like to be seen by males, and whoever sees them will be maimed, or the fairies will take their hearing/speech or make them mad. In some areas of the Carpathians, the villagers then light a big wheel of hay from the ceremonial bonfire and push it down a hill. This has been interpreted as a symbol for the setting sun (from the solstice to come and until the midwinter solstice, the days will be getting shorter). In cultural references The consequences of heavens opening on Sânziene are connected by some to paranormal events reported during that period of each year. According to popular beliefs, strange things, both positive and negative, may happen to a person wandering alone on Sânziene night. Strange ethereal activities are believed to happen especially in places such as the Băneasa forest (near the capital of Bucharest) or the Baciu forest (near the city of Cluj-Napoca). Mircea Eliade's novel, Noaptea de Sânziene (translated as The Forbidden Forest), includes references to the folk belief about skies opening at night, as well as to paranormal events happening in the Băneasa Forest. In the form Sânziana ("the sânziană"), the word has also come to be used as a female name. It is notably used as such in Vasile Alecsandri's comedy Sânziana şi Pepelea (later an opera by George Stephănescu). The fairy Sânziene, "the fairy of the summer solstice", is described in a colinda (Romanian folk song) as the "sister of the Sun". Moldovan band Zdob şi Zdub recorded a song called Sânziene, which tells the story of a search for one's soulmate over the course of a midsummer night festival. See also Goddess Diana Ileana Cosânzeana Rusalii Notes http://www.romania-insider.com/sanzienedragaica-celebration-in-romania/3003/ http://terradacicaaeterna.blogspot.com/2012/02/sanziene-or-summer-solstice.html References Ancient Modern Further reading Details about the Sânziene tradition Details about the Sânziene tradition from the National Museum of Romanian History External links Sânziene in Enciclopedia Dacica Sânziene picture and description Sânziene celebrated at the National Museum of Romanian History Fairies Festivals in Romania John the Baptist June observances Romanian legendary creatures Romanian words and phrases Female legendary creatures Nature spirits