Sânziană

The Sânziene (plural) or Sânziana (singular) are benevolent fairies in Romanian folklore. They are associated with summer, sunlight, fertility, and healing. The Sânziene are believed to be beautiful young women, often dressed in white, who dance and sing in forests and meadows, especially on the night of Sânziene (June 24th), which coincides with the summer solstice and the Christian feast of St. John the Baptist.

On Sânziene night, it is believed that the Sânziene grant special powers to plants and herbs, making them more potent for healing and magic. People often collect these herbs, particularly drăgaica (Galium verum), also known as "lady's bedstraw," which is often used in rituals and traditional medicine.

The Sânziene are generally considered to be benevolent, but if angered, they can become dangerous and bring misfortune. To appease them, people leave offerings of food and flowers and perform rituals on Sânziene night. Young women may float wreaths down rivers, and the direction the wreath floats can predict their future marriage. The Sânziene are also believed to bless marriages and protect crops from hail and storms. Their connection to the sun and summer makes them powerful figures in the Romanian folk imagination, representing vitality and the abundance of nature.