner.In this day people celebrated spring and the blossoming nature when animals leave their winter lairs and birds start building their nests in the budding trees and so on... Of course mating is one of the main aspects of natural life, that is why the pre-Christian dedicated this celebration to love. :)
Dragobete is the Romanian Cupid or Eros wearing traditional clothes, not golden bow and arrows and not necesarily intended to make people fall in love but... rather make young girls fall in love with him. He is however supposed to be the protector of lovers and partners who meet in this vary day of 24th February - that includes animals. :)
Our so funny traditional stories about Dragobete (and other popular items) also include an attempt to seduce and bewilder Virgin Mary who punished him cruelly by changing the poor guy into a weed that we call Navalnic.
