Pentecost Traditions

Pentecost, also known as Whitsunday, is one of the oldest Christian celebrations, it's celebrated 50 days after the Feast of the Ascension, when the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles, it's also known as the birthday of the Church, when 3,000 people were converted to Christianity.

The Orthodox Christians celebrate Pentecost, also known as Whitsunday, on Sunday and Monday, as a Christian celebration of the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles, which is also known as Rusalii or Great Sunday in the folk tradition. The feast of Pentecost is one of the oldest Christian celebrations, along with Easter, being celebrated since the time of the apostles.

Rusalii or Summer Mosii

The feast of the descent of the Holy Spirit is also known as Rusalii, from the Romanian celebration of roses, consecrated to the cult of the dead. Christians adopted the Roman tradition, making the Saturday before Pentecost one of the days of remembrance of the dead.

In some parts of the country, on Rusalii Saturday, decorated pots with flowers and a bun on top are distributed for the remembrance of the dead. On Rusalii Sunday, beautifully decorated plates are distributed for the living.

Since the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are in an immediate connection, the Monday after Rusalii Sunday is consecrated to the glorification of the Holy Trinity, therefore the Rusalii feast has two days.

Traditions and customs of Rusalii

Rusalii is also associated with other traditions and customs, which vary from region to region. In some areas, people decorate their homes and farms with branches of lime, walnut, poplar or oak, to ward off evil and diseases. Lime branches have a special symbolism in this festival: it is believed that the lime tree protects homes from hail or the evil spirits of fairies. Young men bring them from the forests, then they are blessed in church, and believers take them home and put them in front of icons.

The branches of lime, elder or blackberries blessed on Rusalii are used as remedies throughout the year. In popular tradition, it is said that only until the Summer Solstice, the plants have healing powers. Also, on Rusalii, in some regions, people dance "The Calusari’s Dance”. It is said in the folk that the most used remedy for those affected by Rusalii is the calusari's dance.

In some areas, women make incantations to ward off Iele, and doors are smeared with garlic, because it is believed that the house will be guarded from evil and misfortune for the rest of the year. Evil spirits are also driven away through noisy rituals and snaps with lime branches.

In some households, unguents are prepared and given to the cow's udders, to increase milk. In Transylvania, it is the custom known as "the drenching of the wives”. Women are sprinkled with water, to be healthy and beautiful for the rest of the year. In some areas, it is said that if Rusalii is a beautiful time, the whole summer will be beautiful and productive.

Superstitions of Rusalii

Legends say that Iele or Rusalii are fantastic beings that fly through the air and can take people's minds if they do not respect the day. Rusalii, known by different names - iele, fairies, soimane, empresses of the air, she-bears -, walking dressed in white, and the places where they dance remain burned and unproductive. In some villages, people believe that on Rusalii days it is not good to go to the field, because they will catch and punish you. On Rusalii, people should not enter the vineyard or go to deserted places, because they might meet with evil spirits.

In some areas, it is said that those who do not respect the Rusalii festival will be punished by Iele, who cause a disease called "taken from Rusalii" in popular language. Also, it is not good to argue with someone on Rusalii day, because you will be "taken from Rusalii".