Romania’s Celebration of Love: Dragobete

Key takeaways

1. Dragobete is Romania’s exclusive celebration dedicated to love and spring’s renewal, with customs predating Valentine’s Day.
2. Celebrations include wearing red for love, searching for spring flowers, exchanging kisses under blossoming trees, jumping over fires for purification, and crafting love potions.
3. Dragobete is growing in popularity each year, with themed parties, romantic getaways, and the exchange of gifts.

Did you know that Romanians have their own “Valentine’s Day?” We do, and it is called Dragobete (or Dragobetele) – a unique, special celebration of love and spring renewal, celebrated each year on February 24th.

I briefly touched on the subject when I talked about Romanian traditions, but today I want to go more in-depth with it, especially since love is in the air, as February seems to be the month of celebrating love.

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The Legend of the Dragobete

According to Romanian folklore, Dragobete was a handsome young man, the son of Baba Dochia, the goddess of winter.

Dragobete was known as a charming fellow, capable of making anyone fall in love with him. On February 24th, he would start roaming the countryside, playing his flute, and spreading happiness and love wherever he went.

Legend has it that on this day, birds would mate and flowers would bloom, as nature rejoiced in the arrival of spring, encouraged by the Dragobete.

Couples would also express their love for each other, by exchanging love letters and poems, but also small gifts like flowers or sweets.

Traditions and Customs for Dragobete’s Day

Unique to Romanians (like the Martisor which also celebrates the arrival of spring), the Dragobete is not just a celebration of love, but also the perfect time to restart your connection with nature and prepare for the coming of spring.

While this celebration was not very popular for decades, especially after the 1990s, when Valentine’s Day took over, over the last few years, there’s been a revival. Younger generations in particular have rediscovered its magic, and many are now celebrating both holidays – or just Dragobetele.

After all… two excuses to celebrate love are always better than just one, right?

Quick note: Why do I say both “Dragobete” and “Dragobetele”? They’re both correct, with the later being the articulated form of the word and what is usually used the most in Romanian language.

Back to customs now! There are plenty of them – but generally, expect to have Valentine’s Day-like parties, gift-giving, and such in the cities.

Let’s check out the main customs and traditions below!

1. Wearing red: On Dragobete, it’s customary for both men and women to wear red, as a symbol of love, passion, and vitality. Red is believed to ward off evil spirits and attract good luck.

2. Kissing under a blossoming tree: In the old days, couples would gather under an apple or cherry tree to kiss. The blossoms were believed to bless them with good fortune.

If you can’t find blossoms in February (because nature can be unpredictable), a symbolic gesture under any budding branch can still be fun.

Now would be a perfect time to start practicing your Romanian skills. Prepare by learning, from my previous article, how to say I Love You in Romanian (and more!)

3. Stepping on your partner’s foot: A funny tradition saying that whoever steps on their partner’s foot first during the Dragobete Day, will have the upper hand in the relationship for the rest of the year. So if this “accidentally” happens to you on this day, you know why.

4. Searching for spring flowers: Young girls and boys would go out into the fields, woods, or hills, searching for the first flowers of spring.

This is something no longer done – not even in the villages, as far as I know, since due to the climate change, the first flowers are long gone… and they’re usually easier to find in stores.

5. Jumping over fires: In some parts of Romania, people would light bonfires and jump over them, as a way to purify their bodies and souls. It was also thought that by jumping over the fire, one could break bad luck or curses.

6. Making love potions: It was believed that on Dragobete, nature was filled with magical powers and that one could make love potions or spells, by using ingredients such as honey, wine, or herbs.

These potions were supposed to enhance one’s charm, attractiveness, and luck in love.

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Conclusion

I love that Romanians have reclaimed this holiday and started to celebrate it once more with style. Traditions are important, and it’s always nice to see them reemerge – especially when we’re talking about something that celebrates love and is closely connected to our folklore.

So if you’re here in late February, you have a chance to spread love in a different way. Or at least spot couples playfully stepping on each other’s feet, while adding a splash of red in their outfits.

Or just celebrate it wherever you are, especially if you have a Romanian woman or a Romanian man by your side, calling them your better half.

Feel free to spread the word, plan a small surprise for someone, and enjoy another day devoted to matters of the heart. Happy Dragobete!