Read the whole news: Babele de March – why Babele is chosen on March 1-9
On March 1-9 are the “Babele de Martie” or “Babei Dochia Days”, the most changeable and capricious days of the year. During this period, every woman can choose a day, a grandmother, and depending on the weather during the day, she will find out what the weather will be like for her all year round. TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Read the whole news: Babele de March – why Babele is chosen on March 1-9
Why choose Babes on March 1-9 The first days of March are considered the most changeable. Some are either too cold, others too hot. The tradition of choosing Babele appeared in the “myth of Babei Dochia”, one of the oldest myths in Romanian culture. It is said that Baba Dochia took her name from the Holy Martyr Evdochia, celebrated by the church on March 1. Baba Dochia appeared as an embodiment of the old year, which was coming to an end and she had to die. Her death on March 9 is considered to be the border between winter and spring. Between March 1st and 9th, Baba Dochia fulfills her destiny by climbing the mountain with her flock of sheep, in order to “die for rebirth”.
Baba Dochia put on nine fur coats and went up the mountain with the sheep. It was either too hot or too cold there, so she took off her skins one by one. But when she ran out of them, the frost came and froze her.
Read the whole news: Babele de March – why Babele is chosen on March 1-9
Babes of March – how to choose Baba According to tradition, between March 1-9, every woman must choose a grandmother. The date is calculated based on the birthday. How to calculate your grandmother according to date of birth: For example: if you were born on the 16th, your grandmother will be calculated: 1 + 6 = 7, ie on March 7th. Baba de Martie can be chosen on any day at random between March 1-9, but you have to decide on this day in advance. Depending on what the weather will be like on the day chosen by Baba, you will know how it will go all year round. It is said that if it is cold and dark outside, you will have a harder year, with upsets and tears; on the other hand, if it is hot and sunny outside, you will have a year without obstacles, with happiness and luck. According to tradition, it is said that if it snows or rains on Baba’s day it is a sign of wealth.
Babes de Martie – traditions and superstitions Babei de Babei or Babele de Martie represent, symbolically, the confrontation between the old and the new year, between winter and summer, between cold and hot. In Maramureș, Babe’s Days last 12 days. In the first days of March, it is knocked on doors, so that in winter it leaves homes, while in other areas of the country the earth is beaten with a whip to drive away the cold. In Transylvania, Baba’s Days are also called “Vântoasele”, due to the changing weather. In the past, Baba Dochia’s day was celebrated with holiness so that the cold would not damage the field, and the year would be a rich one. It is said that Baba Dochia has the power to drown or to fatten cattle.
Read the whole news: Babele de March – why Babele is chosen on March 1-9