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Local Custom- Project Team, Students of Duiliu Zamfirescu School, Focsani, Romania
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Drăgaica
 
This very ancient agrarian custom is connected with the harvest, still survives sporadically in certain villages in the south of Romania. The learned prince Dimitrie Cantemir described it for the first time in his famous work "Descriptio Moldaviae", written about 1715.
The "Drăgaicas" are little girls of 11 to 12 years old, adorned with ears of corn. One of them is dressed as a bride and another one is dressed as a boy named "Draganu". Sometimes Draganu is a boy. The "Drăgaicas" sing and dance in a circle without holding hands. At intervals they whirl round and yell and the Dragan, the boy, whistles on an ordinary whistle. Wishing to amplify the performance, the little girls have added to the original ritual dance other dances borrowed from the grown up dancer.

In our region a day before "Drăgaica", the people put thistles with their flower, cut into water. If they next day the flowers will be back, people will live a happy year and all their wishes come true.
 
Raluca Antonache
Artwork: Laura Nedelcu

 
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