11/27/2024
Black Veils - Saint Andrew’s Eve, the Romanian Halloween
Night of Nov. 29th
On the night before Romanian Orthodox believers celebrate the Feast of Saint Andrew (Sfantul Andrei) on November 30th, superstitions come to life in Romania. Romanians ward themselves from evil spells with rubbing garlic on their doors and windows. One ritual is turning all the glasses and cups in their house bottoms’ up. Girls who wish to marry put basil under their pillows for good luck,
This eve the Veil between the worlds thins with spirits, fae, and ghosts roam the forrest, graveyards and city streets. It is said wolves howl, form packs of twelve and speak terrible incantations while running wild in the countryside. Those unlucky folks who hear the sorcerous words of the wolves turn into werewolves. The Strigoi Vii (Living Vampire Witches) of Romania hold sabbaths on this night deep in the forests. The Eve of Saint Andrew is a good night to practice lycanthropic rituals and workings.
The origins of this night hail from pre-Christian Dacian traditions and customs, who consider wolves to be sacred and making it the eqivilent of Samhain & Halloween of Romania. This holiday was placed on the Dacian day of Santandrei, an old and powerful wizard Solomonar, the master and protector of wolves. It believed that on this day the magical powers of witches and wizards are enhanced, so their witchcraft and spells are more powerful. St. Andrew’s is the patron saint of Romania and its protector, making it one of the most important holidays in Romania. Saint Andrew was the brother of Saint Peter and was crucified and martyred on Nov 30th.