Vâlvă


Vâlvă is a female spirit mentioned in the Romanian folklore. The Vâlve are believed to walk over the hilltops at night, and are subdivided into Vâlve Albe, who are considered beneficial, and Vâlve Negre, who are considered evil. In certain contexts, they are believed to have human form. They may also appear under various guises, such as shadows or black cats. They also have the ability to shapeshift.

Types of ''Vâlve''

The Vâlve include several types, among which are: Vâlva Apei, considered as a sort of guardian of the water sources and fountains; Vâlva Bucatelor, protector of the poor people, and of crops; Vâlva Băilor, defender and protector of mines and tunnels, whose departure means that the deposit is coming to an end; Vâlva Banilor, protector of money; Vâlva Comorilor, protector of treasures, who can also signal the spot where these are buried; Vâlva Pădurii, protector of woodlands, similar to Muma Padurii; Vâlva Ciumei, controlling bubonic plague and other diseases; Vâlva Zilelor, protector of the days ; Vâlva Cetăţilor, defender of ancient ruins.

''Vâlve'' of the mines

The best known among oral tradition are, still, the Vâlve of the mines. Legends about them flourish around traditional metal exploitation areas in Romania, such as Roşia Montană, a place extremely rich not only in gold, but also in folklore and myth. There, the people still say that you cannot find any gold in the mines without the help of a Vâlvă. But if one gets too greedy, or spends the money foolishly, or if someone steals the gold or money from the family it was originally revealed to, the Vâlvă will become a black one and will not stop until she will avenge the injustice and disrespect to her. Miners say that anyone can hear her knocking through the galleries just in the next corridor, even if there is no knowledge of that place in the rock or if you know for sure no one can be there at that time. She is producing that strange sound to search for gold to show them, or to help them not get lost. If they don't listen to her advice, the galleries collapse on them.