Mirajul abundenţei în folclorul românesc
The Mirage of Abundence in the Romanian Folklore

Summary/Abstract: Out of the multitude of beliefs, traditions and folkloric creations connected to the ideal of food abundance, the present study focuses on three aspects. The first part delves into the aquatic universe, where the fisherman encounters the mysterious creatures of the undersea. Gaining the nuptial fish consecrates the hero, both as an initiate and as a skilful artisan. The second sequence is dedicated to the pastoral world whose wealth formed princes such as Costea Voivode from Lower Moldavia or Bucur of Wallachia. The great number of herds seen in a glowing aura prolonged the archaic solar myths. The last part of the study underlines the importance of the cereal culture for the Romanian people. The wheat becomes the symbol of essential food and possible regeneration. The archaic concept of manna accompanies the harvests, the cooking, the baking. The power hidden in the ears of the corn is personified by the granny, the old woman or the grandmother of the wheat. Wherever she appears, the harvests multiply and the harvesting becomes easier. The bread ring made of the crown of wheat is a baked product of impressive size, prepared according to ancient canons. In all these satiety hypotheses, there is a hypertrophy of reality. Nevertheless, the hyperbolic proportions can be often considered plausible, of course, in ideal conditions.

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