Sânziene—The Romanian Midsummer Magic Behind My Fantasy Series

Tomorrow, June 24th, Romanians celebrate Sânziene—a magical, deeply rooted holiday tied to midsummer, wild nature, and sky-bound fairies. As a Romanian fantasy author, this day holds extra meaning for me—not just culturally, but creatively. The first installment of my Paranormal Misadventures series, Midsummer Night’s Curse, draws directly from the rich mythology behind this celebration.

If you're not familiar with Sânziene, think of it as Romania’s version of a summer solstice fairy festival... except way darker and more mysterious.

Who (or What) Are the Sânziene?

Sânziene are often described as sky fairies—beautiful, ethereal beings who roam the forests and meadows, bringing fertility, health, and luck. On the night of June 23rd, it’s said that they descend to Earth, dancing and singing, leaving behind magic and mischief.

Girls traditionally wear white dresses and flower crowns woven from wild Sânziene flowers (a type of yellow bedstraw), and some customs say that if you place such a crown under your pillow, you’ll dream of your future lover. But not everything about this celebration is light and sweet…

Iele: Wild, Dangerous, and Unseen

While the Sânziene are often seen as benevolent, their darker counterparts—the Iele—are the stuff of cautionary tales.

The Iele are otherworldly maidens, wild and seductive, with immense magical power. They’re believed to live in the air, deep forests, caves, near water, or at crossroads. They only appear at night, usually under the moonlight, dancing in hidden clearings. According to legend, they dance naked, with unbound hair and bells tied to their ankles, forming a glowing, enchanted circle.

The ground they dance on is scorched—nothing grows there again. And if you’re unlucky enough to witness them? You may go mute. Or mad. Or dance until you perish.

Sânziene Night in Folklore… and in Fiction

The night of June 23rd, leading into Sânziene day, is believed to be one of heightened supernatural activity. It’s when the veil between worlds thins, and the Iele come out to dance. It’s also the perfect backdrop for the kind of paranormal chaos I love writing about.

In Midsummer Night’s Curse, I explored what happens when ancient traditions bleed into modern life. My version of the Sânziene and the Iele blends folklore with fantasy, but the roots are authentically Romanian. As someone who grew up hearing these stories, it’s been incredibly satisfying to twist them into something new—without losing what made them magical (and terrifying) in the first place.

Final Thoughts

In modern Romania, you’re unlikely to see Sânziene traditions playing out in everyday life—unless you happen to be in a remote rural village where folklore still lingers. The flower crowns, the white dresses, the whisper of magic in the air... those are mostly memories now, passed down in stories or echoed in literature.

But that doesn’t mean the magic is gone. For those of us who grew up with these tales—or who write fantasy rooted in them—Sânziene is still alive in spirit. It’s a reminder that myth and mystery don’t need to be visible to be real.

Just... maybe don’t go looking for circles in the grass. And if you hear laughter in the forest under the moonlight? Walk away. Quickly.