Amongst the many age-old customs based on Romanian folklore is the following.... On St Andrew's Day (November 30th) some Romanians smear their doors and windows with garlic juice and place garlic bulbs around their house in strategic positions. This measure is taken to ward-off the "STRIGOI" - a mythical zombie-like creature who might just come calling, bringing anything but good fortune.... Jock McKenzie
Inside the house, family and friends gather for eating, drinking, singing and dancing to 'put a brave face on the situation'. It is of course this very same custom that once gave birth the idea for the novel "Dracula" by Bram Stoker.
Jock McKenzie
