DRAGAICA

June 24: Saint John’s Day (Midsummer); Sânziene (Drăgaica)

“In some parts of the country the feast is called Drăgaica. A few beautiful girls become Drăgăici. One of them is dressed as a bride. She is believed to have special powers: she helps the wheat set grain and lends fragrance to flowers. After serving as the Bride-Drăgaică, the girl may not marry for three years—the time needed to cleanse herself of the luminous forces absorbed in a single day. Another Drăgaica variant is performed by four girls, two of them dressed in men’s clothing.” (MTR)

For more, see the Text Archive of the Museum of the Romanian Peasant, Bucharest. (link: Arhiva de texte a Muzeului Taranului Roman Bucuresti)