Dragobete – How Romanians Celebrate Love

What is Dragobete?

Romanians have their own traditional Valentine’s Day. In fact, Dragobete is much older than Valentine’s and it’s related to ancestry traditions. Dragobete is celebrated a few days later than its Western “counterpart”, on February 24, and it’s said to have been born in the Dacian times (1st century AD).
Dragobete is considered a god of love, and the character is sometimes referred to as Cap de Primăvară (Spring’s Head), Năvalnicul (The Impetuous One) or Logodnicul Păsărilor (The Fiancé of the Birds), while in some legends he is mentioned as the son of Baba Dochia (The Old Lady Dochia).

The Romanian Celebration of Love

Dragobete is a character taken from the ancient Dacians, passed down from generation to generation and later transformed into a protector of young people and the god of love.

Also, in the Romanian tradition, Dragobete marked the beginning of spring, as the date of February 24 represents the beginning of the agricultural year.

On the day of Dragobete, in the Romanian villages, many beliefs were practiced related not only to love and fertility, but also to healing and rebirth through the power of nature and plants. Thus, it was said that whoever participated in this celebration of love would be protected from diseases of the year, and especially from fever, and that Dragobetele helps the householders to have a prosperous year.

Popular beliefs about Dragobete

In some villages of southern Romania, there were several beliefs related to Dragobete. Thus, on this day it is believed that men should not upset women, because otherwise they will not do well all year round. Also, young married people did not have to quarrel on this specific day in order to remain in love throughout the year. Moreover, on Dragobete, women are not allowed to sew, to work the land, so that everything that follows in the new agricultural year would be abundant.

How is Dragobete celebrated in Romania?

Dragobete is not so visible for a tourist to Romania, as the Western celebration of love is. From this perspective, some consider Valentine’s as the commercial celebration of love, while Dragobete is the spiritual celebration of love.

Do you have a girlfriend or a boyfriend in Romania? Surprise her or him on Dragobete and show your love with any universal loving gesture – a present, a flower, an invitation to the restaurant or something to make both feel in love with each other. You will be rewarded, guaranteed!