Moldavia (Romanian: Moldova, pronounced [molˈdova] (listen) or Țara Moldovei, literally “The Moldavian Country”; in Romanian Cyrillic: Молдова or Цара Мѡлдовєй; Church Slavonic: Землѧ Молдавскаѧ; Greek: Ἡγεμονία τῆς Μολδαβίας) is a historical region and former principality in Central and Eastern Europe, corresponding to the territory between the Eastern Carpathians and the Dniester River. An initially independent and later autonomous state, it existed from the 14th century to 1859, when it united with Wallachia (Țara Românească) as the basis of the modern Romanian state; at various times, Moldavia included the regions of Bessarabia (with the Budjak), all of Bukovina and Hertsa. The region of Pokuttya was also part of it for a period of time.
A spiriduş in Moldavian and Romanian mythology represent a little creature that can be either good or evil and is very similar to the leprechauns. The name is a diminutive of “spirit” (with the meaning of “ghost” or“soul”). By its nature, Spiriduş can be compared to the protective spirit genius of Roman mythology, the dwarves in Nordic Kobold mythology , or the small the demon from the French Lutin family . Their origin is supposed to come from the satyrs of ancient Athens and is related to belief in house spirits – a boundary between human civilization, wilderness and the supernatural world. Throughout history Spiriduş have been influenced by Christianity and emerged in folklore as an amalgam of beliefs on the resurrection of the dead theme. Usually Spiriduş is born from an egg that was hatched in left armpit for a period of time and depending on the origin of egg it has the appearance of a chicken or a small snake, as well as of a small creature resembling a dwarf or a little monster. It is usually s kept in a bottle and it is strange creature that has to work and help his owner to obtain money or other goods. A sum of money or a gift handed by Spiriduş to another person will always return to the owner in a magical way.
In Romanian and Moldavian mythology, strigoi (English: poltergeist)are the troubled souls of the dead rising from the grave. Some strigoi can be living people with certain magical properties. Some of the properties of the strigoi include: the ability to transform into an animal, invisibility, and the propensity to drain the vitality of victims via blood loss. Strigoi are also known as immortal vampires. According to Adrian Cremene, the origin of strigoi date back to the Dacians. The strigoi are creatures of Dacian mythology, as a representation of evil spirits, the spirits of the dead whose actions made them unworthy of entering the kingdom of Zalmoxis. As these stories were passed on only by oral tradition, legend has lost its original substance, and Romanians have transformed strigoi into bloodthirsty creatures. It is said that the “strigoi” ’s were so bad in nature that not even Satan would welcome them in hell. And above all, even Satan was afraid of them, and that’s why they walk on the land of the living, to kill, make ill, haunt the souls of the others.
A Căpcăun is a creature in Moldavian and Romanian folklore, depicted as an ogre who kidnaps children or young ladies (mostly princesses). It represents evil, as do its counterparts Zmeu and the Balaur. The Romanian word appears to have meant “Dog-head”. According to Romanian folkloric phantasy, the căpcăun has dog head, occasionally with
four eyes, with eyes in the nape, or with four legs, but whose key characteristic is anthropophagy. The term căpcăun also means “Tatar chieftain” or “Turk chieftain”, as well “pagan”. Some linguists believe to be the echo of Turkish term kapkan (kaphan, kapgan), that in some Turkic peoples in the age of migrations was a high noble or administrative rank.
NATIONAL HERO OF MOLDOVA: STEPHEN THE GREAT
Anyone who has not built a house, not grown son, not dug a well, and planted a tree, lived a life in vain. If a woman's tongue were shorter, the life of her husband would be longer. Many see, few understand. If the sun doesn't come in through the window, the doctor will come in through the door.
IN THE BEGINNING
In the beginning of beginnings, before time and matter, there was a boundless ocean called Apa Sâmbetei. For time out of mind the ocean was as still as a mirror, until a ripple appeared, as if something was blowing on the surface of the primordial waters. The ocean churned and bubbled with the waves, creating foam. From the froth suddenly sprouted a tree of massive proportions. Crawling on the tree’s branches was a single butterfly and a lone worm. The butterfly shed its wings and transformed into a beautiful, shining boy, lighting up the blackness around him. As if to mimic the other, the worm also wriggled and writhed until it had shed it’s body, revealing yet another boy, clouded with darkness. “Brother!” the second boy exclaimed with joy and moved to embrace him, but the first boy grimly shook his head. “You are not my brother, for I can have no equal. I shall call you Nonbrother.”
URIAȘ
The Uriaș were the first people ever created. These giants were incomprehensible in size; some of them had heads as big as mountains and with a couple steps they could reach any country they desired. Despite their powerful stature, the giants were friendly and, in bygone times, humans and the Urias lived together in peace. One day, however, a terrible war ensued between both races and atrocious crimes were committed on each side. It was at this time that God (or The Brother) decided to start over, flooding the world with the primordial waters, killing mostly everyone on Earth. Among the humans, only Noah and his family survived on the Ark. Legends say that Urias burial mounds contain a massive horde of riches and can be found on the eve of Christmas, Easter, or St. George’s Day, when magical fires burn above their graves.
World Mythology 