An Old Romanian Spring Tradition- “Alexiile” March 22, 2008
On the 17th of March, the Orthodox Church celebrates St. Alexie, the patron saint of insects and reptiles. This day is known among people under the name of “Alexii” or “Alexiile” and it has been celebrated in Comanesti and Humoreni for a long time. My pupils have asked the old people in the village about the origin and significance of the Alexii and this is what they found out:
- people make fires in the fields or in their orchards because they think that the smoke will flick away from their homes the insects and the reptiles which wake up in spring;
- children jump over the fires in order to be in a good physical condition all the year;
- women put some polenta, a bit of salt and some coal in a small box and throw it into a river because the superstition is that the insects and reptiles will have enough food and they will not go to people’s houses;
- this is a purification ritual;
- people burn rubber and hay to make smoke
(Andrei-Laurentiu, Andrei, Daniel- 5th form, Comanesti School)
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