Saint Andrew’s Day

30th November

Pre-Christian & Christian The central figure of this feast is

Sântandrei a pre-Christian divinity, personification of the wolf, over which Christianity superimposed on St. Andrew „The First Called”, Protector of Romania.

Sântandrei took over as name and date of celebration of the Apostle Andrew (30 November).

Saint Andrewhe lived in Galilee Andrew (Greek:

manly, brave, from ἀνδρεία, Andreia, "manhood, valour")

A Christian apostle, brother of Saint Peter

He was a fishermanHe is the patron

saint of Scotland, Romania Greece and Russia

St. Andrew in the popular calendar – Sântandrei, Beginning of WinterIs the time when Peter and Andrew (known

as the saints patron of wolves) unleash the evil forces represented by the undead and wolf.

In this night the spirits of the dead and the undead steal milk and field’s abundance.

Effective remedies against this evil forces: salt, poppy, hemp and garlic.

Night of the living dead

Saint Andrew’s Eve (29th November)

Night of the living deadSpirits of the dead get

out of the tombs and start to fight until the

rooster crows.

To protect themselves from hazards,

Romanian peasants have anointed with

garlic the window and door, in order to

protect the house.

Guarding the garlicOn the night of November 29th, young people were eating and having a party, having in the center of the table some garlic bulbs surrounded by incense and candles scraps from Easter.

In the morning, the youth went in the backyard where they were dancing around the garlic, then the garlic was shared among participants. Sometimes they took this garlic to church to be sanctified. It was stored near icon, and used throughout the year against the charms of love and to cure diseases.

Covașa (similar to boza)Ritual fermented beverage prepared from

corn flour or corn or millet which was consumed in Sântandrei Day, especially in the eastern part of Romania. The taste is sweet and sour drink, similar to boza. Covașa was shared to neighbors in bowls or pots for cows to milk, and milk to be good. In Moldovia it was believed that every man owes to eat it to be protected against the undead.

Andrei’s breadThe girls who wanted to know their future husband prepare in this day „Andrei” bread from water, flour and salt in equal quantities, measured by a nutshell. Girls will eat this bread, and in their dream the future

husband will come to provide water.

Knowing their future husband

In Bucovina (North part of Romania), girls put under pillow 41 seeds of wheat, invoking their

guardian angel and God to show them in dream the future husband.

DivinationsTo appreciate the future, girls prepared a round

bread of yeast dough and they put in the middle of it a clove of of garlic. The bread was left for a week in warm place. If garlic sprouted the girl was lucky.

Beliefs and SuperstitionsTo protect the house, household and family

by the undead’s evil action, people resorted to a series of magical acts and gestures. Substances with the highest efficiency were: garlic, salt, hemp and poppy seeds.

On this day people don’t work to not get ill and to keep wolves from households. Women do not clean the pavements keep the wolves away from cattle.

Sântandrei, Winter Andrew, Indrea, Wolf Day

St. Andrew (November 30) -

Wolf DayWomen stop housework and they don’t: purr,sweep, throw the garbage out of the house, clean the stables,comb their hair, make any scratches, give almsgive any loan.

Traditionswolves gather in hounds of 12 and shall be

separated on the day when we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus. Also now they receive the gift to bend the neck, from here the belief that wolves "see their tail.“

When wolves gather in hounds howled believed they pray to St. Peter to decide their prey. Wolves are Saint Peter's dogs with whom he starts looking for demons. St. Peter decides every night the cattle that wolves have to eat.

TraditionsOn this night wolves (females) steal coal

from garbage to give birth on the night of St. George, wolf cubs that it can’t be found.

Women boil corn or wheat they mix with nuts and sugar or honey and consume them after they give to neighbors also.

On this day people eat fish.

Protective practicesOn this night people eat a break soaked in

garlic or other foods with garlic.To be protect their backyard by the action

of the living dead and wolves, people rub the gates with garlic.

Beliefs and superstitions:Who works in this day is tormented by the

undead and has bad dreams or the demon kills their children.

Who use the comb on this day will be eaten by wolf.

On this day people don’t say the word “wolf” not to meet with him over the year.

On this day people don’t sew to protect their havrvest by bugs.

It is celebrated with fasting for the fulfillment of desires such as marriage or healing.

WeatherOn Saint Andrew’s Nigh is observed the Moon.

If the moon is full and the sky is clear, winter will be warm, if the Moon is full and the sky will be dark, snows or rains, during the winter will snow a lot.

OracleTonight people sown wheat in a bowl of earth.

The wheat which will grow beautiful and green, will have lucky. The same purpose is put in water branches with buds.

The way in which the wheat grows will show the fertility of fields in next year.